C# Signature:

[DllImport("advapi32.dll", SetLastError=true)]
[return: MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)]
public static extern bool DeleteService( IntPtr hService );

VB.Net Signature:

<DllImport("advapi32.dll", SetLastError:=True)> _
Public Function DeleteService(ByVal hService As IntPtr) As Boolean
End Function

VB Signature:

Declare Function DeleteService Lib "advapi32.dll" (ByVal hService As Integer) As Integer

User-Defined Types:

None.

Notes:

Use the System.ServiceProcess.ServiceInstaller and System.ServiceProcess.ServiceProcessInstaller when ever possible; however, there are a some cases, such as the state file being corrupted or lost, they do not handel and ended up having to use the API to remove the service.

VB Signature:

Declare Function DeleteService Lib "advapi32.dll" (ByVal hService As Integer) As Integer

User-Defined Types:

None.

Notes:

Use the System.ServiceProcess.ServiceInstaller and System.ServiceProcess.ServiceProcessInstaller when ever possible; however, there are a some cases, such as the state file being corrupted or lost, they do not handel and ended up having to use the API to remove the service.

Tips & Tricks:

Please add some!

Tips & Tricks:

Please add some!

Sample Code:

    #region SERVICE_ACCESS
    [Flags]
    public enum SERVICE_ACCESS : uint
    {
        STANDARD_RIGHTS_REQUIRED   = 0xF0000,
        SERVICE_QUERY_CONFIG       = 0x00001,
        SERVICE_CHANGE_CONFIG      = 0x00002,
        SERVICE_QUERY_STATUS       = 0x00004,
        SERVICE_ENUMERATE_DEPENDENTS   = 0x00008,
        SERVICE_START      = 0x00010,
        SERVICE_STOP       = 0x00020,
        SERVICE_PAUSE_CONTINUE     = 0x00040,
        SERVICE_INTERROGATE    = 0x00080,
        SERVICE_USER_DEFINED_CONTROL   = 0x00100,
        SERVICE_ALL_ACCESS     = (STANDARD_RIGHTS_REQUIRED     |
            SERVICE_QUERY_CONFIG     |
            SERVICE_CHANGE_CONFIG    |
            SERVICE_QUERY_STATUS     |
            SERVICE_ENUMERATE_DEPENDENTS |
            SERVICE_START    |
            SERVICE_STOP     |
            SERVICE_PAUSE_CONTINUE       |
            SERVICE_INTERROGATE      |
            SERVICE_USER_DEFINED_CONTROL)
    }
    #endregion
    #region SCM_ACCESS
    [Flags]
    public enum SCM_ACCESS : uint
    {
        STANDARD_RIGHTS_REQUIRED       = 0xF0000,
        SC_MANAGER_CONNECT     = 0x00001,
        SC_MANAGER_CREATE_SERVICE      = 0x00002,
        SC_MANAGER_ENUMERATE_SERVICE   = 0x00004,
        SC_MANAGER_LOCK    = 0x00008,
        SC_MANAGER_QUERY_LOCK_STATUS   = 0x00010,
        SC_MANAGER_MODIFY_BOOT_CONFIG  = 0x00020,
        SC_MANAGER_ALL_ACCESS      = STANDARD_RIGHTS_REQUIRED |
            SC_MANAGER_CONNECT |
            SC_MANAGER_CREATE_SERVICE |
            SC_MANAGER_ENUMERATE_SERVICE |
            SC_MANAGER_LOCK |
            SC_MANAGER_QUERY_LOCK_STATUS |
            SC_MANAGER_MODIFY_BOOT_CONFIG
    }
    #endregion

        #region DeleteService
        [DllImport("advapi32.dll", SetLastError=true)]
        [return: MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)]
        public static extern bool DeleteService( IntPtr hService );
        #endregion
        #region OpenService
        [DllImport("advapi32.dll", SetLastError=true, CharSet=CharSet.Auto)]
        static extern IntPtr OpenService(IntPtr hSCManager, string lpServiceName, SERVICE_ACCESS dwDesiredAccess);
        #endregion
        #region OpenSCManager
        [DllImport("advapi32.dll", EntryPoint="OpenSCManagerW", ExactSpelling=true, CharSet=CharSet.Unicode, SetLastError=true)]
        static extern IntPtr OpenSCManager( string machineName, string databaseName, SCM_ACCESS dwDesiredAccess );
        #endregion
        #region CloseServiceHandle
        [DllImport("advapi32.dll", SetLastError=true)]
        [return: MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)]
        static extern bool CloseServiceHandle( IntPtr hSCObject );
        #endregion

            try
            {
                IntPtr schSCManager = OpenSCManager( null, null, SCM_ACCESS.SC_MANAGER_ALL_ACCESS);
                if( schSCManager != IntPtr.Zero )
                {
                    IntPtr schService = OpenService( schSCManager, txtServiceName.Text, SERVICE_ACCESS.SERVICE_ALL_ACCESS);
                    if( schService != IntPtr.Zero )
                    {
                        if(DeleteService( schService )== false)
                        {
                            MessageBox.Show(
                                string.Format("DeleteService failed {0}",Marshal.GetLastWin32Error()));
                        }
                    }
                    CloseServiceHandle( schSCManager );
                    // if you don't close this handle, Services control panel
                    // shows the service as "disabled", and you'll get 1072 errors
                    // trying to reuse this service's name
                    CloseServiceHandle( schService );

                }
            }
            catch (System.Exception ex)
            {
                MessageBox.Show(ex.Message);
            }        

Alternative Managed API:

One could use the System.ServiceProcess.ServiceInstaller and System.ServiceProcess.ServiceProcessInstaller, but doing so will create an InstallState file that may be undesirable.

Do you know one? Please contribute it!

One could use the System.ServiceProcess.ServiceInstaller and System.ServiceProcess.ServiceProcessInstaller, but doing so will create an InstallState file that may be undesirable.

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