Problem with services 500 pts!

There are some other methods/properties of Service Controller that you can dabble with.

Imports System.ServiceProcess

Module TestService

    Public serviceController As New ServiceController("Messenger")

    Public Sub Service_Start()
        If Service_Status() = ServiceControllerStatus.Stopped Then
            serviceController.Start()
            Debug.Print("Service started...")
        Else
            Debug.Print("Service is not stopped. Action cancelled.")
        End If
    End Sub

    Public Sub Service_Stop()
        If Service_Status() = ServiceControllerStatus.Running Then
            serviceController.Stop()
            Debug.Print("Service stopping...")
        Else
            Debug.Print("Service is not running. Action canlled.")
        End If
    End Sub

    Public Function Service_Status() As ServiceControllerStatus
        Return serviceController.Status
    End Function

End Module

Immediate Window Output:
?service_status
Stopped {1}
service_start
Service is starting...
?service_status
Running {4}
service_stop
Service stopping...

Hi bachoor,

Like I said, I already have the code for starting and stopping the service, but I need to be able to change the startup type.  My situation is that my software is being installed on computers that I have no control over and that are not locked down.  Users being users will always try and break stuff and so the only control I have is from functions within my program.  Hence if the users decides to change my service to disabled and need my program to be able to change it back to automatic and that's the bit that I am having trouble with.

I have found the solution myself!!

The only way you can do this is to change a registry key manually

The Subkey you need to alter is:
Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey("SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\" + ServiceName)

The Key value you need to alter is:
key.GetValue("Start")

Appropiate values for this key are:
   Boot = 0
   System = 1
   Automatic = 2
   Manual = 3
   Disabled = 4


I have added this in the hope that it will help others looking for the same information.  I will now request that this question be closed without awarding points