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A \'Windows service\' is a long-running executable that performs specific functions and which is designed not to require user intervention. Usually, Windows services start when the Microsoft Windows operating system is booted and run in the background as long as Windows is running. They are similar in concept to a Unix daemon. They appear in the processes list in Windows Task Manager, most often with a username of SYSTEM, LOCAL SERVICE or NETWORK SERVICE, though not all processes with the SYSTEM username are services.
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Once a service is installed, it can be managed by launching "Services" from the Windows Control Panel => Administrative Tools or typing "Services.msc" in the Run command on Start menu. The "Services" management console provides a brief description of the service functions and displays the path to the service executable, its current status, startup type, dependencies and the account under which the service is running. It enables users to:
In Windows Vista, users can also manipulate services through MSConfig or the Windows Task Manager.
A Windows Service is created using development tools such as Microsoft Visual Studio. Windows provides an interface called the Service Control Manager that manages the starting and stopping of services. An application that wants to be a service needs to first be written in such a way that it can handle start|stop|pause|... messages from the Service Control Manager. Then, in one or more API calls, the name of the service and other attributes such as its description are registered with the Service Control Manager. Although typically services do not have a user interface, developers can add forms and other UI components. In this case, the "Allow service to interact with desktop" should be checked on the Logon tab in the Service properties dialog.
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