Control services with SC

Syntax:

Typing SC /? on the command line shows us the following help text:

DESCRIPTION:
	SC is a command line program used for communicating with the 
	NT Service Controller and services.
USAGE:
	sc <server> [command] [service name] <option1> <option2>...

	The option <server> has the form "\\ServerName"
	Further help on commands can be obtained by typing: "sc [command]"
	Commands:
	  query-----------Queries the status for a service, or 
	                  enumerates the status for types of services.
	  queryex---------Queries the extended status for a service, or 
	                  enumerates the status for types of services.
	  start-----------Starts a service.
	  pause-----------Sends a PAUSE control request to a service.
	  interrogate-----Sends an INTERROGATE control request to a service.
	  continue--------Sends a CONTINUE control request to a service.
	  stop------------Sends a STOP request to a service.
	  config----------Changes the configuration of a service (persistent).
	  description-----Changes the description of a service.
	  failure---------Changes the actions taken by a service upon failure.
	  sidtype---------Changes the service SID type of a service.
	  qc--------------Queries the configuration information for a service.
	  qdescription----Queries the description for a service.
	  qfailure--------Queries the actions taken by a service upon failure.
	  qsidtype--------Queries the service SID type of a service.
	  delete----------Deletes a service (from the registry).
	  create----------Creates a service. (adds it to the registry).
	  control---------Sends a control to a service.
	  sdshow----------Displays a service's security descriptor.
	  sdset-----------Sets a service's security descriptor.
	  showsid---------Displays the service SID string corresponding to an arbitrary name.
	  GetDisplayName--Gets the DisplayName for a service.
	  GetKeyName------Gets the ServiceKeyName for a service.
	  EnumDepend------Enumerates Service Dependencies.

	The following commands don't require a service name:
	sc <server> <command> <option> 
	  boot------------(ok | bad) Indicates whether the last boot should
	                  be saved as the last-known-good boot configuration
	  Lock------------Locks the Service Database
	  QueryLock-------Queries the LockStatus for the SCManager Database
EXAMPLE:
	sc start MyService
Would you like to see help for the QUERY and QUERYEX commands? [ y | n ]:

Press Y if you want to display help for SC's QUERY and QUERYEX commands:

QUERY and QUERYEX OPTIONS : 
	If the query command is followed by a service name, the status
	for that service is returned.  Further options do not apply in
	this case.  If the query command is followed by nothing or one of
	the options listed below, the services are enumerated.
	type=    Type of services to enumerate (driver, service, all)
             (default = service)
	state=   State of services to enumerate (inactive, all)
             (default = active)
	bufsize= The size (in bytes) of the enumeration buffer
             (default = 4096)
	ri=      The resume index number at which to begin the enumeration
             (default = 0)
	group=   Service group to enumerate
             (default = all groups)
SYNTAX EXAMPLES
sc query                - Enumerates status for active services & drivers
sc query messenger      - Displays status for the messenger service
sc queryex messenger    - Displays extended status for the messenger service
sc query type= driver   - Enumerates only active drivers
sc query type= service  - Enumerates only Win32 services
sc query state= all     - Enumerates all services & drivers
sc query bufsize= 50    - Enumerates with a 50 byte buffer.
sc query ri= 14         - Enumerates with resume index = 14
sc queryex group= ""    - Enumerates active services not in a group
sc query type= service type= interact - Enumerates all interactive services
sc query type= driver group= NDIS     - Enumerates all NDIS drivers

Common tasks

Start a service

SC \\computer Start service

Stop a service

SC \\computer Stop service

Restart a service

SC \\computer Stop service
SC \\computer Start service

Make a service start automatically

SC \\computer Config service start= auto

Disable a service

SC \\computer Config service start= disabled

Change a service's display name

SC \\computer Config service DisplayName= "New display name"

Change a service's description

SC \\computer Description service "This is the service's new description"

Change a service's recovery settings

SC \\computer Failure service actions= restart/60000/restart/60000// reset= 120

This command will make a service restart after 1 minute (60000 milliseconds) on the first 2 failures, and take no action at further failures (to prevent infinite failing restarts, which might consume 100% CPU capacity); the failures counter will be reset after 2 minutes (120 seconds).

Ignore a service's failure to start at boot time

SC \\computer Config service error= ignore