No, it has nothing to do with open or print. I actually pared down the script to the barest minimum possible (pseudo code follows)

start service
sleep for 30
stop service
[download]

The darn service just doesn't start. Google revealed a thread on ASPN's forum -- someone there was having a similar, inexplicable problem with a WinXP machine, while the exact same script was running fine on a Win2k box. Others reported back that they had no problems on WinXP. I am wondering if I have been hit by some strange WinXP related bug. Tomorrow I will see if I can try the script on a Win2k box.

Very frustrating.