• Home
  • About 404TS
  • Contact

404 Tech Support

Where IT Help is Found

  • Articles
    • Code
    • Entertainment
    • Going Green
    • Hardware, Gadgets, and Products
    • Management
    • Network
    • News
    • Operating Systems
    • Security and Privacy
    • Software
    • System Administration
    • Talking Points
    • Tech Solutions
    • Web
    • Webmaster
  • Reviews
  • Media
    • Infographics
    • Videos
  • Tech Events
  • Tools
    • How do I find my IP address?
    • Browser and plugin tests
  • Get a Technical Consultation
You are here: Home / Articles / Tech Solutions / How to delete a service through the command line

How to delete a service through the command line

2013-01-16 by Jason

I was working on a client’s malware-infected computer earlier. After getting past the big infections, I was doing a more thorough spot-check and noticed some unwanted Browser Helper Objects (spyware) still latching on to Internet Explorer. They also had entries in the Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs list. I told them to uninstall but it essentially did nothing. The files were left behind, registry entries were left behind, they still existed in Internet Explorer, and they even had Services running an application to check for updates.

I scoured the Registry for the remaining entries. This pointed me where to find the remnant files which I tried to delete. A few were unable to be deleted as they were in use. I checked the services and found the update service. I stopped the service and was able to delete the file but wasn’t content to let the service remain even if it was stopped and disabled.

You can get to Services through Computer Management or going to Start, Run and typing Services.msc. This gives you a list like below. You can sort by status, name, or startup type to try to identify what you are looking for and troubleshoot by stopping, starting, or restarting a service.

Windows Services

To delete the service, you must use an elevated command prompt. Go to Start and type CMD. Right click on Command Prompt and choose Run As Administrator. At the command prompt that you are given, run:

sc delete [ServiceName]

You can see the Service Name in the Services.msc window that we previously opened.

sc delete command

After running the command, you should receive a simple ‘Success’ confirmation that the service was deleted.

Obviously deleting services isn’t an everyday thing but it has its time and place. Deleting it through the above command makes it pretty easy. You can also do other service troubleshooting with the command such as starting and stopping services, including on remote computers. For more details on the sc command, from the command prompt, run: sc /?

Filed Under: Tech Solutions

Trending

  • Gadgets CEOs prefer [infographic]
    In Infographics, Media
  • How to Remove the Google Background Image
    In Media, News, Tech Solutions
  • Disable Firefox’s new ‘SpeedDial’ New Tab Page
    In Tech Solutions

Latest Media Posts

Find Out Where To Download SNES ROMs

Find Out Where To Download SNES ROMs

Multifunctional Video Conversion Tools – Wondershare Video Converter

Multifunctional Video Conversion Tools – Wondershare Video Converter

  • Popular
  • Latest
  • Today Week Month All
  • How to ‘Unblock’ multiple files at a time with PowerShell How to 'Unblock' multiple files at a time with PowerShell
  • Increase IIS Private Memory Limit to improve WSUS availability Increase IIS Private Memory Limit to improve WSUS availability
  • Read the Event Logs on Windows Server Core Read the Event Logs on Windows Server Core
  • SOLVED: “This modification is not allowed because the selection is locked.” SOLVED: "This modification is not allowed because the selection is locked."
  • Command line to take ownership and change permissions Command line to take ownership and change permissions
  • Making Distributed Software Development Work: Strategies and Best Practices for Managing Remote Teams Making Distributed Software Development Work: Strategies and Best Practices for Managing Remote Teams
  • customer contactless payment for drink with mobile phon at cafe counter bar,seller coffee shop accept payment by mobile.new normal lifestyle concept The Latest Innovations In Payment Technology
  • How Digital Technology Brought the Rise of the CMO   How Digital Technology Brought the Rise of the CMO  
  • How to Purchase Cryptocurrencies? How to Purchase Cryptocurrencies?
  • Top 6 necessary aspects to consider when hiring Angular developers Top 6 necessary aspects to consider when hiring Angular developers
Ajax spinner

Elevator Pitch

404 Tech Support documents solutions to IT problems, shares worthwhile software and websites, and reviews hardware, consumer electronics, and technology-related books.

Subscribe to 404TS articles by email.

Recent Posts

  • Making Distributed Software Development Work: Strategies and Best Practices for Managing Remote Teams
  • The Latest Innovations In Payment Technology
  • How Digital Technology Brought the Rise of the CMO  

Search

FTC Disclaimer

404TechSupport is an Amazon.com affiliate; when you click on an Amazon link from 404TS, the site gets a cut of the proceeds from whatever you buy. This site also uses Skimlinks for smart monetization of other affiliate links.
Use of this site requires displaying and viewing ads as they are presented.

Copyright © 2023 · Magazine Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in