In previous part of this article we saw how we can run an  application in background in win98/98. In this article we  will see how we can run our ordinary applications as a  service program. Service programs run in background and start like any other service in windows NT/2000. You can change  startup type in service start and stop palette.  Again you must be familiar with windows registry before you  can use this article. You will need to add your program  executables names and their path and a few other values in  windows registry. Let's assume that our application executable is 'test.exe'  and its path is 'c:\testapp'.  1- You will need a file from NT resource kit. Microsoft has  included this file for this purpose but we chose easiest  method to do this. First of all you must copy 'srvany.exe'  file from NT resource kit to application directory. 2- You must add a key in below address with the name you  have chosen for your service. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services If we assume TestSrvc will be our service name we must add  below key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\TestSrvc 3- Then we must add below values in above key Name: DisplayName Type: String (REG_SZ) Value: TestSrvc Name: ErrorControl Type: Number (REG_DWORD) Value: 0x1 (1) Name: ImagePath Type: String (REG_SZ) Value: c:\testapp Name: ObjectName Type: String (REG_SZ) Value: LocalSystem Name: Start Type: Number (REG_DWORD) Value: 0x2 (2) Name: Type Type: Number (REG_DWORD) Value: 0x110 (272) 4- Then we must make a key inside this key with the name  'Parameters' : HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\TestSrvc\Parameters 5- Inside this key we must store desired application's path  and exe file name. Name: Application Type: String (REG_SZ) Value: c:\testapp\test.exe Next time windows NT starts up your application will run  even before you login to console , right after windows  startup. If you want to disable service or change service  type to manual startup you can do this in service start and  startup palette. To add these values to specified key you can use install  maker programs such as "Install Shield" or you can write  your own install program that adds these values to registry when installing your application.  In next issues of this ezine we will see how we can add keys  and values to windows registry within our program code in  VB, Delphi and C++ Builder. If you have any problem or question about this article you can ask it in our programming forums and I and other  subscribers will answer your questions. Just visit our  website and leave your message in our forums ! http://op.htmsoft.com/forums