Running as a Service, without running as a service?

[Careface]

let me explain, on my mums pc which runs SETI (yes ive asked her for permission :P), I want to be able to run BOINC -COMPLETELY- silently (ie no windows at startup, no notifications, nothing), but seeing as mum doesnt have a password protected account, i cant install as a service (which as these qualities) because for some really really annoying reason, it wont accept a NULL password.

Is there anyway I can have a setup like running a service, but without installing it as "run as a service"? One of mums conditions was that she would run SETI, as long as it was absolutely silent (other than in task mangler of course).. ordinarily i would just create a secondary account and pw protect it then install as a service on that account.. but seeing as mums account (the only account other than admin, which in itself has no pw) automatically logs in, if i create a secondary account which has a password on it, it will then prompt mum when windows starts up.. which she doesnt really want to happen (its not that shes just fussy, its just the fact that its her pc and she likes being in control of it.. i know that feeling :))

So is there anyway around this apparent problem? even installing as a single user and having the icon in the taskbar (or replacing boincmgr with boinc.exe -redirectio) is a no go. It does need to be completely silent :P Yeah, ive said that a lot, but i just want to get the thought across about what kind of thing shes after :)

Thanks all for the help

Careface*

[Lobotomy Jack]

if i create a secondary account which has a password on it, it will then prompt mum when windows starts up.. which she doesnt really want to happen

Well, you can use tweakui (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx) to set auto-logon options, including by passing the password prompt.

[Enkidu]

I have this problem when installing seti at our student facility (none of the machines have passwords). You're right, it is VERY annoying :)

There is, fortunately, a fairly easy fix. While you are installing boinc, just put in two matching passwords (it doesn't matter what they are, make them both "blue" or something) - and continue the installation. BOINC will hang for what seems like minutes as it tries to start the service using this password (it will fail, but that is OK). Once it errors out but at least has been installed, finalize the installation and close that out.

I am assuming this is Windows XP, if it isn't - let me know. Next go to Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Services. In the services window that pops up, right click on the "BOINC" service and select "properties" Next click the Log On tab, and in the password boxes just set them both to null and click OK. This will leave you back at the main services window, now right click on the BOINC service again and this time select "Start" If it gives you no errors then you are in business.

To make sure everything is running properly - the best way is of course to launch task manager and make sure your CPU is at 100%. You probably know how to prevent the BOINC manager from launching and so forth, so this should leave you with a "completely silent" install.

If you have any trouble post again, I've done this at least 150 times so I can give more detailed instructions. If the above doesn't work outright, I have slightly more complicated alternative that I guarantee will work :)

Enk

[Careface]

Lol thanks Enk! Ill try that out now and get back to you about how its done.. I honestly never thought about that lol.

Oh yeah, regarding my absence from OCF, im back :p I had time to sort my stuff out, and Im currently in Japan extending my knowledge for a couple of months before I return to NZ and start my first year of uni.. ahh the prospect of being a university langauge graduate by the time im 19 is so exciting xD

Anyway im rambling.. SETI time!

Careface*

[Careface]

never mind, i got it sorted in the end. I just placed a pw on the account, installed the service using the password, then removed the password on the account and in services.msc :p thanks again for the help guys, much appreciated!

Careface*