How to Run Livedrive 24/7 as a Windows Service with AlwaysUp

Livedrive is a popular cloud-based online storage service.

Note: This tutorial shows how to run Livedrive Backup as a Windows Service. The related Livedrive Briefcase functionality, which maps a network drive in the interactive session, does not seem to function properly when run in the background as a windows service.

To configure Livedrive as a windows service with AlwaysUp:

1. Download and install AlwaysUp, if necessary.

2. Install and configure the Livedrive backup desktop client, if necessary. Please make a note of where you installed it as this will be used in a later step.

3. Start AlwaysUp.

4. Select Application > Add to open the Add Application window:

   

5. On the General tab:

   • In the Application field, enter the full path to the Livedrive executable, Livedrive.exe. If you installed Livedrive in the default location, this is:

     C:\Program Files\Livedrive\Livedrive.exe

     or

     C:\Program Files (x86)\Livedrive\Livedrive.exe

     if you have a 64-bit version of Windows installed.

   • In the Name field, enter the name that you will call the application in AlwaysUp. We have used Livedrive but you can specify almost anything you like.

   

6. Click over to the Logon tab and enter the user name and password of the account in which you installed and configured Livedrive. Livedrive must run in this account so that it can find its settings.

   

7. Click over to the Startup tab and check the Ensure that the Windows Networking components have started box. This informs AlwaysUp that Livedrive needs TCP/IP networking support to do its work.

   

8. Click the Save button. In a couple of seconds, an application called Livedrive will show up in the AlwaysUp window. It is not yet running though.

   

9. Before we start Livedrive as a Windows Service, we must stop any existing instance. If Livedrive is running, stop it now by right-clicking on the tray icon and selecting Exit.

   

10. To start Livedrive from AlwaysUp choose Application > Start "Livedrive". Note that you probably won't see Livedrive's icon appear as it is running in the background.

    On Windows 7, 2008 or Vista (or when connecting via RDP), you can choose Application > Start "Livedrive" in this Session if you wish to show Livedrive's tray icon. (More on this in the AlwaysUp FAQ.)

    

11. Now that Livedrive will always be running in the background, there is no need to start it again when you log on. We recommend using the free Autoruns tool from Microsoft to disable Livedrive's auto-start but any "startup manager" should do the trick.

    With Autoruns, click over to the Logon tab and un-check the box beside the Livedrive entry:

    

12. That's it! Next time your computer boots, Livedrive will start up immediately, before anyone logs on. We encourage you to edit the entry in AlwaysUp and check out the many other settings that may be appropriate for your environment.

Livedrive not working properly as a Windows Service?

• Consult the AlwaysUp Troubleshooter - our online tool that can help you resolve the most common problems encountered when running an application as a windows service.
• From AlwaysUp, select Application > Report Activity > Today... to bring up a HTML report detailing the interaction between AlwaysUp and your application. The AlwaysUp Event Log Messages page explains the more obscure messages.
• Browse the AlwaysUp FAQ for answers to commonly asked questions and troubleshooting tips.
• Contact us and we will be happy to help!