I constantly seek effective methods to handle system tasks directly from the terminal, even on a Windows system. Windows services operate in the background, ensuring the smooth operation of the system and applications. Instead of navigating through the Services Manager, I prefer managing these services using command-line tools. This guide will delve into these techniques, demonstrating how you can control Windows services right from the command line.

Table of Contents

• 1. Using sc.exe to Manage Windows Services
• 2. Utilizing the Net Command for Service Management
• 3. Leveraging PowerShell Cmdlets for Service Control
• 4. Automating Service Management Tasks

1. Using sc.exe to Manage Windows Services

sc.exe is a command-line utility built into Windows, designed for managing services. It allows you to configure, query, and control services directly from the command line, providing full control over Windows services without the need for the graphical Services Manager.

Checking service status with sc

To check the status of a specific service, you can use the sc query serviceName command. For instance, executing sc query MySQL80 will provide details about the MySQL80 service, including its current state:

In this case, MySQL is currently not running on the system.

Starting a service with sc

To initiate a service using sc.exe, you can use the sc start ServiceName command. For example, to start the MySQL80 service, you would run sc start MySQL80. To confirm that the service has started successfully, you can check its status again with sc query MySQL80:

Stopping a service with sc

If you need to stop a service to free up system resources, you can use the sc stop ServiceName command. For example, to stop MySQL, you would execute sc stop MySQL80, and then verify its status with sc query MySQL80:

Creating a new service with sc

You can create a new service using the sc create command, specifying the service name, executable path, and startup type. For example, to create a service named "mte" that starts automatically at boot, you would type:

<code>sc create mte binPath= "C:\Users\HP\Desktop\Examples\Service.exe" start= auto</code>

Updating a service with sc

To configure an existing service, you can use the sc config command. For instance, to change the startup type to manual, you would run:

<code>sc config serviceName start= demand</code>

Deleting a service with sc

To permanently remove a service from Windows that is no longer needed, you can use the command:

<code>sc delete srviceName</code>

2. Utilizing the Net Command for Service Management

The net command in Windows allows you to manage services directly from the command line, offering options to start, stop, pause, resume, and query services without the need for the graphical Services Manager.

Starting and stopping service with net command

To start or stop Windows services, you can use the net start serviceName and net stop serviceName commands, respectively:

Pausing and resuming services with net command

Some services support pausing and resuming instead of a complete stop. In such cases, you can use the net pause ServiceName and net continue ServiceName commands, respectively:

Checking service status with net command

While the net command does not directly check the status of a specific service, you can use it in conjunction with the findstr command to filter results. For example, to check if a specified service is running, you would type:

<code>net start | findstr "ServiceName"</code>

If the service is running, the command will return its name; otherwise, there will be no output.

Manage services remotely with net command

You can manage services on remote computers using the net command by specifying the computer name. For instance, to start or stop services on a remote computer, you would use net start ServiceName /S RemotePC and net stop ServiceName /S RemotePC, respectively.

3. Leveraging PowerShell Cmdlets for Service Control

PowerShell provides advanced control over Windows services with built-in cmdlets such as Get-Service, Start-Service, Stop-Service, and Restart-Service. These cmdlets allow you to check the status of a service, start or stop it, and even restart it when necessary.

PowerShell cmdlets offer detailed output, including service status, display name, and dependent services. They support scripting and automation, making them ideal for efficiently managing multiple services.

PowerShell's flexibility and powerful features make it a preferred tool for administrators managing Windows services.

Getting service status with cmdlets

To get details about a specific service, you can use the Get-Service -Name ServiceName cmdlet. For example, to check the status of the MySQL80 service, you would run:

<code>Get-Service -Name MySQL80</code>

Querying services with PowerShell cmdlets

You can use the Get-Service command to query services based on specific criteria. For instance, to retrieve all currently running services, you would run:

<code>Get-Service | Where-Object {$_.Status -eq 'Running'}</code>

Starting and Stopping Services with PowerShell cmdlets

To start or stop a specific service, you can use the Start-Service and Stop-Service cmdlets, respectively. For example, to manage the MySQL80 service, you would use:

<code>Start-Service -Name MySQL80
Stop-Service -Name MySQL80
Get-Service -Name MySQL80</code>

Changing service startup type with PowerShell cmdlets

PowerShell cmdlets allow you to update the service startup type. For example, to configure a service to start automatically, manually, or be disabled, you would run:

<code>Set-Service -Name ServiceName -StartupType Automatic
Set-Service -Name ServiceName -StartupType Manual
Set-Service -Name ServiceName -StartupType Disabled</code>

These cmdlets help administrators manage service behavior efficiently, ensuring essential services start as needed while preventing unnecessary ones from running.

Managing remote services with cmdlets

PowerShell also supports managing services on remote computers by specifying the names of the remote computers. For example, to retrieve the status of a service on a remote computer named RemotePC, you would use:

<code>Get-Service -Name ServiceName -ComputerName RemotePC</code>

Similarly, to restart a service on a remote computer, you would run:

<code>Restart-Service -Name ServiceName -ComputerName serviceName</code>

Remote service management requires appropriate permissions and PowerShell remoting to be enabled.

4. Automating Service Management Tasks

PowerShell scripts can automate service management, allowing you to monitor and control Windows services without manual intervention. For example, the following script checks whether the MySQL80 service is running and restarts it if it is stopped:

<code>$serviceName = "MySQL80"
$service = Get-Service -Name $serviceName
if ($service.Status -ne "Running") {
    Restart-Service -Name $serviceName -Force
    Write-Output "$serviceName was stopped and has been restarted."
} else {
    Write-Output "$serviceName is already running."
}</code>

To enable script execution, you must first run:

<code>Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned</code>

Then, navigate to the script location and execute the .\\serviceScript.ps1 command to run the script:

Managing Windows services from the command line provides complete control without relying on the graphical Services Manager. Whether you use sc.exe, net, or PowerShell cmdlets, each method offers efficient ways to start, stop, and configure services.

PowerShell's scripting capabilities make automation straightforward, allowing you to monitor and manage services seamlessly. By mastering these tools, you can troubleshoot issues, optimize system performance, and ensure critical services run smoothly.

For more ways to optimize your Windows system and troubleshoot common issues, explore these guides on resolving Windows problems and enhancing your PC's performance.

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