Run Service before user login

[mitsos1os]

Hi guys, I am using Windows 7 and this is my situation. I have a desktop connected to an interactive whiteboard used for teaching. My problem is that the board doesn't work until a user logs into the system. The board's operation is controlled by a system service which starts on user login. What I want to do is to start the service at Windows startup BEFORE login so that the board is activated and I won't have to use a mouse just to click on a users account. I tried, opening services.msc but it startup was already set as AUTO. I also tried creating a batch file with the command SC start <serviceName> and add it in the registry, in HKLM/Software/Microsoft/WIndows/CurrentVersion/Run but all these only executed after user login. After many hours of searching in the net, I fould 2 more ways, through task scheduler and local group policy editor as a startup script (Haven't tried them yet)....However I am almost sure that a service can run before windows login, because other Software, for example Teamviewer, when you enable start with Windows, it is activated before login. The teamviewer service has the same settings with my classboard service. I even used a registry monitoring software to find out what teamviewer changes when starting with windows is enabled, and the only thing that changes is a registry key in Teamviewer settings about autostart and always on, which are irrelevant to the system sevices as far as I can tell.....

Any thoughts welcome. Thank you.

 

[Hawkeye22]

All services start before login. That is the whole purpose of a service. Some services just idle in the background waiting for some signal from a user (software) and then act on that signal. You stated the service is set to auto, therefore it's running before you login. It sounds like your service is waiting on a control panel app or some other program to send it a signal - in this case, the white board program.

 

[mitsos1os]

I don't think it has anything to do with software, since while the whiteboard operates, there isn't any other software or service running. I check the running software from task manager. It is as simple as I start the service it starts, if I stop the service it stops working. It even stops again if I log out of the user account.

 

[Hawkeye22]

Windows has over 30 services running at all times, so your statement that "I don't think it has anything to do with software, since while the whiteboard operates, there isn't any other software or service running." is incorrect.

Have you read the manual for your whiteboard software? Does it state it can run as a service? Does it state it can run with no user login? You can't force a program to run as a service. It has to be created as a service.

Why don't you just have your account auto login. Be aware that this can be a security risk though.

 

[mitsos1os]

The software already installs as a service. I am not making it on my own. The problem is that it doesn't start before login. In the manual there is no reference whatsoever.

 

[Hawkeye22]

Then the service must sit idle just waiting for a login as a trigger. As I stated in my previous post... "Why don't you just have your account auto login. Be aware that this can be a security risk though.".

 

[mitsos1os]

I have already done that. I just wanted to know if I could avoid this way and use the service as it should be....

 

[Hawkeye22]

Sorry, I only saw where you wrote you needed to click on an account to login. That is not an auto login.

If you supply the software name and who makes it we may be able to provide more information.

 

[mitsos1os]

Yes, I described the problem that I face. Autologin is from control userpasswords2... Anyway... It is the ClassBoard from CPI.gr but I doubt you will find anything there. I received a mail from them now, stating that it cannot be done. I do not know why. Thank you for your time.

 

[Hawkeye22]

Bummer! Sorry there's no way to accomplish that. I guess it makes sense from the standpoint that it's a whiteboard and a board needs someone (a user) to write on it.

 

[mitsos1os]

I had used an other whiteboard from an other company, and it started working before login (without the slightest modification). I guess it's a matter of good programming...