How to: Install and Uninstall Services

Unlike most projects you create in Visual Studio, Windows Service projects cannot be run directly from the development environment by pressing F5. This is because the service in the project must be installed before the project can run.

You can quickly install your service application by using a command-line utility called InstallUtil.exe. You can also create a setup project that contains your project's output and create a custom action with it that will run the installers associated with the project and install your service. For an example, see Walkthrough: Creating a Windows Service Application in the Component Designer. For more information on setup projects, see Setup Projects. For more information on custom actions, see Walkthrough: Creating a Custom Action.

To install your service manually

1. Access the directory in which your project's compiled executable file is located.

2. Run InstallUtil.exe from the command line with your project's output as a parameter. Enter the following code on the command line:

   installutil yourproject.exe
   

To uninstall your service manually

• Run InstallUtil.exe from the command line with your project's output as a parameter. Enter the following code on the command line:

  installutil /u yourproject.exe
  

  Tip

  You can launch Server Explorer and verify that your service has been installed or uninstalled. For more information, see How to: Access and Initialize Server Explorer/Database Explorer.

See Also

Tasks

How to: Create Windows Services

How to: Add Installers to Your Service Application

How to: Configure Installation Components

How to: Override Default Methods on Installation Components

Walkthrough: Creating a Windows Service Application in the Component Designer

Walkthrough: Creating a Custom Action

Concepts

Introduction to Windows Service Applications

Introduction to Installation Components

Setup Projects

Reference

How to: Access and Initialize Server Explorer/Database Explorer