How to launch a windows form in an application from Windows service?

Question

I create a windows form application and a windows service, I can start my service from my windows form but if I try too launch the windows form application it doesn't work.

To launch my application I use System.Process.Start , I see in Task Manager in tab processes my windows form application name but it doesn't show my form.

public partial class testService: ServiceBase
{
    Timer tm = new Timer();
    int n = 0;

    public testService()
    {
        InitializeComponent();
    }

    protected override void OnStart(string[] args)
    {
        tm.Interval = 10000;
        tm.Elapsed += Tm_Elapsed;
        tm.Start();
    }

    private void Tm_Elapsed(object sender, ElapsedEventArgs e)
    {
        if (n == 2)
        {
            try
            {
               ProcessStartInfo info = new ProcessStartInfo(@"pathName\appName.exe");
               info.WorkingDirectory = Path.GetDirectoryName(@"pathName");
               Process.Start(info);
            }
            catch (Exception exception)
            {
                Log.writeEventLog(exception.Message);
            }

            var service = new ServiceController("testService");
            service.Stop();
        }
        n++;
    }

    protected override void OnStop()
    {
        tm.Stop();
    }
}

Someone have any idea why it doesn't work?

UPDATE

I need to do that because I have to ask with a windows form every 10min if the user is active or not.

Answer 1

Windows services are not allowed to interact with the desktop since Windows Vista. This was for many reasons. The checkbox is a legacy thing.

How do you launch stuff from a service then? You don't. That isn't how a service is supposed to work.

On the other hand, you can run a background process as the user to accomplish the same thing.

You can do this by starting your "service" via the registry, startup folder, or task scheduler.