How to deploy windows service on remote system using c# Programatically

1 year late, but I got this working when I tried out your code... I noticed I get a return of 5 (Access Denied) when calling

int err = Marshal.GetLastWin32Error(); 

This is probably because the process (visual studio) isn't running elevated (has a Medium integrity instead of High). Run VS elevated and see. To get any error being set, I had to modify your DllImport declaration of the OpenSCManager to add these attributes:

[DllImport("advapi32.dll", EntryPoint = "OpenSCManagerW", ExactSpelling = true, CharSet = CharSet.Unicode, SetLastError = true)] public static extern IntPtr OpenSCManager(string lpMachineName, string lpSCDB, SCM_ACCESS scParameter); 

Particularly the

SetLastError = true 

You should declare your Windows APIs like he did here, mainly with SetLastError = true:

How can Install a windows services with c# code i have using the Administrator privilege account I have?

Note: I also changed ServiceControlHandle to IntPtr and simply do if (scmHandle == IntPtr.Zero) instead of .IsValid. IDK what ServiceControlHandle is.

Full code with some modifications I made. I put this in a basic Winform C# app, and on Form1_Shown just call that main method. Also handled scenario when service already exists.

using System; using System.ComponentModel; using System.Net; using System.Runtime.InteropServices; using System.Windows.Forms; namespace RemoteSCMTest { public partial class Form1 : Form { public Form1() { InitializeComponent(); } private void Form1_Shown(object sender, EventArgs e) { MainMethod(); } static void MainMethod() { // Current computer IP string remoteIpAddress = "192.168.2.110"; string compName = GetMachineNameFromIPAddress(remoteIpAddress); var scmHandle = NativeMethods.OpenSCManager(compName, null, NativeMethods.SCM_ACCESS.SC_MANAGER_CREATE_SERVICE); if (scmHandle == IntPtr.Zero) { int err = Marshal.GetLastWin32Error(); throw new Win32Exception(err); } string servicePath = @"C:\Program Files (x86)\Intel\Intel(R) Security Assist\isa.exe"; // A path to some running service now string serviceName = "ServiceName122"; string serviceDispName = "Service Display Name 122"; IntPtr svcHandleCreated = IntPtr.Zero; int createdErr = 0; bool created = CreateService(scmHandle, servicePath, serviceName, serviceDispName, out svcHandleCreated, out createdErr); if (!created) { if(createdErr == 1073) { // Error: "The specified service already exists" IntPtr svcHandleOpened = NativeMethods.OpenService(scmHandle, serviceName, NativeMethods.SERVICE_ACCESS.SERVICE_ALL_ACCESS); if(svcHandleOpened != IntPtr.Zero) { bool deletedService = NativeMethods.DeleteService(svcHandleOpened); NativeMethods.CloseServiceHandle(svcHandleOpened); if(deletedService) { // Try to create it again: bool created2 = CreateService(scmHandle, servicePath, serviceName, serviceDispName, out svcHandleCreated, out createdErr); if(!created2) { throw new Win32Exception(createdErr); } } else { // Service was successfully opened, but unable to delete the service } } else { // Unable to open that service name w/ All Access int openErr = Marshal.GetLastWin32Error(); throw new Win32Exception(openErr); } } else { // Some other serice creation error than it already existing throw new Win32Exception(createdErr); } } // Run! NativeMethods.StartService(svcHandleCreated, 0, null); // Cleanup NativeMethods.CloseServiceHandle(svcHandleCreated); NativeMethods.CloseServiceHandle(scmHandle); } static bool CreateService(IntPtr scmHandle, string servicePath, string serviceName, string serviceDispName, out IntPtr serviceHandleCreated, out int errorCodeIfFailed) { serviceHandleCreated = IntPtr.Zero; errorCodeIfFailed = 0; serviceHandleCreated = NativeMethods.CreateService( scmHandle, serviceName, serviceDispName, NativeMethods.SERVICE_ACCESS.SERVICE_ALL_ACCESS, NativeMethods.SERVICE_TYPES.SERVICE_WIN32_OWN_PROCESS, NativeMethods.SERVICE_START_TYPES.SERVICE_AUTO_START, NativeMethods.SERVICE_ERROR_CONTROL.SERVICE_ERROR_NORMAL, servicePath, null, IntPtr.Zero, null, null, null); if(serviceHandleCreated == IntPtr.Zero) { errorCodeIfFailed = Marshal.GetLastWin32Error(); } return serviceHandleCreated != IntPtr.Zero; } static string GetMachineNameFromIPAddress(string ipAdress) { string machineName = string.Empty; try { IPHostEntry hostEntry = Dns.GetHostEntry(ipAdress); machineName = hostEntry.HostName; } catch (Exception ex) { // Machine not found... } return machineName; } } // Form1 Class #region Windows APIs (NativeMethods class) public static class NativeMethods { [DllImport("advapi32", EntryPoint = "OpenSCManagerW", ExactSpelling = true, CharSet = CharSet.Unicode, SetLastError = true)] public static extern IntPtr OpenSCManager(string lpMachineName, string lpSCDB, SCM_ACCESS scParameter); [DllImport("advapi32", SetLastError = true, CharSet = CharSet.Auto)] public static extern IntPtr CreateService( IntPtr serviceControlManagerHandle, string lpSvcName, string lpDisplayName, SERVICE_ACCESS dwDesiredAccess, SERVICE_TYPES dwServiceType, SERVICE_START_TYPES dwStartType, SERVICE_ERROR_CONTROL dwErrorControl, string lpPathName, string lpLoadOrderGroup, IntPtr lpdwTagId, string lpDependencies, string lpServiceStartName, string lpPassword); [DllImport("advapi32", SetLastError = true)] public static extern bool CloseServiceHandle(IntPtr serviceHandle); [DllImport("advapi32", SetLastError = true)] [return: MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)] public static extern bool ControlService(IntPtr hService, SERVICE_CONTROL dwControl, ref SERVICE_STATUS lpServiceStatus); [DllImport("advapi32", SetLastError = true)] public static extern int StartService(IntPtr serviceHandle, int dwNumServiceArgs, string lpServiceArgVectors); [DllImport("advapi32", SetLastError = true, CharSet = CharSet.Auto)] public static extern IntPtr OpenService(IntPtr serviceControlManagerHandle, string lpSvcName, SERVICE_ACCESS dwDesiredAccess); [DllImport("advapi32", SetLastError = true)] [return: MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)] public static extern bool DeleteService(IntPtr serviceHandle); [Flags] public enum ACCESS_MASK : uint { DELETE = 0x00010000, READ_CONTROL = 0x00020000, WRITE_DAC = 0x00040000, WRITE_OWNER = 0x00080000, SYNCHRONIZE = 0x00100000, STANDARD_RIGHTS_REQUIRED = 0x000F0000, STANDARD_RIGHTS_READ = 0x00020000, STANDARD_RIGHTS_WRITE = 0x00020000, STANDARD_RIGHTS_EXECUTE = 0x00020000, STANDARD_RIGHTS_ALL = 0x001F0000, SPECIFIC_RIGHTS_ALL = 0x0000FFFF, ACCESS_SYSTEM_SECURITY = 0x01000000, MAXIMUM_ALLOWED = 0x02000000, GENERIC_READ = 0x80000000, GENERIC_WRITE = 0x40000000, GENERIC_EXECUTE = 0x20000000, GENERIC_ALL = 0x10000000, DESKTOP_READOBJECTS = 0x00000001, DESKTOP_CREATEWINDOW = 0x00000002, DESKTOP_CREATEMENU = 0x00000004, DESKTOP_HOOKCONTROL = 0x00000008, DESKTOP_JOURNALRECORD = 0x00000010, DESKTOP_JOURNALPLAYBACK = 0x00000020, DESKTOP_ENUMERATE = 0x00000040, DESKTOP_WRITEOBJECTS = 0x00000080, DESKTOP_SWITCHDESKTOP = 0x00000100, WINSTA_ENUMDESKTOPS = 0x00000001, WINSTA_READATTRIBUTES = 0x00000002, WINSTA_ACCESSCLIPBOARD = 0x00000004, WINSTA_CREATEDESKTOP = 0x00000008, WINSTA_WRITEATTRIBUTES = 0x00000010, WINSTA_ACCESSGLOBALATOMS = 0x00000020, WINSTA_EXITWINDOWS = 0x00000040, WINSTA_ENUMERATE = 0x00000100, WINSTA_READSCREEN = 0x00000200, WINSTA_ALL_ACCESS = 0x0000037F } [Flags] public enum SCM_ACCESS : uint { /// <summary> /// Required to connect to the service control manager. /// </summary> SC_MANAGER_CONNECT = 0x00001, /// <summary> /// Required to call the CreateService function to create a service /// object and add it to the database. /// </summary> SC_MANAGER_CREATE_SERVICE = 0x00002, /// <summary> /// Required to call the EnumServicesStatusEx function to list the /// services that are in the database. /// </summary> SC_MANAGER_ENUMERATE_SERVICE = 0x00004, /// <summary> /// Required to call the LockServiceDatabase function to acquire a /// lock on the database. /// </summary> SC_MANAGER_LOCK = 0x00008, /// <summary> /// Required to call the QueryServiceLockStatus function to retrieve /// the lock status information for the database. /// </summary> SC_MANAGER_QUERY_LOCK_STATUS = 0x00010, /// <summary> /// Required to call the NotifyBootConfigStatus function. /// </summary> SC_MANAGER_MODIFY_BOOT_CONFIG = 0x00020, /// <summary> /// Includes STANDARD_RIGHTS_REQUIRED, in addition to all access /// rights in this table. /// </summary> SC_MANAGER_ALL_ACCESS = ACCESS_MASK.