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What the difference between a Windows service and a Windows process?

What is the difference between a Windows service and a Windows process?

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M.Rezaei Avatar asked Nov 25 '13 11:11

M.Rezaei


People also ask

Whats the difference between a service and a process?

A process is an instance of an executable file. That's why there is at least one process running every time you open an app. A service, on the other hand, runs as an instance of the svchost.exe process, mostly (DLL files).

What are Windows processes?

Windows Processes are Windows Services and background programs you normally don't see running on the computer. A process may be a printer program that runs in the background and monitors the ink levels and other printer settings while the computer is running.

Can a windows service start a process?

You can't. A Service doesn't run under any "real" user at all, so it can't start any processes which can in any way interact with the user - input or output - as there won't necessarily be any user logging in while the service is running.

What is the difference between EXE and service?

A windows service always runs once the computer starts up (as long as it's so configured). A standard EXE only runs when a user is logged in, and will stop if the user logs out. You would use a windows service for things that always need to run even if nobody is logged in.


1 Answers

A service is a true-blooded Windows process, no difference there. The only thing that's special about a service is that it is started by the operating system and runs in a separate session. An isolated one that keeps it from interfering with the desktop session. Traditionally named a daemon.

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Hans Passant Avatar answered Sep 21 '22 22:09

Hans Passant