Java – Can’t start Tomcat as Windows Service

javatomcatwindowswindows-services

I am using Tomcat6 on Windows 8. I am able to start Tomcat via startup.bat without error. I've copied Tomcat6.exe, Tomcat6w.exe and service.bat under tomcat/bin directory and set the .exe files to run as administrator.

I open command line with administrator rights and execute "service.bat install" which ran without error. In Windows Services, I can see Apache Tomcat 6 which I want to run automatically.

But both running from Windows Services using "Start" button and on start up of Windows I got the same error.

"Windows could not start the Apache Tomcat 6 on Local Computer. For more information, review the System Event Log. If this is a non-Microsoft service, contact the service vendor, and refer to service-specific error code 0.

When I check Windows Event Log, I see the following bizarre error.

"Apache Tomcat 6 service terminated with the following service-specific error:
The operation completed successfully."

I tried copying msvcr71.dll under tomcat/bin directory, but nothing changed. What else can I do?

Update:

I am using a different port than 8080. And I saw the error below in the log file /logs/jakarta_service.log:

%1 is not a valid Win32 application.

Best Answer

Go to Start > Configure Tomcat >

  • Startup > Mode = Java
  • Shutdown > Mode = Java

This worked for me!