How to install and start a service that relies on an assembly

The following article uses options that are available starting with the Enterprise edition and project type.

Services that rely on the presence of an assembly in the Global Assembly Cache (GAC) cannot be installed or started during the execution of StartServices standard action. If you need to start a service that depends on an assembly in the GAC, you must use a custom action scheduled after the InstallFinalize standard action.

In this example we will use a .bat file for our custom action.

1. Create a .bat file and paste the following code:

net start "Service Name"

The "Service Name" must match the declared "Service Name:" field of your service.

2. Add your .bat file to the project as a temporary file.
3. Select your service control operation from the Services Page and uncheck the "Start" checkbox in "Event on Install" field.
4. Go to the Custom Actions Page and add a "Launch file" custom action with sequence after "Install Execution Stage -> Finish Execution" action group. In the File to launch field add a reference to your temporary bat file.
5. Build your project and run it.