Cry How To...
Delete a Service
Normally it should not be necessary to manually delete a service. Uninstalling an application should remove its associated service (if any).
However, should it be necessary to manually remove a service:
- Run Regedit or regedt32.
- Fnd the registry entry:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SYSTEM/CurrentControlSet/Services
- Find the service there and delete it.
You may wish to look at the keys and see what files the service was using and perhaps delete them also.
Note:
- You will have to reboot before the list gets updated in server manager.
- I have had it pointed out that some programs are cunning and
prevent you from removing their service easily. (For example
the spyware\malware called ‘Command Service’ - "cmdService".)
These change the permissions to make it more difficult for
you to delete them. For these you will have to right click
on the ‘service’ in regedit (regedt32), go to
permissions and grant the administrator full control before
the service can be deleted.
These notes have been tested with Windows NT 4, Windows 2000 and Windows XP
About the author: Brian Cryer is a dedicated software developer and webmaster. For his day job he develops websites and desktop applications as well as providing IT services. He moonlights as a technical author and consultant.