While the useful NET.EXE utility is great for starting an stopping windows services, it cannot do much beyond that. Enter Microsoft’s SC.EXE – a versatile command-line utility built into Windows that can help you start, stop, restart or configure any Windows Service.

Type SC at a command prompt to see the extensive set of options available:

DESCRIPTION:
        SC is a command line program used for communicating with the
        Service Control Manager and services.
USAGE:
        sc <server> [command] [service name] <option1> <option2>...
        The option  has the form "\\ServerName"
        Further help on commands can be obtained by typing: "sc [command]"
        Commands:
          query-----------Queries the status for a service, or
                          enumerates the status for types of services.
          queryex---------Queries the extended status for a service, or
                          enumerates the status for types of services.
          start-----------Starts a service.
          pause-----------Sends a PAUSE control request to a service.
          interrogate-----Sends an INTERROGATE control request to a service.
          continue--------Sends a CONTINUE control request to a service.
          stop------------Sends a STOP request to a service.
          config----------Changes the configuration of a service (persistent).
          description-----Changes the description of a service.
          failure---------Changes the actions taken by a service upon failure.
          failureflag-----Changes the failure actions flag of a service.
          sidtype---------Changes the service SID type of a service.
          privs-----------Changes the required privileges of a service.
          qc--------------Queries the configuration information for a service.
          qdescription----Queries the description for a service.
          qfailure--------Queries the actions taken by a service upon failure.
          qfailureflag----Queries the failure actions flag of a service.
          qsidtype--------Queries the service SID type of a service.
          qprivs----------Queries the required privileges of a service.
          qtriggerinfo----Queries the trigger parameters of a service.
          qpreferrednode--Queries the preferred NUMA node of a service.
          delete----------Deletes a service (from the registry).
          create----------Creates a service. (adds it to the registry).
          control---------Sends a control to a service.
          sdshow----------Displays a service's security descriptor.
          sdset-----------Sets a service's security descriptor.
          showsid---------Displays the service SID string corresponding to
                          an arbitrary name.
          triggerinfo-----Configures the trigger parameters of a service.
          preferrednode---Sets the preferred NUMA node of a service.
          GetDisplayName--Gets the DisplayName for a service.
          GetKeyName------Gets the ServiceKeyName for a service.
          EnumDepend------Enumerates Service Dependencies.

        The following commands don't require a service name:
        sc <server> <command> <option>
          boot------------(ok | bad) Indicates whether the last boot should
                          be saved as the last-known-good boot configuration
          Lock------------Locks the Service Database
          QueryLock-------Queries the LockStatus for the SCManager Database

Stopping/Starting a Service with SC

To stop a windows service from an elevated DOS prompt, run:

SC STOP <Service-Name>

where <Service-Name> is the name of the service. Be sure to enclose the name in quotes if it contains a space!

For example, to stop the Print Spooler service (named “Spooler”), run:

SC STOP Spooler

Notice that the SC command will simply make a request for the service to stop and return immediately, before the service has actually stopped. This is evidenced by the STOP_PENDING state (which means that the service is in the process of winding down) returned in the screenshot above. If you plan to use this command in a batch file, you may need to add a sleep/pause after calling SC to give the service some time to respond. (The NET.EXE command, which will wait/block until the service has completely stopped, may be a better choice in this respect.)

Similarly, to start a windows service, use:

SC START <Service-Name>

Again, the request will be made but SC will not wait for the service to complete its startup before returning.

Using SC to Check the Status of a Service

To discover the state of your service, run SC with the QUERYEX option:

SC QUERYEX <Service-Name>

Check on the Spooler service like this:

SC QUERYEX Spooler

If the service is running, SC will return the underlying process identifier (“PID”) which can be used to manipulate the service’s process. This is very handy information when a service is stuck or unresponsive and must be forcibly terminated!

Disabling a Service

The CONFIG option enables you to modify a service’s settings. If you wish to disable a naughty service, preventing anyone from starting it, type:

SC CONFIG <Service-Name> start= disabled

For example, this command disables the infamous Interactive Services Detection Service (named “UI0Detect”):

SC CONFIG UI0Detect start= disabled

Note that the space in between “start=” and “disabled” is required!

How to Create a New Service with SC

SC can be used to create a new service as well. Type “SC CREATE” to see the many settings that can be applied but at a minimum you must specify:

• the name of the service,
• the display name of the service (a more descriptive moniker),
• the full path to the executable hosting the service

For example, the following command creates a service called “MyService” with an executable located in “C:\MyService\MyService.exe”:

SC CREATE MyService binPath= “C:\MyService\MyService.exe” DisplayName= “My very cool service”

Once installed, you can work with the new service as normal in the Services application:

Note that only executables explicitly written to interface with the Windows Service Control Manager should be installed this way. While SC will happily accept a regular, non-service binary, you will receive the fatal Error 1053 when you attempt to start the service. Employ a service wrapper like AlwaysUp in that situation.

Using SC to Delete a Service

The command to remove a service with SC is straightforward:

SC DELETE <Service-Name>

To discard the service named “MyService” that we installed above, use:

SC DELETE MyService

Needless to say, please use this command with caution!. Once a service is deleted it cannot be easily re-instated. Removing the wrong service can render your computer unusable!

SC is the Complete Command Line Utility for Windows Services

So whenever you need to work with a service via a batch file or from a DOS command prompt, look to SC for support. This versatile, essential tool has earned its reputation as the “Swiss Army Knife” for Windows Services!

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