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, GENERIC_READ = ACCESS_MASK.STANDARD_RIGHTS_READ | SC_MANAGER_ENUMERATE_SERVICE | SC_MANAGER_QUERY_LOCK_STATUS, GENERIC_WRITE = ACCESS_MASK.STANDARD_RIGHTS_WRITE | SC_MANAGER_CREATE_SERVICE | SC_MANAGER_MODIFY_BOOT_CONFIG, GENERIC_EXECUTE = ACCESS_MASK.STANDARD_RIGHTS_EXECUTE | SC_MANAGER_CONNECT | SC_MANAGER_LOCK, GENERIC_ALL = SC_MANAGER_ALL_ACCESS, } [Flags] public enum SERVICE_CONTROL : uint { STOP = 0x00000001, PAUSE = 0x00000002, CONTINUE = 0x00000003, INTERROGATE = 0x00000004, SHUTDOWN = 0x00000005, PARAMCHANGE = 0x00000006, NETBINDADD = 0x00000007, NETBINDREMOVE = 0x00000008, NETBINDENABLE = 0x00000009, NETBINDDISABLE = 0x0000000A, DEVICEEVENT = 0x0000000B, HARDWAREPROFILECHANGE = 0x0000000C, POWEREVENT = 0x0000000D, SESSIONCHANGE = 0x0000000E } [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) } [Flags] public enum SERVICE_TYPES : int { SERVICE_KERNEL_DRIVER = 0x00000001, SERVICE_FILE_SYSTEM_DRIVER = 0x00000002, SERVICE_WIN32_OWN_PROCESS = 0x00000010, SERVICE_WIN32_SHARE_PROCESS = 0x00000020, SERVICE_INTERACTIVE_PROCESS = 0x00000100 } public enum SERVICE_ERROR_CONTROL : int { /// <summary> /// The startup program logs the error in the event log, if possible. If the last-known-good configuration is being started, the startup operation fails. Otherwise, the system is restarted with the last-known good configuration. /// </summary> SERVICE_ERROR_CRITICAL = 0x00000003, /// <summary> /// The startup program ignores the error and continues the startup operation. /// </summary> SERVICE_ERROR_IGNORE = 0x00000000, /// <summary> /// The startup program logs the error in the event log but continues the startup operation. /// </summary> SERVICE_ERROR_NORMAL = 0x00000001, /// <summary> /// The startup program logs the error in the event log. If the last-known-good configuration is being started, the startup operation continues. Otherwise, the system is restarted with the last-known-good configuration. /// </summary> SERVICE_ERROR_SEVERE = 0x00000002, } public enum SERVICE_START_TYPES : int { /// <summary> /// A service started automatically by the service control manager during system startup. For more information, see Automatically Starting Services. /// </summary> SERVICE_AUTO_START = 0x00000002, /// <summary> /// A device driver started by the system loader. This value is valid only for driver services. /// </summary> SERVICE_BOOT_START = 0x00000000, /// <summary> /// A service started by the service control manager when a process calls the StartService function. For more information, see Starting Services on Demand. /// </summary> SERVICE_DEMAND_START = 0x00000003, /// <summary> /// A service that cannot be started. Attempts to start the service result in the error code ERROR_SERVICE_DISABLED. /// </summary> SERVICE_DISABLED = 0x00000004, /// <summary> /// A device driver started by the IoInitSystem function. This value is valid only for driver services. /// </summary> SERVICE_SYSTEM_START = 0x00000001 } public enum SERVICE_STATE : uint { SERVICE_STOPPED = 0x00000001, SERVICE_START_PENDING = 0x00000002, SERVICE_STOP_PENDING = 0x00000003, SERVICE_RUNNING = 0x00000004, SERVICE_CONTINUE_PENDING = 0x00000005, SERVICE_PAUSE_PENDING = 0x00000006, SERVICE_PAUSED = 0x00000007 } [StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential, Pack = 1)] public struct SERVICE_STATUS { public static readonly int SizeOf = Marshal.SizeOf(typeof(SERVICE_STATUS)); public SERVICE_TYPES dwServiceType; public SERVICE_STATE dwCurrentState; public uint dwControlsAccepted; public uint dwWin32ExitCode; public uint dwServiceSpecificExitCode; public uint dwCheckPoint; public uint dwWaitHint; } } // NativeMethods class #endregion }