Very Computer

The WinNT, WinXP and Win2000 all support "services". Probably the defining characteristic of a service is that it can start running even when no one is logged on.

Win98, Win98SE and WinME do not support services. So a user has to log in before SQL Server can be invoked. You can, if you wish, create a batch job that will start up SQL Server, but I don't have enough knowledge of these OS's to know if they support automatic execution of a batch job when a user logs in.

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BP Margolin
Please reply only to the newsgroups.
When posting, inclusion of SQL (CREATE TABLE ..., INSERT ..., etc.) which
can be cut and pasted into Query Analyzer is appreciated.

i successfully used Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\80\Tools\Binn\scm.exe
to start/stop "services" under win 98 and the there is also SvcStartType
param which might be helpful in your case.

if you need to do it programmatically check the Program Files\Microsoft SQL
Server\80\Tools\DevTools\Samples\misc\scm\SCMControl sample. it has a
w95scm.dll with several useful exports.

HTH,
</wqw>

Quote:> Does anyone know where the "Auto-start service when OS
> starts" checkbox setting in the SQL Server Service Manager
> is stored when it is set?  Here is the challenge: When the
> MSDE2000 setup runs under WinNT, WinXP, or Win2000 the
> setup automatically checks the "Auto-start service..."
> checkbox but when the MSDE2000 setup runs under Win98,
> Win98SE, or WinME it does not automatically check that
> checkbox.  I'm hoping there is a programmatic way to set
> it (rather than having to explain to a 98 user how to set
> the checkbox manually, let alone find the SQL Server
> Service Manager <grin>).  Thanks for any insights or ideas
> on how to set that!