Windows service on Local Computer started and then stopped error

Question

Usually, I get this error: (The \"service name\" service on Local Computer started and then stopped. Some services stop automatically if they are not in use by other service

Answer 1

Meanwhile, another reason : accidentally deleted the .config file caused the same error message appears:

"Service on local computer started and then stopped. some services stop automatically..."

Answer 2

You may want to unit test the initialization - but because it's in the OnStart method this is near to impossible. I would suggest moving the initialization code out into a separate class so that it can be tested or at least re-used in a form tester.

Secondly to add some logging (using Log4Net or similar) and add some verbose logging so that you can see details about runtime errors. Examples of runtime errors would be AccessViolation etc. especially if your service is running without enough privileges to access the config files.

Answer 3

In our case, nothing was added in the Windows Event Logs except logs that the problematic service has been started and then stopped.

It turns out that the service's CONFIG file was invalid. Correcting the invalid CONFIG file fixed the issue.

Answer 4

Not sure this will be helpful, but for debugging a service you could always use the following in the OnStart method:

protected override void OnStart(string[] args)
{
     System.Diagnostics.Debugger.Launch();
     ...
}

than you could attach your visual studio to the process and have better debug abilities.

hope this was helpful, good luck

Answer 5

I have found it very handy to convert your existing windows service to a console by simply changing your program with the following. With this change you can run the program by debugging in visual studio or running the executable normally. But it will also work as a windows service. I also made a blog post about it

program.cs

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var program = new YOUR_PROGRAM();
        if (Environment.UserInteractive)
        {
            program.Start();
        }
        else
        {
            ServiceBase.Run(new ServiceBase[]
            {
                program
            });
        }
    }
}

YOUR_PROGRAM.cs

[RunInstallerAttribute(true)]
public class YOUR_PROGRAM : ServiceBase
{
    public YOUR_PROGRAM()
    {
        InitializeComponent();
    }

    protected override void OnStart(string[] args)
    {
        Start();
    }

    protected override void OnStop()
    {
        //Stop Logic Here
    }

    public void Start()
    {
        //Start Logic here
    }
}

Answer 6

EventLog.Log should be set as "Application"