Can ASHLPD be started as a service?

I need it to start on reboot without a user logging in. I've got it in the STARTUP folder, which works once a user has logged in, but doesn't work if nobody logs in. This server is pretty much dedicated to the task at hand, and doesn't have any regular users.

Yes.

You can use the atsdsrv.exe utility which comes with ATSD (to start it as a service) for starting anything as a service. Here's a post that contains a few more details:

http://www.microsabio.net/ubb2/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=6;t=000205#000000