Question: How can I turn a given normal application into a Windows service under Windows XP?

EDIT: This is a server application, so it has no GUI and does not require any input or output.

Answer: 
You can use SC to create user defined services. This command will create a service:

```
sc.exe create "Service Name" binPath= "C:\Your Program.exe"

```

Note there must be a space between binpath= and the program location.

To Delete the service use:

```
sc.exe delete "Service Name" 

```
Also, once you successfully started your normal application as a service, I would suggest to test how the application behaves when you log off.

Some applications (old ones?) don't like receiving the message that is sent when logging of or shutting down the computer.