Windows service NOT shown in add remove programs under control panel

Question

I installed my windows service via (name of the service: Testing Service)

InstallUtil.exe present in .NET Framework (:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\FrameWork64\v4) in a windows 7 computer.

I can see my service under services console.

However, i went to programs and features of control panel to manually uninstall the same service, i didn't see my services under programs and features?

Any thoughts why a service will not be shown, so that, user can uninstall it?

I checked the show hidden files too, but still service not shown?

Answer 1

InstallUtil.exe: As others have stated, InstallUtil.exe is intended for development use only, not for final distribution of your service.

MSI: The normal way to deploy services in the fashion you describe (with a proper entry in add/remove programs) would be to use an MSI installer created using a tool designed to help you do so (it is not advisable to "roll your own" tool to do this).

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Ad-Hoc: The ad-hoc description of deployment tools below was written in a hurry, and has sort of been re-purposed as a general description of such tools. Not too relevant for the question asked, but it sort of "happened" and here it is.

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Free MSI Tools / Viewers

How can I compare the content of two (or more) MSI files? (towards bottom) - (most of) these are not full-featured tools to make setups, but great to inspect MSI files and to create transforms.

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MSI Tools: Short-List

There are many tools you can use for MSI-creation, for example (arbitrary order - links to Stefan Kruger's installsite.org below will show further tools, these are just the most common ones):

WiX - quick download

• Free, open source framework - excellent, but with a learning curve, hence a few more links.

  • WiX quick-start tips (a bit chaotic, strangely upvoted, must be helpful).
  • WiX's commercial branch FireGiant has a WiX expansion pack (which costs money).
  • Windows Installer and the creation of WiX (what is the idea behind WiX?).
  • How to install and start a Windows Service using WiX.
  • Documentation: ServiceInstall, ServiceControl.
  • Untested: How to create a Windows Service MSI Installer Using WiX.

• IsWiX - quick download

  • Deployment and MSI expert Chris Painter has his own, free WiX-based tool called IsWiX
  • It can help with WiX's learning curve and manage WiX source files.
  • Also see his IsWiX Tutorials.

• The various ways used (and abused) to install Windows Services.

Advanced Installer - quick download

• Great commercial tool with lots of smarts to help you deliver packages quickly and reliably.
• Some free features.
• Here is a great gateway to all things Advanced Installer.
• installing services, how-to.

InstallShield - quick download

• The old and established market leader tool Installshield features a very rich set of functionality capable of delivering advanced setup requirements.
• There used to be a Lite version which cost money at one point. Not sure if it is available now.
• There is an InstallShield Limited Edition version. Unsure of its feature set and cost (if any). Does not work with Visual Studio Community editions.
• Installing, Controlling, and Configuring Windows Services.

PACE suite - quick download

• https://pacesuite.com/support/
• https://pacesuite.com/docs/v5.5/how-to/edit-mgp/services/index.html

Visual Studio Installer project type

• There is also the Visual Studio Installer project type in Visual Studio (VS 2017 sample).
• I would not really recommend this - especially if you have advanced deployment or automation requirements.
• It is very basic, and there are many severe limitations.
• Install the Visual Studio setup and deployment project template.

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Auto-Update?: Various ways to create auto-updating packages.

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MSI Tools: Comparisons and Descriptions

What are the above tools like in actual use? Here are some pragmatic observations and summaries:

• How to create windows installer (recommended overview).
• What installation product to use? InstallShield, WiX, Wise, Advanced Installer, etc (an aging, detailed comparison of these major MSI tools - very detailed and "pragmatic").

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Deployment Tools (General)

There are many further tools available to create create installers / setup.exe files of various kinds (not just MSI tools, but general purpose, legacy tools, multi-platform tools, etc...):

Stefan Kruger's Comprehensive Lists:

• Non-MSI installer tools: http://www.installsite.org/pages/en/tt_nonmsi.htm
• Windows installer tools: http://www.installsite.org/pages/en/msi/authoring.htm
• Sys-admin tools: http://www.installsite.org/pages/en/msi/admins.htm

Other Links:

• Cross-Platform Installers: Does an universal cross-platform installer exists? (non-MSI tools).

• dotNetInstaller: There is also the dotNetInstaller Setup Bootstrapper - which I have never used.

• Here it is on github.com (source).

• Just a bootstrapper (runs things in sequence for you, and then some), not a development tool as such. I find this tool "a bit weird".

Some General Links: And there are various other ways to deploy - for example with self-extracting zip archives and stuff like that. Not recommended, but some links:

• Error Creating a 7-zip installer package (7-Zip, iExpress and other self-extractor creators)
• Combine exe and msi file in one installer (recommended)
• Visual Studio 2017 Installer Project - include VC++ 2015 Redistributable (WiX Burn Quick Start)
• Additional Setup in Visual Studio Installer Projects