Win2K Server needs program to run BEFORE login

[Jeff W]

I have a Win2k Server on our network, and it runs our business's time clock
software. The problem I'm having is that occasionally the server is
restarted, but no administrator is there to login, so the timeclock software
is not started (it is currently in the startup folder for "all users").
I was told by someone that there is a way to use the registry to start the
timeclock program at bootup so that it is already running before anyone is
even allowed to login.
I've searched the microsoft knowledge base for info on how to do this, but
have had no luck.
So, here are my questions:
1) Is it possible to have a program like this execute during bootup, before
anyone is logged in?
2) Can anyone point me to a MS article on how to do it, or provide simple
step by step instructions?
In the event that I'm completely misunderstanding the situation, I would
appreciate any light that could be shed on this for me.

Thanks,
Jeff W

 

[Jeff W]

I found a reference to the following registry location...
"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run"
....which appears to list programs that are run at some point.
Is this possibly what I am looking for?
Jeff W

 

[Dan Seur]

Jeff - running the timeclock software as a service is probably your best
bet. The application, running as a service, would fire up at power on,
and remain active until power off, regardless of whether anybody's
logged on. See <http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q137890/>

I found a reference to the following registry location...
"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run"
...which appears to list programs that are run at some point.
Is this possibly what I am looking for?
Jeff W







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