Inno Setup for Windows service?

Question

I have a .Net Windows service. I can create an installer to install the windows service.

Basically it has to do the following.

1. Pack installutil.exe (Is it required?)
2. run installutil.exe MyService.exe
3. net start MyService

Also, I have to provide an uninstaller which runs:

1. installutil.exe /u MyService.exe

How to do these using Inno Setup

Answer 1

I think you need to use the [Run] section. See here

Answer 2

You don't need installutil.exe and probably you don't even have rights to redistribute it.

Here is the way I'm doing it in my application:

static void Main(string[] args)
{
    if (System.Environment.UserInteractive)
    {
        string parameter = string.Concat(args);
        switch (parameter)
        {
            case "--install":
                ManagedInstallerClass.InstallHelper(new string[] { Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().Location });
                break;
            case "--uninstall":
                ManagedInstallerClass.InstallHelper(new string[] { "/u", Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().Location });
                break;
        }
    }
    else
    {
        ServiceBase.Run(new WindowsService());
    }
}

Basically you can have your service to install/uninstall on its own by using ManagedInstallerClass as shown in my example.

Then it's just matter of adding into your InnoSetup script something like this:

[Run]
Filename: "{app}\MYSERVICE.EXE"; Parameters: "--install"

[UninstallRun]
Filename: "{app}\MYSERVICE.EXE"; Parameters: "--uninstall"

Answer 3

If you want to avoid reboots when the user upgrades then you need to stop the service before copying the exe and start again after.

There are some script functions to do this at http://www.vincenzo.net/isxkb/index.php?title=Service

Answer 4

You can use

Exec(
    ExpandConstant('{sys}\sc.exe'),
    ExpandConstant('create "MyService" binPath= {app}\MyService.exe start= auto DisplayName= "My Service" obj= LocalSystem'), 
    '', 
    SW_HIDE, 
    ewWaitUntilTerminated, 
    ResultCode
    )

to create a service. See "sc.exe" on how to start, stop, check service status, delete service, etc.