How to bring a GUI running as service in background to front on login?

[mbmccormick]

I have a .NET Windows Form application running in the background as a service on a server under the SYSTEM user account. Is there any way for me to view the GUI of this application (bring it to the front) when a user logs in to the server? (either programatically or something I can do in Windows)

Thanks.

[kenobewan]

My guess would be to add to windows start up menu and load, but not my area so...

[mbmccormick]

My guess would be to add to windows start up menu and load, but not my area so...

Right. The application is already running (because it starts at boot), and I need to bring that GUI (and task tray icon, because it has that) to the active display (console session) when a user logs in.

[Plater]

Have your service listen for a special message, then have a small program that will be launched when the user logs in that sends ou this message. When the message is received, the window is shown?

[mbmccormick]

Have your service listen for a special message, then have a small program that will be launched when the user logs in that sends ou this message. When the message is received, the window is shown?

I see what your saying. Sort of like the ServiceControll er object. I don't really want to rework this whole program to incorporate this object.

I guess I should rephrase this question... Is there a tool or command that I can use to bring an application (not a service) that is running in the background to the active display (i.e. make it visible) in Windows?

[Shashi Sadasivan]

A windows service is not intended to use GUI, and if it does have GUI components then there is a waay to allow the GUI to be displayed,
its somethere from the services -> rightclick, and some property is to be set.

However that compromises some security of the OS, not exactly sure of that.

But the way to show a UI , is to create a windows applications, and start it up when the service raises an event.

[krishnabhargav]

A windows service is not intended to use GUI, and if it does have GUI components then there is a waay to allow the GUI to be displayed,
its somethere from the services -> rightclick, and some property is to be set.

However that compromises some security of the OS, not exactly sure of that.

But the way to show a UI , is to create a windows applications, and start it up when the service raises an event.

It does not work that way.... I remember doing a Windows Service Project where I launched a Notepad process. But guess what, Notepad would run and you can see it appear in the taskmanager, but you would not be able to see the GUI.

It was almost 3 years back and I do not remember exactly. But here is what I think that would work.

Go to Services->Select your service and go to properties->Log on tab.

Check "Allow this service to interact with Desktop".

This should do the trick and when you make a Process.Start() like calls to launch a GUI apps, then they would show up. with this checkbox unchecked, your GUI would not be seen.

Anyway I do not exactly remember how to do it within the service installer. I will let you know in case I figure it out.

[Plater]

If I had to guess, the reason you never saw the GUI for your notepad before, was that it was as a different user then the currently logged on one. (If you look in taskmanager you can add the column that says what user the process belongs too)
But I could be wrong on that, and it could just be the way services work anyway.

[krishnabhargav]

If I had to guess, the reason you never saw the GUI for your notepad before, was that it was as a different user then the currently logged on one. (If you look in taskmanager you can add the column that says what user the process belongs too)
But I could be wrong on that, and it could just be the way services work anyway.

hmm...it was long back so i am not too sure. But i think the user account was all right. like i said there is an option that enables your service to interact with the desktop,

[mbmccormick]

Thank you Shashi Sadasivan and krishnabhargav! This fixed my problem, and I can now see my service. The "Allow this service to interact with the desktop" did it for me. Thanks again!

I have one last question... I can login and see my GUI (which is great), but now whenever I logout the service gets stopped. What can I do, either by modifying the code in my VB .NET application or as a setting in Windows or on the service to avoid this problem?

[krishnabhargav]

Thank you Shashi Sadasivan and krishnabhargav! This fixed my problem, and I can now see my service. The "Allow this service to interact with the desktop" did it for me. Thanks again!

I have one last question... I can login and see my GUI (which is great), but now whenever I logout the service gets stopped. What can I do, either by modifying the code in my VB .NET application or as a setting in Windows or on the service to avoid this problem?

Like I said earlier, been a really long time since i did any win daemons.

anyway, try to run the service on a super user account, like other windows services which (much to our dismay) keeps running even if u log out

[mbmccormick]

I've moved this to: http://www.thescripts. com/forum/showthread.php? p=3063414#post3 063414