{"id":513,"date":"2014-04-30T00:20:26","date_gmt":"2014-04-30T07:20:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.coretechnologies.com\/blog\/?p=513"},"modified":"2014-04-30T00:20:26","modified_gmt":"2014-04-30T07:20:26","slug":"essential-tools-windows-services-sc-exe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.coretechnologies.com\/blog\/windows-services\/essential-tools-windows-services-sc-exe\/","title":{"rendered":"Essential Tools for Windows Services: SC.EXE"},"content":{"rendered":"

While the useful NET.EXE<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

Type SC<\/b> at a command prompt to see the extensive set of options available:<\/p>\n

\nDESCRIPTION:\n        SC is a command line program used for communicating with the\n        Service Control Manager and services.\nUSAGE:\n        sc <server> [command] [service name] <option1> <option2>...\n        The option  has the form \"\\\\ServerName\"\n        Further help on commands can be obtained by typing: \"sc [command]\"\n        Commands:\n          query-----------Queries the status for a service, or\n                          enumerates the status for types of services.\n          queryex---------Queries the extended status for a service, or\n                          enumerates the status for types of services.\n          start-----------Starts a service.\n          pause-----------Sends a PAUSE control request to a service.\n          interrogate-----Sends an INTERROGATE control request to a service.\n          continue--------Sends a CONTINUE control request to a service.\n          stop------------Sends a STOP request to a service.\n          config----------Changes the configuration of a service (persistent).\n          description-----Changes the description of a service.\n          failure---------Changes the actions taken by a service upon failure.\n          failureflag-----Changes the failure actions flag of a service.\n          sidtype---------Changes the service SID type of a service.\n          privs-----------Changes the required privileges of a service.\n          qc--------------Queries the configuration information for a service.\n          qdescription----Queries the description for a service.\n          qfailure--------Queries the actions taken by a service upon failure.\n          qfailureflag----Queries the failure actions flag of a service.\n          qsidtype--------Queries the service SID type of a service.\n          qprivs----------Queries the required privileges of a service.\n          qtriggerinfo----Queries the trigger parameters of a service.\n          qpreferrednode--Queries the preferred NUMA node of a service.\n          delete----------Deletes a service (from the registry).\n          create----------Creates a service. (adds it to the registry).\n          control---------Sends a control to a service.\n          sdshow----------Displays a service's security descriptor.\n          sdset-----------Sets a service's security descriptor.\n          showsid---------Displays the service SID string corresponding to\n                          an arbitrary name.\n          triggerinfo-----Configures the trigger parameters of a service.\n          preferrednode---Sets the preferred NUMA node of a service.\n          GetDisplayName--Gets the DisplayName for a service.\n          GetKeyName------Gets the ServiceKeyName for a service.\n          EnumDepend------Enumerates Service Dependencies.\n\n        The following commands don't require a service name:\n        sc <server> <command> <option>\n          boot------------(ok | bad) Indicates whether the last boot should\n                          be saved as the last-known-good boot configuration\n          Lock------------Locks the Service Database\n          QueryLock-------Queries the LockStatus for the SCManager Database\n<\/pre>\n
Stopping\/Starting a Service with SC<\/b><\/h2>\n
To stop a windows service from an elevated DOS prompt<\/a>, run:<\/p>\n
SC STOP <Service-Name><\/b><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
where <Service-Name> is the name of the service<\/a>. Be sure to enclose the name in quotes if it contains a space!\n<\/p>\n
\nFor example, to stop the Print Spooler service (named “Spooler”), run:<\/p>\n
SC STOP Spooler<\/b><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n\"SC:
\n<\/a><\/p>\n
Notice that the SC command will simply make a request for the service to stop and return immediately, before the service has actually stopped<\/b>. 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<\/a>, which will wait\/block until the service has completely stopped, may be a better choice in this respect.)\n<\/p>\n
Similarly, to start a windows service, use:<\/p>\n
SC START <Service-Name><\/b><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Again, the request will be made but SC will not wait for the service to complete its startup before returning.<\/p>\n
Using SC to Check the Status of a Service<\/b><\/h2>\n
To discover the state of your service, run SC with the QUERYEX option:<\/p>\n
SC QUERYEX <Service-Name><\/b><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nCheck on the Spooler service like this:<\/p>\n
SC QUERYEX Spooler<\/b><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n\"SC:
\n<\/a><\/p>\n
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<\/a>!<\/p>\n
Disabling a Service<\/b><\/h2>\n
The CONFIG<\/b> option enables you to modify a service’s settings. If you wish to disable a naughty service, preventing anyone from starting it, type:<\/p>\n
SC CONFIG <Service-Name> start= disabled<\/b><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
For example, this command disables the infamous Interactive Services Detection Service<\/a> (named “UI0Detect”):<\/p>\n
SC CONFIG UI0Detect start= disabled<\/b><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Note that the space in between “start=” and “disabled” is required!<\/p>\n
How to Create a New Service with SC<\/b><\/h2>\n
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:<\/p>\n