iTunes is a media player, media library, and mobile device management application. The application can be run as a Windows Service using FireDaemon Pro, which lets you start the application automatically at boot prior to login, start multiple instances of the application and more. This HOWTO will show you how to set it up. You can also use Fusion to manage FireDaemon and other Windows services via a web browser.

iTunes Setup Under FireDaemon Pro

Download the latest iTunes files from the Apple website.

Install the iTunes application. By default it installs to C:\Program Files (x86)\iTunes.

Run the application at least once to change any settings.

Download and install FireDaemon Pro into the directory of your choice, typically C:\Program Files\FireDaemon.

Next start the FireDaemon GUI from the desktop shortcut. Click on the "Create a new service definition" button in the toolbar (or type Ctrl+N) and enter the information into the fields as you see below. Adjust the paths to suit your installation.

Executable: The path to your iTunes.exe file. For the purposes of this HOWTO, the path is C:\Program Files (x86)\iTunes\iTunes.exe.

Working Directory: The directory containing your iTunes.exe file. For the purposes of this HOWTO, the path is C:\Program Files (x86)\iTunes.

Parameters: None. Leave this field blank.

Now click on the Settings tab. If you DON'T want to see iTunes running, uncheck the Interact with Desktop check box & select "Hidden" from the "Show Window" dropdown. You must run iTunes as the user you installed it as. In the Logon Account field type your username (e.g. Administrator) and then enter the user's password twice in the Password and Confirm fields. You must set the job type to "Global" so that child processes are terminated properly when the service is stopped or restarted. You can change the Process Priority to allocate more CPU time to iTunes or specify which CPU or core iTunes will run on (in the case of multi-processor, hyperthreaded or multi-core CPUs).

Now click on the Lifecycle tab. Uncheck Graceful Shutdown as it can slow the shutdown of iTunes.

Now click on the OK button to install and start iTunes!