How to make a .NET Windows Service start right after the installation?

I’ve posted a step-by-step procedure for creating a Windows service in C# here. It sounds like you’re at least to this point, and now you’re wondering how to start the service once it is installed. Setting the StartType property to Automatic will cause the service to start automatically after rebooting your system, but it will not (as you’ve discovered) automatically start your service after installation.

I don’t remember where I found it originally (perhaps Marc Gravell?), but I did find a solution online that allows you to install and start your service by actually running your service itself. Here’s the step-by-step:

1. Structure the Main() function of your service like this:

   static void Main(string[] args)
   {
       if (args.Length == 0) {
           // Run your service normally.
           ServiceBase[] ServicesToRun = new ServiceBase[] {new YourService()};
           ServiceBase.Run(ServicesToRun);
       } else if (args.Length == 1) {
           switch (args[0]) {
               case "-install":
                   InstallService();
                   StartService();
                   break;
               case "-uninstall":
                   StopService();
                   UninstallService();
                   break;
               default:
                   throw new NotImplementedException();
           }
       }
   }
   

2. Here is the supporting code:

   using System.Collections;
   using System.Configuration.Install;
   using System.ServiceProcess;
   
   private static bool IsInstalled()
   {
       using (ServiceController controller = 
           new ServiceController("YourServiceName")) {
           try {
               ServiceControllerStatus status = controller.Status;
           } catch {
               return false;
           }
           return true;
       }
   }
   
   private static bool IsRunning()
   {
       using (ServiceController controller = 
           new ServiceController("YourServiceName")) {
           if (!IsInstalled()) return false;
           return (controller.Status == ServiceControllerStatus.Running);
       }
   }
   
   private static AssemblyInstaller GetInstaller()
   {
       AssemblyInstaller installer = new AssemblyInstaller(
           typeof(YourServiceType).Assembly, null);
       installer.UseNewContext = true;
       return installer;
   }
   

3. Continuing with the supporting code…

   private static void InstallService()
   {
       if (IsInstalled()) return;
   
       try {
           using (AssemblyInstaller installer = GetInstaller()) {
               IDictionary state = new Hashtable();
               try {
                   installer.Install(state);
                   installer.Commit(state);
               } catch {
                   try {
                       installer.Rollback(state);
                   } catch { }
                   throw;
               }
           }
       } catch {
           throw;
       }
   }
   
   private static void UninstallService()
   {
       if ( !IsInstalled() ) return;
       try {
           using ( AssemblyInstaller installer = GetInstaller() ) {
               IDictionary state = new Hashtable();
               try {
                   installer.Uninstall( state );
               } catch {
                   throw;
               }
           }
       } catch {
           throw;
       }
   }
   
   private static void StartService()
   {
       if ( !IsInstalled() ) return;
   
       using (ServiceController controller = 
           new ServiceController("YourServiceName")) {
           try {
               if ( controller.Status != ServiceControllerStatus.Running ) {
                   controller.Start();
                   controller.WaitForStatus( ServiceControllerStatus.Running, 
                       TimeSpan.FromSeconds( 10 ) );
               }
           } catch {
               throw;
           }
       }
   }
   
   private static void StopService()
   {
       if ( !IsInstalled() ) return;
       using ( ServiceController controller = 
           new ServiceController("YourServiceName")) {
           try {
               if ( controller.Status != ServiceControllerStatus.Stopped ) {
                   controller.Stop();
                   controller.WaitForStatus( ServiceControllerStatus.Stopped, 
                        TimeSpan.FromSeconds( 10 ) );
               }
           } catch {
               throw;
           }
       }
   }
   

4. At this point, after you install your service on the target machine, just run your service from the command line (like any ordinary application) with the -install command line argument to install and start your service.

I think I’ve covered everything, but if you find this doesn’t work, please let me know so I can update the answer.