The Life Cycle of A Service - "Google Updater"

This section describes the life cycle of a Windows service using 'Google Updater' as an example. The life cycle of a service relates to 3 concepts: service program, installed service, and service process (started service).

Before trying various service related programs, let's look the life cycle of a single example service - Google Updater Service.

1. Installing the service program - When you install any software from the Google Pack collection, like Google Desktop, or Google Toolbar, A service program called GoogleUpdaterService.exe is installed to your hard disk located at: "C:\Program Files\Google\Common\Google Updater".

2. Creating the installed service in registry - At the end of the installation, an "installed service" entry is added into the system registry on your Windows system localed at: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\gusvc. The "gusvc" service is defined as "Automatic" startup type, and linked to the service program GoogleUpdaterService.exe.

3. Starting the service and resulting a process - When you restart your Windows system, the SCM (Service Control Manager) will start service "gusvc" automatically. This results a running process called "GoogleUpdaterService.exe" in the operating system.

4. Leaving the process running in background - While you are using your system to do your daily work, "GoogleUpdaterService.exe" is quietly running in the background. I don't know what exactly "GoogleUpdaterService.exe" is doing on your system. But I guess it connects to a Google Web site and checks for updates on any of the software you installed from the Google Pack. If you trust Google developers, you can let "GoogleUpdaterService.exe" run.

5. Ending the process manually - If you want to end the running process of "GoogleUpdaterService.exe", you can use "Task Manager" to end it. But it will be started again, when you restart your system next time.

6. Disabling the service manually - If you don't want this service "gusvc" to start "GoogleUpdaterService.exe" at the system startup time, you can use "services.msc - Services Console" to disable "gusvc". But "gusvc" will stay in the registry as a disabled installed service entry.

7. Deleting the service manually - If you want to delete service "gusvc" from the registry, you should use an uninstall program from Google to remove service "gusvc". However, I don't see any uninstall program provided by Google. So you need to use a registry editor (like regedit.exe) or a service configuration program (like mc.exe) to remove it. But the service program is still on your hard disk.

8. Deleting the service program - If you don't want to run "GoogleUpdaterService.exe" any more in the future, you can delete this service program using Windows Explorer.

Table of Contents

 About This Book

 Introduction to Microsoft Windows

 Introduction to Windows Explorer

 Introduction to Internet Explorer

 "Paint" Program and Computer Graphics

 GIMP - GNU Image Manipulation Program

 JPEG Image File Format Quality and Size

 GIF Image File Format and Transparent Background

 "WinZip" - ZIP File Compression Tool

 "WinRAR" - RAR and ZIP File Compression Tool

 FTP Server, Client and Commands

 "FileZilla" - Free FTP Client and Server

 Web Server Log Files and Analysis Tool - "Analog"

 Spyware Adware Detection and Removal

 IE Addon Program Listing and Removal

 Vundo (VirtuMonde/VirtuMundo) - vtsts.dll Removal

 Trojan and Malware "Puper" Description and Removal

 VSToolbar (VSAdd-in.dll) - Description and Removal

 Spybot - Spyware Blocker, Detection and Removal

 Setting Up and Using Crossover Cable Network

 Home Network Gateway - DSL Modem/Wireless Router

 Windows Task Manager - The System Performance Tool

 "tasklist" Command Line Tool to List Process Information

 "msconfig" - System Configuration Tool

Configuring and Managing System Services

 What Are Windows Services and Related Programs

The Life Cycle of A Service - "Google Updater"

 Installed Services in System Registry

 "sc.exe" - A Command Line Tool to Manage Services

 "sc.exe query type= driver" - All Device Driver Services

 "sc.exe query type= service" - All Application Program Services

 "sc.exe query/start/stop" - Query, Start or Stop Services

 "sc.exe create/delete" - Create or Delete Services

 "services.msc" - Program Services Console

 "services.msc" - Stoping and Starting Services

 "services.msc" - Disabling Services

 "Task Manger" - Ending a Service Process

 Windows Registry Key and Value Management Tools

 Startup Programs Removal for Better System Performance

 Winsock - Windows Sockets API

 Java on Windows

 Glossary of Terms

 Outdated Tutorials

 References

 Full Version in PDF/ePUB