Service works on debug but now when i Install it

Question

I'm creating a little stupid service as a joke, is supposed to create an "invincible" txt on the desktop which gets recreated if deleted. It works when debugged but when I install the service it doesn't create the txt.

I have :

execute the service with admin rights adding this line of code: <PermissionSet class="System.Security.PermissionSet" version="1" Unrestricted="true" ID="Custom" SameSite="site" /> to the app.manifest).
I checked the "the authorize to interact whit desktop" checkmark on the service proprieties.

the code is working when I debug (i use Topshelf) but when I install the service it does not work.

the code which creates the txt(and the constructor):

 public Invincible()
    {
        _timer = new Timer(3000) { AutoReset = true };
        _timer.Elapsed += TimerElapsed;
    }

    private void TimerElapsed(object sender, ElapsedEventArgs e)
    {
        string[] frase = new string[] {"NON PUOI RIMUOVERE QUESTA MALEDIZIONE <3"};
        string curFile = Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.Desktop)+"/Invincible_Curse.txt";
        string curFile2 = "C:/temp/Demos/Invincible_Curse.txt";
        if (!File.Exists(curFile))
        {
            File.AppendAllLines(curFile, frase);
        }
    }

the Main:

 static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        var exitCode = HostFactory.Run(x =>
        {
            x.Service<Invincible>(s =>
            {

                s.ConstructUsing(Invincible => new Invincible());
                s.WhenStarted(Invincible => Invincible.Start());
                s.WhenStopped(Invincible => Invincible.Stop());

                x.SetServiceName("InvincibleService");
                x.SetDisplayName("Invincible Service");
                x.SetDescription("Cerca di sopravvivere");

            });


        });

        int exitCodeValue = (int)Convert.ChangeType(exitCode, exitCode.GetTypeCode());
        Environment.ExitCode = exitCodeValue;
    }

thanks for the help.

Do you mean a task in the task planner or a windows service? And please explain 'doesn't work'. — Steeeve, Aug 25 '21 at 13:23
You need to paste the code here. The part which tries to create the txt file. — Koray Elbek, Aug 25 '21 at 13:38
@Steeve It's a windows service. With doesn't work I mean that it does not create the txt as intended, I have a hard time figuring out where is the problem since when I debug it does work. Thanks. — aldo jaco, Aug 25 '21 at 21:34

score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered Aug 26 '21 at 08:22

Your code seems okay, even though you could do with a bit of a refactoring. For example move around this part like this:

var exitCode = HostFactory.Run(x =>
        {
            x.Service<Invincible>(s =>
            {
                s.ConstructUsing(Invincible => new Invincible());
                s.WhenStarted(Invincible => Invincible.Start());
                s.WhenStopped(Invincible => Invincible.Stop());
            });

            x.SetServiceName("InvincibleService");
            x.SetDisplayName("Invincible Service");
            x.SetDescription("Cerca di sopravvivere");
        });

Your issue is that, the windows service that you are running is using a different Windows user account, it's not the Windows user account which you use for logging in and using your PC. So their desktop paths are different. Every user account on Windows has a different desktop path.

To fix it, simply make the service log on using the account which you want the txt file to appear to.

Thanks it works !!! is there a way to make it use the currently logged on user automatically ? — aldo jaco, Aug 26 '21 at 10:56
Try to get the current logged on user using methods described here: [link](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/5218778/how-do-i-get-the-currently-logged-username-from-a-windows-service-in-net) and after that try to impersonate user following methods like these: [link](https://stackoverflow.com/a/38490877/10413298) Also, if the answer above helped, can you set it as the accepted answer? So that other users who have the same issue can try that also. — Koray Elbek, Aug 26 '21 at 11:06

Service works on debug but now when i Install it

1 Answers1