First, thanks for your answer, Butcho.
Yes, I have tried to use it in normal (not service mode) and it works. Both times doing a clean "install".
I did use v1.9 packed at first as a service and it worked with no problems. When the unpacked release was posted, I used it and saw no difference, so I kept using it.
I have not changed the configuration of the computer in any way. That, and the fact that something I did not experienced before, two eMule process, one a native windows one and one that is not, lead me to believe that maybe you changed the packer or the configuration of the packer at packing time.
Anyways, running as a service is easy. Like I said before You only need two files from the Resource Kit and you don't even have to install the Resource Kit or these particular files.
One of the files, INSTSRV.EXE, will install (and uninstall) most executables as a service and the other file, SRVANY.EXE, is used as a helper to run it. The only not straight forward part is modifying the way the service is created in the registry and adding a subkey.
I have installed the Resource Kit, taken the files I need and then uninstall it.
Please, let me know if you want to try this yourself. I will gladly help if needed.
Best of luck to you, butcho and to all my peers :)