Question

I have created a C# Windows Service and its accompanying Visual Studio Setup project that creates an installer. It successfully installs the service.

When I choose any value from enum ServiceAccount apart from ServiceAccount.User, the service installs without prompting using the appropriate built-in user. What I am after is actually installing the service under current user’s credentials. When I specify ServiceAccount.User, I get a prompt for a user name and password during installation. What I need to do is find a way to install the service with the credentials of the user who is running the setup without prompting for password.

Is this at all possible? I am willing to resort to any measures needed (like loads of P/Invoke) to get the job done.

Answer 1

You can’t, there’s no way to extract the clear-text password unless something is misconfigured and you’ll need that to set up the service. See this similar question.

Also, in general, services should be installed with a separate and unique account per service with least privilege.