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I have created a console application in .Net 2.0 (C#) and want to create an installer that will install the application as a Windows Service.

I have never created an installer before but I am reading a few articles on the subject. I would appreciate any suggestions or links from those with some experience in this area.

Thanks.

UPDATE: I am currently looking at http://justinjmoses.wordpress.com/2008/03/27/visual-studio-2008-standard-vs-professional/ to work around the fact that the Windows Service Application template is not included in VS 2008 Standard.

Russ Taylor also has a default Windows Service project available for download at http://russtaylor.co.uk/2009/01/writing-a-windows-service-in-visual-studio-2008-standard/.

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2 Answers

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You should create a new "Windows Service Project" in Visual Studio.

I think this is a good starting point:

Introduction to Windows Service Applications

Apparently, the Windows Service Application Template is not available in the standard edition of Visual Studio, but maybe this can help:

How to: Write Services Programmatically

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Thanks. It says the Service App template is not available in the Standard Edition of VS (which I have). Can this template be install manually. Is it necessary to use a Service template? Will a Console App not work? – modernzombie Jan 6 at 13:30
@modernzombie: You can create a service programmatically, I've updated my answer. – fretje Jan 6 at 13:48
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You want ServiceInstall in WiX: http://www.tentaclesoftware.com/blog/archive/2009/01/01/21.aspx

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