Installing Windows Service programmatically

Question

How do I install a Windows Service programmatically without using installutil.exe?

Answer 1

I cannot comment bc of missing reputation, but regarding Mark Redman's Solution - If you wonder you cannot find your key in the given path, checkout the WOW6432Node

From AdvancedInstaller:

"The Wow6432Node registry entry indicates that you are running a 64-bit Windows version.

The operating system uses this key to display a separate view of HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE for 32-bit applications that run on 64-bit Windows versions. When a 32-bit application writes or reads a value under the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\<company>\<product> subkey, the application reads from the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\<company>\<product> subkey.

A registry reflector copies certain values between the 32-bit and 64-bit registry views (mainly for COM registration) and resolves any conflicts using a "last-writer-wins" approach."

Answer 2

I install and uninstall my Windows Service via the command line, e.g., MyWindowsService.exe -install and MyWindowsService.exe -uninstall, to avoid using installutil.exe myself. I've written a set of instructions for how to do this here.

Answer 3

You can install the service by adding this code (in the program file, Program.cs) to install itself when run from the commandline using specified parameters:

/// <summary>
        /// The main entry point for the application.
        /// </summary>
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            if (System.Environment.UserInteractive)
            {

                if (args.Length > 0)
                {
                    switch (args[0])
                    {
                        case "-install":
                            {
                                ManagedInstallerClass.InstallHelper(new string[] { Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().Location });
                                break;
                            }
                        case "-uninstall":
                            {
                                ManagedInstallerClass.InstallHelper(new string[] { "/u", Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().Location });
                                break;
                            }
                    }
                }
            }
            else
            {
                ServiceBase[] ServicesToRun;
                ServicesToRun = new ServiceBase[] { new MyService() };
                ServiceBase.Run(ServicesToRun);
            }
        }

Answer 4

I use the method from the following CodeProject article, and it works great.

Windows Services Can Install Themselves