applications vs services

[ushtabalakh]

Hi there

Other than a service usually runs all the time what is the major difference between an application and a server.

I have an application that captures the screen and I had it programmed as a service and it used to work fine in XP but in vista it doesn't allow user interaction so it doesn't work. I wanted to see I will loose anything if I change my application from a service to a normal windows app.

 

[PRPhx]

This is from an article on

http://www.codeproject.com

(it's a little old, but is still relevant):

Typically, a Windows service -- used to be called NT service -- is a console application that does not have a message pump. A Windows service can be started without the user having to log into the computer and it won't die after the user logs off. However, it is hard -- sometimes impossible -- to use many existing ActiveX controls within a console application.

 

[ushtabalakh]

My next related question is "Is there anyway to run a service under the username that has currently logged in?"

I mean let's say there is a computer with two users "User1" and "User2"

I want my server application to run under "User1" if he logs in and under "User2" if she logs in.

Thanks

 

[dilettante]

Sounds more like you want a startup program.

 

[ushtabalakh]

well,yeah that's the last resort