I have a service running in a box with Windows XP and a box of Server (2003). There is one service running in autmactic mode. If I set the log on with a local user, the service will stop running if the user logs off the account from the Windows? In other words, in order to keep the service running, have I to keep the user as login mode?

I understand that the service can be set as local system which will not need any one to login as long as the box is powered on. However, the service I need to run has to be running as a local user with the required permissions. The problem I have right now is that the box may reboot itself. If that happens, no one is logged in yet until some one has to log in as the required user.

I want to make sure if the required user has to be as a log on user first. If that's the case, any suggestion to deal with unexpected reboot issue?