diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 0d37fbfc..49c1a8a3 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Version 2.3.0 (2012-12-05 09:00:19) rc1
+Version 2.3.0 (2012-12-05 11:02:32) rc1
diff --git a/gluon/widget.py b/gluon/widget.py
index 1f95efa7..70b399d2 100644
--- a/gluon/widget.py
+++ b/gluon/widget.py
@@ -1112,17 +1112,6 @@ def start(cron=True):
             pass
         return
 
-    # ## if -H cron is enabled in this *process*
-    # ## if --softcron use softcron
-    # ## use hardcron in all other cases
-    if cron and options.runcron and options.softcron:
-        print 'Using softcron (but this is not very efficient)'
-        global_settings.web2py_crontype = 'soft'
-    elif cron and options.runcron:
-        logger.debug('Starting hardcron...')
-        global_settings.web2py_crontype = 'hard'
-        newcron.hardcron(options.folder).start()
-
     # ## if -W install/start/stop web2py as service
     if options.winservice:
         if os.name == 'nt':
@@ -1137,6 +1126,17 @@ def start(cron=True):
             sys.exit(1)
         return
 
+    # ## if -H cron is enabled in this *process*
+    # ## if --softcron use softcron
+    # ## use hardcron in all other cases
+    if cron and options.runcron and options.softcron:
+        print 'Using softcron (but this is not very efficient)'
+        global_settings.web2py_crontype = 'soft'
+    elif cron and options.runcron:
+        logger.debug('Starting hardcron...')
+        global_settings.web2py_crontype = 'hard'
+        newcron.hardcron(options.folder).start()
+
     # ## if no password provided and havetk start Tk interface
     # ## or start interface if we want to put in taskbar (system tray)
 
diff --git a/gluon/winservice.py b/gluon/winservice.py
index 38efe812..36d4f0a7 100644
--- a/gluon/winservice.py
+++ b/gluon/winservice.py
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import servicemanager
 import _winreg
 from fileutils import up
 
+
 __all__ = ['web2py_windows_service_handler']
 
 
@@ -152,20 +153,60 @@ class Web2pyService(Service):
         time.sleep(1)
 
 
-def web2py_windows_service_handler(argv=None, opt_file='options'):
+class Web2pyCronService(Web2pyService):
+
+    _svc_name_ = 'web2py_cron'
+    _svc_display_name_ = 'web2py Cron Service'
+    _exe_args_ = 'options'
+
+    def start(self):
+        import newcron
+        import global_settings
+        self.log('web2py server starting')
+        if not self.chdir():
+            return
+        if len(sys.argv) == 2:
+            opt_mod = sys.argv[1]
+        else:
+            opt_mod = self._exe_args_
+        options = __import__(opt_mod, [], [], '')
+        global_settings.global_settings.web2py_crontype = 'external'
+        if options.scheduler:   # -K                         
+            apps = [app.strip() for app in options.scheduler.split(
+                    ',') if check_existent_app(options, app.strip())]
+        else:
+            apps = None
+        self.extcron = newcron.extcron(options.folder, apps=apps)
+        try:
+            self.extcron.start()
+        except:
+            # self.server.stop()
+            self.extcron = None
+            raise
+
+    def stop(self):
+        self.log('web2py cron stopping')
+        if not self.chdir():
+            return
+        if self.extcron:
+            self.extcron.join()
+
+def register_service_handler(
+    name=Web2pyService, argv=None, opt_file='options'):
     path = os.path.dirname(__file__)
     web2py_path = up(path)
     if web2py_path.endswith('.zip'):  # in case bianry distro 'library.zip'
         web2py_path = os.path.dirname(web2py_path)
     os.chdir(web2py_path)
     classstring = os.path.normpath(
-        os.path.join(web2py_path, 'gluon.winservice.Web2pyService'))
+        os.path.join(web2py_path, 'gluon.winservice.'+name.__name__))
     if opt_file:
-        Web2pyService._exe_args_ = opt_file
-        win32serviceutil.HandleCommandLine(Web2pyService,
-                                           serviceClassString=classstring, argv=['', 'install'])
-    win32serviceutil.HandleCommandLine(Web2pyService,
-                                       serviceClassString=classstring, argv=argv)
+        name._exe_args_ = opt_file
+        win32serviceutil.HandleCommandLine(
+            name, serviceClassString=classstring, argv=['', 'install'])
+    win32serviceutil.HandleCommandLine(
+        name, serviceClassString=classstring, argv=argv)
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
-    web2py_windows_service_handler()
+    register_service_handler(Web2pyService)
+    register_service_handler(Web2pyCronService)