diff --git a/dots/bin/startup.sh b/dots/bin/startup.sh
index e7372fb..3ed4128 100755
--- a/dots/bin/startup.sh
+++ b/dots/bin/startup.sh
@@ -1,133 +1,14 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 
-# : klevstul : start miscellanous application : 24.11.17
+# : klevstul : start miscellanous application : 25.12.28
 # -----
 
-# finds the correct display setup function to use
-getDisplaySetupFunction() {
-    numberOfDisplays=$(xrandr --query | grep -o " connected " | wc -l)
-    display_function=ds-${HOSTNAME}-${numberOfDisplays}
-    echo ${display_function}
-}
+notify-send "<< startup.sh >>"
 
-ds-t470p-2() {
-    info="1 laptop + 1 monitor for t470p"
-    echo "${info}"
-    xrandr --output eDP-1 --mode 1920x1080 --pos 0x1080 --rotate normal --output DP-1 --off --output HDMI-1 --primary --mode 3840x2160 --pos 1920x0 --rotate normal --output DP-2 --off --output HDMI-2 --off --output DP-3 --off --output HDMI-3 --off > /dev/null 2>&1
-    xrdb ~/.Xresources
-    #nr > /dev/null 2>&1
-}
-
-ds-tuxwarrior-1() {
-    info="1 laptop monitor for tuxwarrior"
-    echo "${info}"
-    xrandr --output DP-0 --off --output DP-1 --off --output HDMI-0 --off --output DP-2 --primary --mode 3840x2160 --pos 0x0 --rotate normal --output DP-3 --off --output DP-4 --off --output DP-5 --off --output DP-6 --off
-    xrdb ~/.Xresources
-    #nr > /dev/null 2>&1
-}
-
-ds-tuxwarrior-2() {
-    info="1 laptop + 1 monitor for tuxwarrior"
-    echo "${info}"
-    xrandr --output DP-0 --off --output DP-1 --off --output HDMI-0 --primary --mode 3840x2160 --pos 3840x0 --rotate normal --output DP-2 --mode 3840x2160 --pos 0x0 --rotate normal --output DP-3 --off --output DP-4 --off --output DP-5 --off --output DP-6 --off > /dev/null 2>&1
-    xrdb ~/.Xresources
-    i3-msg "rename workspace 1 to 10"
-    i3-msg "rename workspace 2 to 1"
-    #nr > /dev/null 2>&1
-}
-
-ds-tuxwarrior-3() {
-    info="1 laptop + 2 monitors for tuxwarrior"
-    echo "${info}"
-
-    # without scaling:
-    # w/ benq vertical
-    # xrandr --output DP-0 --primary --mode 3840x2160 --pos 3840x0 --rotate normal --output DP-1 --off --output HDMI-0 --mode 1920x1080 --pos 7680x240 --rotate left --output DP-2 --mode 3840x2160 --pos 0x0 --rotate normal --output DP-3 --off --output DP-4 --off --output DP-5 --off --output DP-6 --off
-    # w/ 4k horizontal
-    xrandr --output DP-0 --primary --mode 3840x2160 --pos 3840x0 --rotate normal --output DP-1 --off --output HDMI-0 --mode 3840x2160 --pos 7680x0 --rotate normal --output DP-2 --mode 3840x2160 --pos 0x0 --rotate normal --output DP-3 --off --output DP-4 --off --output DP-5 --off --output DP-6 --off
-
-    # with laptop display scaling of < 1 (reduce resolution):
-    #xrandr --output DP-2 --scale 0.5
-    # with benq display scaling of > 1 (increase resolution):
-    #xrandr --output HDMI-0 --scale 1.5
-    #xrandr --output DP-0 --primary --mode 3840x2160 --pos 1920x0 --rotate normal --output DP-1 --off --output HDMI-0 --scale 1.5 --mode 1920x1080 --pos 5760x0 --rotate left --output DP-2 --scale 0.5 --mode 3840x2160 --pos 0x0 --rotate normal --output DP-3 --off --output DP-4 --off --output DP-5 --off --output DP-6 --off
-
-    xrdb ~/.Xresources
-    i3-msg "rename workspace 2 to 10"
-    #nr > /dev/null 2>&1
-}
-
-ds-tuxwarrior-4() {
-    info="1 laptop + 3 monitors for tuxwarrior"
-    echo "${info}"
-
-    xrandr --output DP-0 --off --output DP-1 --primary --mode 3840x2160 --pos 6000x1680 --rotate normal --output HDMI-0 --mode 2560x1600 --pos 9840x1280 --rotate left --output DP-2 --mode 3840x2160 --pos 0x1680 --rotate normal --output DP-3 --mode 3840x2160 --pos 3840x0 --rotate right --output DP-4 --off --output DP-5 --off --output DP-6 --off
