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PsService v2.26

  • Article

By Mark Russinovich

Published: March 30, 2023

Download Download PsTools (5 MB)

Introduction

PsService is a service viewer and controller for Windows. Like the SC utility that's included in the Windows NT and Windows 2000 Resource Kits, PsService displays the status, configuration, and dependencies of a service, and allows you to start, stop, pause, resume and restart them. Unlike the SC utility, PsService enables you to logon to a remote system using a different account, for cases when the account from which you run it doesn't have required permissions on the remote system. PsService includes a unique service-search capability, which identifies active instances of a service on your network. You would use the search feature if you wanted to locate systems running DHCP servers, for instance.

Finally, PsService works on both NT 4, Windows 2000 and Windows Vista, whereas the Windows 2000 Resource Kit version of SC requires Windows 2000, and PsService doesn't require you to manually enter a "resume index" in order to obtain a complete listing of service information.>

Installation

Just copy PsService onto your executable path, and type "psservice".

Using PsService

The default behavior of PsService is to display the configured services (both running and stopped) on the local system. Entering a command on the command-line invokes a particular feature, and some commands accept options. Typing a command followed by "- " displays information on the syntax for the command.

Usage: psservice [\\computer [-u username] [-p password]] <command> <options>

Parameter Description
query Displays the status of a service.
config Displays the configuration of a service.
setconfig Sets the start type (disabled, auto, demand) of a service.
start Starts a service.
stop Stops a service.
restart Stops and then restarts a service.
pause Pauses a service
cont Resumes a paused service.
depend Lists the services dependent on the one specified.
security Dumps the service's security descriptor.
find Searches the network for the specified service.
\\computer Targets the NT/Win2K system specified. Include the -u switch with a username and password to login to the remote system if your security credentials do not permit you to obtain performance counter information from the remote system. If you specify the -u option, but not a password with the -p option, PsService will prompt you to enter the password and will not echo it to the screen.

How it Works

PsService uses the Service Control Manager APIs that are documented in the Platform SDK.

Download Download PsTools (5 MB)

PsTools

PsService is part of a growing kit of Sysinternals command-line tools that aid in the administration of local and remote systems named PsTools.

Runs on:

  • Client: Windows 8.1 and higher.
  • Server: Windows Server 2012 and higher.