Is there a way for a Windows 7 Service to display a window in another user's session?
We have a program that we developed for Windows 2003 that runs as a service. The service runs under a user account that has administrative privileges. Under Windows 2003, this program will display a status window in the console session, but not in any remote desktop sessions. For example, if I log into the system's console with my personal account, I can see the status window from the service (even though the service itself runs as a different user). However, if my coworker connects via remote desktop, he will not see the status window.
When we have tried running this program in Windows 7, the behavior is quite different. If I log into the console of the system, the window from our service doesn't show up. Instead, I get a dialog from Interactive Services Detection that informs me that "A program running on this computer is trying to display a message". When I click on it I'm taken to what seems like another terminal session where I can interact with our service's status window but no other windows.
I'd like to find a way to:
1. Make the status window visible for whoever is logged into the system console.
2. Continue running this service under a separate administrative account.
Is there such a way to do this under Windows 7?
Thanks!
When we have tried running this program in Windows 7, the behavior is quite different. If I log into the console of the system, the window from our service doesn't show up. Instead, I get a dialog from Interactive Services Detection that informs me that "A program running on this computer is trying to display a message". When I click on it I'm taken to what seems like another terminal session where I can interact with our service's status window but no other windows.
I'd like to find a way to:
1. Make the status window visible for whoever is logged into the system console.
2. Continue running this service under a separate administrative account.
Is there such a way to do this under Windows 7?
Thanks!
centerv
Try it by switching Aero to Classic view.
ASKER
Just tried that, no luck.
As a side note, I read the following article:
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/sysinternals/Session0Changes.mspx
Based on the article, it sounds like we might have to re-tool the code that displays our window to decouple it from running directly from the service executable. But before we go down that road I'd like to rule out any workarounds that we could get through changing Windows settings.
As a side note, I read the following article:
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/sysinternals/Session0Changes.mspx
Based on the article, it sounds like we might have to re-tool the code that displays our window to decouple it from running directly from the service executable. But before we go down that road I'd like to rule out any workarounds that we could get through changing Windows settings.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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ASKER
Blast. At least that clarifies the issue. Points awarded to DanRollins.