-
-    xrdb ~/.Xresources
-
-    i3-msg "rename workspace 1 to 10"
-    i3-msg "rename workspace 2 to 1"
-    i3-msg "rename workspace 4 to 2"
-
-    #nr > /dev/null 2>&1
-}
-
-# do the choka choka
-
-if [[ "${XWM}" == "hyprland" ]]; then
-
-    echo "<< hyprland >>"
-    #hyprpaper &
-    #waybar &
-    #hypridle &
-    #hyprdim --strength 0.1 --dialog-dim 0.1 --duration 500 --no-dim-when-only &
-
-elif [[ "${XWM}" == "i3" ]]; then
-
-    echo "<< i3wm >>"
-
-    # display setup
-    display_setup=$(getDisplaySetupFunction)
-
-    ${display_setup}
-
-    # populate keyring, and sleep to make sure it takes effect before apps start
-    lordOfTheRing.sh
-    sleep 3.5
-
-    notify-send "<< i3wm >>"
-    notify-send "[ display_setup = ${display_setup} ]"
-    notify-send "[ HOSTNAME = ${HOSTNAME} ]"
-
-    # set up screen locking and monitor/display power management
-    xset dpms 0 0 599 # screen off after X seconds
-    xautolock -time 20 -locker i3lock_fk.sh # lock after X minutes
-
-#    sleep 5
-
-
-    # start miscellanous programs
-    #megasync &          # mega sync service
-    #nextcloud &			# nextcloud file sync
-    #pcloud &			# pcloud service | unable to start pcloud from startup.sh, so moved exec to i3wm cfg instead (strange, as it used to work starting it here)
-    #protonvpn-app &		# vpn
-    #/usr/bin/pcloud &
-    #/usr/bin/nextcloud &
-    /usr/bin/megasync &
-
-    #/usr/bin/pcloud &
-
- #   i3-msg "exec --no-startup-id pcloud" &
-
-    #/usr/bin/pcloud
-    #pcloud &
-
-
-    #pcloud &
-
-
-    #if [[ "${HOSTNAME}" == "tuxwarrior" ]] ; then
-    #    synology-drive &
-    #fi
+megasync &          # mega sync service
+nextcloud &			# nextcloud file sync
+pcloud &			# pcloud service
 
+if [[ "${HOSTNAME}" == "tuxwarrior" ]] ; then
+    synology-drive &
 fi
diff --git a/dots/bin/startup_auto.sh b/dots/bin/startup_auto.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..063512e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dots/bin/startup_auto.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,108 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+# : klevstul : start miscellanous application : 24.11.17
+# -----
+
+# finds the correct display setup function to use
+getDisplaySetupFunction() {
+    numberOfDisplays=$(xrandr --query | grep -o " connected " | wc -l)
+    display_function=ds-${HOSTNAME}-${numberOfDisplays}
+    echo ${display_function}
+}
+
+ds-t470p-2() {
+    info="1 laptop + 1 monitor for t470p"
+    echo "${info}"
+    xrandr --output eDP-1 --mode 1920x1080 --pos 0x1080 --rotate normal --output DP-1 --off --output HDMI-1 --primary --mode 3840x2160 --pos 1920x0 --rotate normal --output DP-2 --off --output HDMI-2 --off --output DP-3 --off --output HDMI-3 --off > /dev/null 2>&1
+    xrdb ~/.Xresources
+    #nr > /dev/null 2>&1
+}
+
+ds-tuxwarrior-1() {
+    info="1 laptop monitor for tuxwarrior"
+    echo "${info}"
+    xrandr --output DP-0 --off --output DP-1 --off --output HDMI-0 --off --output DP-2 --primary --mode 3840x2160 --pos 0x0 --rotate normal --output DP-3 --off --output DP-4 --off --output DP-5 --off --output DP-6 --off
+    xrdb ~/.Xresources
+    #nr > /dev/null 2>&1
+}
+
+ds-tuxwarrior-2() {
+    info="1 laptop + 1 monitor for tuxwarrior"
+    echo "${info}"
+    xrandr --output DP-0 --off --output DP-1 --off --output HDMI-0 --primary --mode 3840x2160 --pos 3840x0 --rotate normal --output DP-2 --mode 3840x2160 --pos 0x0 --rotate normal --output DP-3 --off --output DP-4 --off --output DP-5 --off --output DP-6 --off > /dev/null 2>&1
