Install a service created with VS2010

Question

I've to create a service in Visual Studio for one customer.

The customer IT service indicate me that they don't want any installer, only one exe that can be installed with instsrv.exe.

So I created a Service project on VS2010, compilated it(in 64 bits, it's an application that has to be ran in 64bits).

First problem: I didn't found any instsrv.exe, so I used InstallUtil.exe, the 64 bits version :

C:\Windows\Microsoft.Net\Framework64\v4.0.xxxx\InstallUtil.exe "PathToMyGeneratedExe"

It says me that " The commit phase completed successfully. " and " The transacted install has completed. ".

So I assume that the install completed successfully.

But if I go in the service console, I can't find the created service.

So what am I missing?

Answer 1

InstallUtil is intended for usage with a service installer (which is really easy to make, but a bit buried) I imagine your client wasnt after a gui installer but I think it may be worth your while putting in the base serviceinstaller.

Normally InstallUtil will also prompt for a user to run the service under as well. if you havent got this you probably arent installed

Take a read of http://arcanecode.com/2007/05/23/windows-services-in-c-adding-the-installer-part-3/ for details of how to do this

(TLDR right click on your service design surface and add installer)