Windows 7 / Getting Started

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Manage Windows 7 Services

A service is a program, routine, or process that performs a specific function within the Windows 7 operating system. You can manage services through the Services window, which can be accessed in a variety of ways. If you go through the Computer Management utility, right-click Computer, select Manage, expand Services And Applications, and then expand Services. You can also go through Administrative Tools or set up Services as a Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in.

For each service, the Services window lists the name, a short description, the status, the startup type, and the logon account that is used to start the service. To configure the properties of a service, doubleclick the service name to open its Properties dialog box.

Service Properties

The Service Properties dialog box contains the following four tabs of options for services: General, Log On, Recovery, and Dependencies. General The General tab allows you to view and configure the following options:

• The service display name
• A description of the service
• The path to the service executable
• The startup type, which can be Automatic, Manual, or Disabled
• The current service status
• Start parameters that can be applied when the service is started

In addition, the buttons across the lower part of the dialog box allow you to change the service status to start, stop, pause, or resume the service.

Log On The Log On tab, allows you to configure the logon account that is used to start the service. Choose the local system account or specify another logon account.

Recovery The Recovery tab, allows you to designate what action will be taken if the service fails to load. For the first, second, and subsequent failures, you can select from the following actions:

• Take No Action
• Restart The Service
• Run A Program
• Restart The Computer

If you choose Run A Program, specify any command-line parameters along with it. If you choose Restart The Computer, you can configure a message that will be sent to users who are connected to the computer before it is restarted. You can also specify how long until a machine is restarted if an error occurs.

Dependencies The Dependencies tab, lists any services that must be running in order for the specified service to start. If a service fails to start, you can use this information to examine the dependencies and then make sure each one is running. In the bottom panel, you can verify whether any other services depend on this service before you decide to stop it.

Perform the following steps to configure services in the Windows 7 operating system:

1. Start Computer Management by clicking Start and then rightclicking Computer. Choose Manage from the context menu.
2. In the Computer Management MMC, expand the Services And Applications section.
3. Click the Services link.
4. Scroll down the list and double-click Remote Desktop Configuration.
5. Under Startup Type, choose Automatic.
6. On the Log On tab, click the This Account radio button.
7. Click the Browse button and choose the local administrator account. Click OK.
8. In the Password boxes, type and verify the Administrator password.
9. In the Recovery tab, make sure the following settings are configured, as shown in Table below.
10. Click OK.
11. Close the Computer Management MMC.

Recovery Tab Options

Action				Response
First Failure 			Restart The Service
Second Failure 			Restart The Service
Subsequent Failures 		Take No Action
Reset Fail 			Count After 1 Day
Restart Service After 		10 Minutes

Services are just another troubleshooting and configuring tool that is part of your arsenal of troubleshooting techniques. Properly working services allow your Windows 7 operating system to work properly.