[RESOLVED] Problem with installing/uninstalling a Windows Service

[ianbhenderson73]

Hi all

I've been building a new Windows Service in vb.NET and have deployed it to my local machine for testing - I deployed it by right-clicking on the Deployment project and clicking Install.

After deploying it, I realised that I've forgotten to have the package include an entry in the Programs and Features list on my PC (Windows 8.1) and set about trying to uninstall the service again. Now I've run into difficulties because when I right-click the Deployment package and click "Uninstall", it tells me that "This action is only valid for products that are currently installed", whereas when I try to install the package again using the method detailed above, I get this error: "Error 1001: The specified service already exists".

As well as trying those methods, I've also tried running the InstallUtil command against the installed program, which also leads to problems because the folder that the program's being installed to contains nothing but a TMP file when it should be the executable file itself and the configuration file. I've tried removing all reference to the program from the registry as well, along with multiple reboots of the machine but I'm stuck with the same issue.

Has anyone experienced this problem before, and have you successfully managed to resolve it?

TIA


Ian H

[ianbhenderson73]

I eventually bit the bullet and resorted to hacking the registry and rebooting the computer.

I'm never keen on hacking the registry (even with a backup in place just in case), but I couldn't see any other option.