System.Security.SecurityException: The source was not found, but some or all event logs could not be searched. Inaccessible logs: Security

Question

I am trying to create a Windows Service, but when I try and install it, it rolls back giving me this error:

System.Security.SecurityException: The source was not found, but some or all event logs could not be searched. Inaccessible logs: Security.

I don't know what this means - my application has the bare minimum since I am just testing things out first.

My Installer Code:

namespace WindowsService1 {     [RunInstaller(true)]     public partial class ProjectInstaller : System.Configuration.Install.Installer     {         public ProjectInstaller()         {             //set the privileges             processInstaller.Account = ServiceAccount.LocalSystem;             processInstaller.Username = null;             processInstaller.Password = null;              serviceInstaller.DisplayName = "My Service";             serviceInstaller.StartType = ServiceStartMode.Manual;              //must be the same as what was set in Program's constructor             serviceInstaller.ServiceName = "My Service";              this.Installers.Add(processInstaller);             this.Installers.Add(serviceInstaller);         }          private void serviceProcessInstaller1_AfterInstall(object sender, InstallEventArgs e)         {         }          private void serviceInstaller1_AfterInstall(object sender, InstallEventArgs e)         {         }     } } 

My Service Code:

public partial class Service1 : ServiceBase {     public Service1()     {         this.ServiceName = "My Service";     }      protected override void OnStart(string[] args)     {         base.OnStart(args);     }      protected override void OnStop()     {         base.OnStop();     } } 

Answer 1

I got the same exception when trying to install a service from the command line when using installutil in Windows 7. The solution was to open the command line as Administrator and then run installutil.

Also you may find it easier to use a framework like TopShelf to host your services, because it manages all the setup configuration from the name and description of the service to how your recovery process will work. It also allows to easily start your service from inside the IDE when you are debugging it.