[c#] Automatically start a Windows Service on install

I have a Windows Service which I install using the InstallUtil.exe. Even though I have set the Startup Method to Automatic, the service does not start when installed, I have to manually open the services and click start. Is there a way to start it either via the command line, or through the code of the Service?

You corrupted your designer. ReAdd your Installer Component. It should have a serviceInstaller and a serviceProcessInstaller. The serviceInstaller with property Startup Method set to Automatic will startup when installed and after each reboot.

How about following commands?

net start "<service name>"
net stop "<service name>"

Despite following the accepted answer exactly, I was still unable to get the service to start-- I was instead given a failure message during installation stating that the service that was just installed could not be started, as it did not exist, despite using this.serviceInstaller.ServiceName rather than a literal...

I eventually found an alternative solution that makes use of the command line:

private void serviceInstaller_AfterInstall(object sender, InstallEventArgs e) {
        ProcessStartInfo startInfo = new ProcessStartInfo();
        startInfo.WindowStyle = ProcessWindowStyle.Hidden;
        startInfo.FileName = "cmd.exe";
        startInfo.Arguments = "/C sc start " + this.serviceInstaller.ServiceName;

        Process process = new Process();
        process.StartInfo = startInfo;
        process.Start();
    }

Just a note: You might have set up your service differently using the forms interface to add a service installer and project installer. In that case replace where it says serviceInstaller.ServiceName with "name from designer".ServiceName.

You also don't need the private members in this case.

Thanks for the help.

You can use the GetServices method of ServiceController class to get an array of all the services. Then, find your service by checking the ServiceName property of each service. When you've found your service, call the Start method to start it.

You should also check the Status property to see what state it is already in before calling start (it may be running, paused, stopped, etc..).

Automatic startup means that the service is automatically started when Windows starts. As others have mentioned, to start it from the console you should use the ServiceController.

After refactoring a little bit, this is an example of a complete windows service installer with automatic start:

using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Configuration.Install;
using System.ServiceProcess;

namespace Example.of.name.space
{
[RunInstaller(true)]
public partial class ServiceInstaller : Installer
{
    private readonly ServiceProcessInstaller processInstaller;
    private readonly System.ServiceProcess.ServiceInstaller serviceInstaller;

    public ServiceInstaller()
    {
        InitializeComponent();
        processInstaller = new ServiceProcessInstaller();
        serviceInstaller = new System.ServiceProcess.ServiceInstaller();

        // Service will run under system account
        processInstaller.Account = ServiceAccount.LocalSystem;

        // Service will have Automatic Start Type
        serviceInstaller.StartType = ServiceStartMode.Automatic;

        serviceInstaller.ServiceName = "Windows Automatic Start Service";

        Installers.Add(serviceInstaller);
        Installers.Add(processInstaller);
        serviceInstaller.AfterInstall += ServiceInstaller_AfterInstall;            
    }
    private void ServiceInstaller_AfterInstall(object sender, InstallEventArgs e)
    {
        ServiceController sc = new ServiceController("Windows Automatic Start Service");
        sc.Start();
    }
}
}

This is OK for me. In Service project add to Installer.cs

[RunInstaller(true)]
public partial class ProjectInstaller : System.Configuration.Install.Installer
{
    public ProjectInstaller()
    {
        InitializeComponent();
    }
 
    protected override void OnAfterInstall(IDictionary savedState)
    {
        base.OnAfterInstall(savedState);
 
        //The following code starts the services after it is installed.
        using (System.ServiceProcess.ServiceController serviceController = new System.ServiceProcess.ServiceController(serviceInstaller1.ServiceName))
        {
            serviceController.Start();
        }
    }
}

Programmatic options for controlling services:

• Native code can used, "Starting a Service". Maximum control with minimum dependencies but the most work.
• WMI: Win32_Service has a StartService method. This is good for cases where you need to be able to perform other processing (e.g. to select which service).
• PowerShell: execute Start-Service via RunspaceInvoke or by creating your own Runspace and using its CreatePipeline method to execute. This is good for cases where you need to be able to perform other processing (e.g. to select which service) with a much easier coding model than WMI, but depends on PSH being installed.
• A .NET application can use ServiceController

Here is a procedure and code using generated ProjectInstaller in Visual Studio:

1. Create Windows Service project in Visual Studio
2. Generate installers to the service
3. Open ProjectInstaller in design editor (it should open automatically when installer is created) and set properties of generated serviceProcessInstaller1 (e.g. Account: LocalSystem) and serviceInstaller1 (e.g. StartType: Automatic)
4. Open ProjectInstaller in code editor (press F7 in design editor) and add event handler to ServiceInstaller.AfterInstall - see the following code. It will start the service after its installation.

ProjectInstaller class:

using System.ServiceProcess;


[RunInstaller(true)]
public partial class ProjectInstaller : System.Configuration.Install.Installer
{
    public ProjectInstaller()
    {
        InitializeComponent(); //generated code including property settings from previous steps
        this.serviceInstaller1.AfterInstall += Autorun_AfterServiceInstall; //use your ServiceInstaller name if changed from serviceInstaller1
    }

    void Autorun_AfterServiceInstall(object sender, InstallEventArgs e)
    {
        ServiceInstaller serviceInstaller = (ServiceInstaller)sender;
        using (ServiceController sc = new ServiceController(serviceInstaller.ServiceName))
        {
            sc.Start();
        }
    }
}

Use ServiceController to start your service from code.

Update: And more correct way to start service from the command line is to use "sc" (Service Controller) command instead of "net".

You can use the following command line to start the service:

net start *servicename*