Useful pieces of code

upc.py

from win32com.shell import shell, shellcon
def get_startup_directory(common):
    """
    Copyright Tim Golden <winshell@timgolden.me.uk> 25th November 2003 - 2012
    Licensed under the (GPL-compatible) MIT License:
    http://www.opensource.org/licenses/mit-license.php
    """
    return shell.SHGetFolderPath(0, (shellcon.CSIDL_STARTUP, shellcon.CSIDL_COMMON_STARTUP)[common], None, 0)
get_startup_directory(0) # 'C:\\Users\\<USERNAME>\\AppData\\Roaming\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\Startup'
get_startup_directory(1) # 'C:\\ProgramData\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\Startup'



import pythoncom
def get_shortcut_target (self, shortcutfile):
    link = pythoncom.CoCreateInstance(shell.CLSID_ShellLink, None, pythoncom.CLSCTX_INPROC_SERVER, shell.IID_IShellLink)
    link.QueryInterface (pythoncom.IID_IPersistFile).Load(shortcutfile)
    target_path, _ = link.GetPath(shell.SLGP_UNCPRIORITY)
    return target_path
get_shortcut_target('*.lnk') # '*.exe'