I try to remove a Windows Service with sc delete <service name>, and encounter the following error:
[SC] DeleteService FAILED 1072:
The specified service has been marked for deletion.
What I've already done:
-
Stopped the service, obviously. The
sc queryex "<service name>"gives the following result:SERVICE_NAME: Stub service TYPE : 10 WIN32_OWN_PROCESS STATE : 1 STOPPED WIN32_EXIT_CODE : 1067 (0x42b) SERVICE_EXIT_CODE : 0 (0x0) CHECKPOINT : 0x0 WAIT_HINT : 0x0 PID : 0 FLAGS : -
Ensured that Microsoft Management Console is closed (
taskkill /F /IM mmc.exe), -
Due to this removal,
services.mscstill shows the service (with a name, but no status or startup type), but the description is “<Failed to Read Description. Error Code: 2 >”. When attempting to view the properties, “The system cannot find the file specified.” is shown five times.
The problem persists.
What is the next step?
Best Answer
There may be several causes which lead to the service being stuck in “marked for deletion”.
SysInternals' Process Explorer is opened. Closing it should lead to automatic removal of the service.
Task Manager is opened.
Microsoft Management Console (MMC) is opened. To ensure all instances are closed, run
taskkill /F /IM mmc.exe.Services console is opened. This is the same as the previous point, since Services console is hosted by MMC.
Event Viewer is opened. Again, this is the same as the third point.
The key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\{service name} exists.
Someone else is logged into the server and has one of the previously mentioned applications opened.
An instance of Visual Studio used to debug the service is open.