StartUP

No, unfortunately. Windows will not automatically autorn programs or files off any form of removable media (Eg. Flash Drives, iPods, ....). The way U3 does it is that they emulate a CDROM with a partition and put hte autorun.ini on it. The ini file is the best we can do for now. However, I am considering writing a small program that you can install w/o administrator privileges that will auto on windows boot and watch for insertion of the drive, and automatically start it.

Any way to cause the Portable Apps to startup on computer when flash drive is inserted?

Yes it can, but not a simple answer. Off the shelf their is only one that comes formated like a CDROM with programs installed to autorun. With most of the rest are just dumb RAM Drives. Some PC's the AutoRun.inf file works... some it don't. Same with the regedit hacks. Here's some links and ideas behind the fear of auto running USB drives.

-- programs to install on your PC's --
AutoRun USB (v4.0)
http://www.torosoftware.com/autorun.asp

APO USB Autorun (freeware)
http://www.snapfiles.com/get/usbautorun.html

-- How to do autorun files --
http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2006/06/hacking_compute.html

--Then there is the actual MS Faq:--