+    xrdb ~/.Xresources
+    i3-msg "rename workspace 1 to 10"
+    i3-msg "rename workspace 2 to 1"
+    #nr > /dev/null 2>&1
+}
+
+ds-tuxwarrior-3() {
+    info="1 laptop + 2 monitors for tuxwarrior"
+    echo "${info}"
+
+    # without scaling:
+    # w/ benq vertical
+    # xrandr --output DP-0 --primary --mode 3840x2160 --pos 3840x0 --rotate normal --output DP-1 --off --output HDMI-0 --mode 1920x1080 --pos 7680x240 --rotate left --output DP-2 --mode 3840x2160 --pos 0x0 --rotate normal --output DP-3 --off --output DP-4 --off --output DP-5 --off --output DP-6 --off
+    # w/ 4k horizontal
+    xrandr --output DP-0 --primary --mode 3840x2160 --pos 3840x0 --rotate normal --output DP-1 --off --output HDMI-0 --mode 3840x2160 --pos 7680x0 --rotate normal --output DP-2 --mode 3840x2160 --pos 0x0 --rotate normal --output DP-3 --off --output DP-4 --off --output DP-5 --off --output DP-6 --off
+
+    # with laptop display scaling of < 1 (reduce resolution):
+    #xrandr --output DP-2 --scale 0.5
+    # with benq display scaling of > 1 (increase resolution):
+    #xrandr --output HDMI-0 --scale 1.5
+    #xrandr --output DP-0 --primary --mode 3840x2160 --pos 1920x0 --rotate normal --output DP-1 --off --output HDMI-0 --scale 1.5 --mode 1920x1080 --pos 5760x0 --rotate left --output DP-2 --scale 0.5 --mode 3840x2160 --pos 0x0 --rotate normal --output DP-3 --off --output DP-4 --off --output DP-5 --off --output DP-6 --off
+
+    xrdb ~/.Xresources
+    i3-msg "rename workspace 2 to 10"
+    #nr > /dev/null 2>&1
+}
+
+ds-tuxwarrior-4() {
+    info="1 laptop + 3 monitors for tuxwarrior"
+    echo "${info}"
+
+    xrandr --output DP-0 --off --output DP-1 --primary --mode 3840x2160 --pos 6000x1680 --rotate normal --output HDMI-0 --mode 2560x1600 --pos 9840x1280 --rotate left --output DP-2 --mode 3840x2160 --pos 0x1680 --rotate normal --output DP-3 --mode 3840x2160 --pos 3840x0 --rotate right --output DP-4 --off --output DP-5 --off --output DP-6 --off
+
+    xrdb ~/.Xresources
+
+    i3-msg "rename workspace 1 to 10"
+    i3-msg "rename workspace 2 to 1"
+    i3-msg "rename workspace 4 to 2"
+
+    #nr > /dev/null 2>&1
+}
+
+# do the choka choka
+
+if [[ "${XWM}" == "hyprland" ]]; then
+
+    echo "<< hyprland >>"
+    #hyprpaper &
+    #waybar &
+    #hypridle &
+    #hyprdim --strength 0.1 --dialog-dim 0.1 --duration 500 --no-dim-when-only &
+
+elif [[ "${XWM}" == "i3" ]]; then
+
+    echo "<< i3wm >>"
+
+    # display setup
+    display_setup=$(getDisplaySetupFunction)
+
+    ${display_setup}
+
+    # populate keyring, and sleep to make sure it takes effect before apps start
+    lordOfTheRing.sh
+    sleep 3.5
+
+    notify-send "<< i3wm >>"
+    notify-send "[ display_setup = ${display_setup} ]"
+    notify-send "[ HOSTNAME = ${HOSTNAME} ]"
+
+    # set up screen locking and monitor/display power management
+    xset dpms 0 0 599 # screen off after X seconds
+    xautolock -time 20 -locker i3lock_fk.sh # lock after X minutes
+
+    notify-send "[ execute startup.sh to start programs ]"
+
+fi
diff --git a/dots/i3wm/config b/dots/i3wm/config
index ff0c3c9..4d7b23d 100644
--- a/dots/i3wm/config
+++ b/dots/i3wm/config
@@ -401,7 +401,7 @@ for_window [class="SpeedCrunch"] floating enable border normal
 # ---
 exec_always --no-startup-id setxkbmap -model pc105 -layout us,no -option grp:caps_toggle,grp_led:scroll; # keyboard layout switch
 exec --no-startup-id pasystray
-exec --no-startup-id sleep 5; startup.sh
+exec --no-startup-id sleep 5; startup_auto.sh
 #exec --no-startup-id pcloud # unable to execute this from startup.sh, by some weird reason (it used to work)
 
 # ---