C# Signature:

[DllImport("advapi32.dll", SetLastError=true)]
[return: MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)]
public static extern bool DeleteService( IntPtr hService );

VB Signature:

Declare Function DeleteService Lib "advapi32.dll" (ByVal hService As Integer) As Integer

User-Defined Types:

None.

Notes:

Use the System.ServiceProcess.ServiceInstaller and System.ServiceProcess.ServiceProcessInstaller when ever possible; however, there are a some cases, such as the state file being corrupted or lost, they do not handel and ended up having to use the API to remove the service.

Tips & Tricks:

Please add some!

Sample Code:

    #region SERVICE_ACCESS
    [Flags]
    public enum SERVICE_ACCESS : uint
    {
        STANDARD_RIGHTS_REQUIRED   = 0xF0000,
        SERVICE_QUERY_CONFIG       = 0x00001,
        SERVICE_CHANGE_CONFIG      = 0x00002,
        SERVICE_QUERY_STATUS       = 0x00004,
        SERVICE_ENUMERATE_DEPENDENTS   = 0x00008,
        SERVICE_START      = 0x00010,
        SERVICE_STOP       = 0x00020,
        SERVICE_PAUSE_CONTINUE     = 0x00040,
        SERVICE_INTERROGATE    = 0x00080,
        SERVICE_USER_DEFINED_CONTROL   = 0x00100,
        SERVICE_ALL_ACCESS     = (STANDARD_RIGHTS_REQUIRED     |
            SERVICE_QUERY_CONFIG     |
            SERVICE_CHANGE_CONFIG    |
            SERVICE_QUERY_STATUS     |
            SERVICE_ENUMERATE_DEPENDENTS |
            SERVICE_START    |
            SERVICE_STOP     |
            SERVICE_PAUSE_CONTINUE       |
            SERVICE_INTERROGATE      |
            SERVICE_USER_DEFINED_CONTROL)
    }
    #endregion
    #region SCM_ACCESS
    [Flags]
    public enum SCM_ACCESS : uint
    {
        STANDARD_RIGHTS_REQUIRED       = 0xF0000,
        SC_MANAGER_CONNECT     = 0x00001,
        SC_MANAGER_CREATE_SERVICE      = 0x00002,
        SC_MANAGER_ENUMERATE_SERVICE   = 0x00004,
        SC_MANAGER_LOCK    = 0x00008,
        SC_MANAGER_QUERY_LOCK_STATUS   = 0x00010,
        SC_MANAGER_MODIFY_BOOT_CONFIG  = 0x00020,
        SC_MANAGER_ALL_ACCESS      = STANDARD_RIGHTS_REQUIRED |
            SC_MANAGER_CONNECT |
            SC_MANAGER_CREATE_SERVICE |
            SC_MANAGER_ENUMERATE_SERVICE |
            SC_MANAGER_LOCK |
            SC_MANAGER_QUERY_LOCK_STATUS |
            SC_MANAGER_MODIFY_BOOT_CONFIG
    }
    #endregion

        #region DeleteService
        [DllImport("advapi32.dll", SetLastError=true)]
        [return: MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)]
        public static extern bool DeleteService( IntPtr hService );
        #endregion
        #region OpenService
        [DllImport("advapi32.dll", SetLastError=true, CharSet=CharSet.Auto)]
        static extern IntPtr OpenService(IntPtr hSCManager, string lpServiceName, SERVICE_ACCESS dwDesiredAccess);
        #endregion
        #region OpenSCManager
        [DllImport("advapi32.dll", EntryPoint="OpenSCManagerW", ExactSpelling=true, CharSet=CharSet.Unicode, SetLastError=true)]
        static extern IntPtr OpenSCManager( string machineName, string databaseName, SCM_ACCESS dwDesiredAccess );
        #endregion
        #region CloseServiceHandle
        [DllImport("advapi32.dll", SetLastError=true)]
        [return: MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)]
        static extern bool CloseServiceHandle( IntPtr hSCObject );
        #endregion

            try
            {
                IntPtr schSCManager = OpenSCManager( null, null, SCM_ACCESS.SC_MANAGER_ALL_ACCESS);
                if( schSCManager != IntPtr.Zero )
                {
                    IntPtr schService = OpenService( schSCManager, txtServiceName.Text, SERVICE_ACCESS.SERVICE_ALL_ACCESS);
                    if( schSCManager != IntPtr.Zero )
                    {
                        if(DeleteService( schService )== false)
                        {
                            MessageBox.Show(
                                string.Format("DeleteService failed {0}",Marshal.GetLastWin32Error()));
                        }
                    }
                    CloseServiceHandle( schSCManager );
                }
            }
            catch (System.Exception ex)
            {
                MessageBox.Show(ex.Message);
            }        

Alternative Managed API:

Do you know one? Please contribute it!

Use the System.ServiceProcess.ServiceInstaller and System.ServiceProcess.ServiceProcessInstaller

Please edit this page!

Do you have...

• helpful tips or sample code to share for using this API in managed code?
• corrections to the existing content?
• variations of the signature you want to share?
• additional languages you want to include?

Select "Edit This Page" on the right hand toolbar and edit it! Or add new pages containing supporting types needed for this API (structures, delegates, and more).