Question

I created a windows service in VS:File->New Project->C#->Windows Services
But I don’t know how to run and test it.VS says I have to install my windows services to run it.but I Just want to test it and I don’t want to install it.Can anybody Help me???

Answer 1

To debug your Windows service, add the following in your Main():

if (!Environment.UserInteractive) {
    // We are not in debug mode, startup as service

    ServiceBase[] ServicesToRun;
    ServicesToRun = new ServiceBase[] { new MyServer() };
    ServiceBase.Run(ServicesToRun);
} else {
    // We are in debug mode, startup as application

    MyServer service = new MyServer();
    service.StartService();
    System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(System.Threading.Timeout.Infinite);
}

And the following method in your class MyServer:

public void StartService() {
    this.OnStart(new string[0]);
}

Now hit F5 to debug, as any winform or console application.