c# - Error 1053 the service did not respond to the start or control request

Question

I've written a Windows Service in C# that basically checks my db every minute for orders, generates a PDF from these orders, and emails it.

The logic works perfectly in my tests etc..

When i create the service, and install it using the setup project, when I go to start the service in the services mmc, I get:

error 1053 the service did not respond to the start or control request in a timely fashion

My OnStart method looks like this:

protected override void OnStart(string[] args)
{
    //writeToWindowsEventLog("Service started", EventLogEntryType.Information);
    timer.Enabled = true;
}

Basically, just enables the timer... so theres no process intensive call there.

Where am I going wrong?

I've tried setting the startup account to local system, network service etc... nothing works!

Edit:

Here is my code: (processPurchaseOrders is the method where the db is queried and pdf's are generated etc...)

public partial class PurchaseOrderDispatcher : ServiceBase
{
    //this is the main timer of the service
    private System.Timers.Timer timer;

    public PurchaseOrderDispatcher()
    {
        InitializeComponent();
    }

    // The main entry point for the process
    static void Main()
    {
      #if (!DEBUG)
        ServiceBase[] ServicesToRun;
        ServicesToRun = new ServiceBase[] { new PurchaseOrderDispatcher() };
        ServiceBase.Run(ServicesToRun);
      #else //debug code
        PurchaseOrderDispatcher service = new PurchaseOrderDispatcher();
        service.processPurchaseOrders();
      #endif
    }

    private void InitializeComponent()
    {
        this.CanPauseAndContinue = true;
        this.ServiceName = "Crocus_PurchaseOrderGenerator";
    }

    private void InitTimer()
    {
        timer = new System.Timers.Timer();

        //wire up the timer event
        timer.Elapsed += new ElapsedEventHandler(timer_Elapsed);

        //set timer interval
        var timeInSeconds = Convert.ToInt32(ConfigurationManager.AppSettings["TimerIntervalInSeconds"]);
        timer.Interval = (timeInSeconds * 1000); // timer.Interval is in milliseconds, so times above by 1000

        timer.Enabled = true;
    }

    protected override void Dispose(bool disposing)
    {
        if (disposing && (components != null))
            components.Dispose();

        base.Dispose(disposing);
    }

    protected override void OnStart(string[] args)
    {
        //instantiate timer
        Thread t = new Thread(new ThreadStart(this.InitTimer));
        t.Start();
    }

    protected override void OnStop()
    {
        //turn off the timer.
        timer.Enabled = false;
    }

    protected override void OnPause()
    {
        timer.Enabled = false;

        base.OnPause();
    }

    protected override void OnContinue()
    {
        timer.Enabled = true;

        base.OnContinue();
    }

    protected void timer_Elapsed(object sender, ElapsedEventArgs e)
    {
        processPurchaseOrders();
    }
}

Answer 1

I just had the same problem.

It turned out it was because I was running it as a console in debug mode - like the code you have above

#if (!DEBUG)

#else //debug code

#endif

And I had compiled it in debug mode and installed the service

When I compiled it in release mode it worked as expected

Hope this helps