Run Skype as a Windows Service with FireDaemon Pro



Skype is a proprietary telecommunications application that specializes in providing VoIP-based videotelephony, videoconferencing and voice calls. It also has instant messaging, file transfer, debit-based calls to landline and mobile telephones (over traditional telephone networks), and other features.


This tutorial will show you how Skype can be run as a Windows Service using FireDaemon Pro. 


This will allow you to have Skype start automatically at boot prior to login allowing you to redirect to voice mail or autoanswer as well as allowing you to run one instance of Skype across multiple logins. This setup will also allow Skype to interact with third-party telephony solutions using the Skype Public API. You can also use FireDaemon Fusion to manage FireDaemon and other Windows services via a web browser. 

This is how to set it up:


1. Download and install Skype

Download Skype from the official Skype website.


Install Skype into the directory of your choice, typically C:\Program Files\Skype.


Skype needs a little pre-configuration before running successfully under FireDaemon Pro. Before setting up FireDaemon Pro, take the following steps to set up Skype:

  • Ensure you already have a Skype name and password assigned
  • Ensure Skype automatically signs you in when it starts
  • Ensure Skype DOES NOT start when the computer starts

These can be configured at the Skype login screen:



Or via Skype's Options menu after login:



2. Download and install FireDaemon Pro

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


3. 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. Note the required parameters.



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


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


Parameters: /minimized /nosplash 

  • /minimized starts Skype minimized.
  • /nosplash stops Skype's splash screen from displaying.


You can find the complete list of Skype command-line options here.


4. Now click on the FireDaemon Pro Settings tab. 

Change the Show Window setting to Minimized and optionally enter a Login Account. The login account name and password will have to match that of the user name and password you entered when you logged into your computer. This is optional. If you choose to leave this blank Skype will start as the LocalSystem user and you will need to re-enter your login credentials and change your Skype settings again as per above.


Firedaemon-nojob-interact-settings.jpg


5. Click on the FireDaemon Pro Dependencies tab

Add 'lanmanworkstation' to the list of Services to depend on. This will ensure the TCP/IP and CIFS stacks are initialised before attempting to start Skype.




6. FireDaemon Pro Pre / Post-Service tab

Click on the FireDaemon Pre / Post-Service tab. In order to shut down Skype correctly, you will need to create two Post-Service Program entries. One to tell Skype to terminate, the other to wait for Skype to terminate. In the Post-Service Programs section click the Append button and complete the Post-Service definition as follows and then click OK:



  • Executable: The path to your Skype.exe directory. In this example, the path is C:\Program Files (x86)\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe.
  • Working Directory: The directory containing your Skype.exe directory. In this example, the path is C:\Program Files (x86)\Skype\Phone
  • Parameters: /shutdown
  • Execution Time: 3000
  • Run Program: Before Event
  • Run Detached: Leave this unchecked.


After saving the first post-service program, click on the Append button for the second time in the Post Service Programs section and complete the Post-Service definition as follows and then click OK.



  • Executable: C:\Windows\System32\PING.EXE
  • Working Directory: C:\Windows\System32
  • Parameters: -n 5 127.0.0.1
  • Execution Time: 5000
  • Run Program: Before Event
  • Run Detached: Leave this unchecked.


Skype's shutdown is asynchronous - the second Post-Service forces FireDaemon to artificially wait for 5 seconds to allow Skype to cleanly exit. If you don't include this Post-Service, then Skype crashes - especially if numerous dialogs are open or Skype is in-call.


Once you have entered the two Post-Service programs, the screen will look as follows:



7. Click on the OK button to finish setup and start Skype! 

Next time your computer boots, Skype will start immediately, before anyone logs on.