Service already exists (when it clearly doesn't)

Run in command line (adm mode):

sc delete service_name

Service names with spaces must be quoted.

Update: Try this:

sc query type= service > services.txt

and verify that the service does not appear with another name.


if you try to remove a service when it's still running, it's marked as deleted so you won't see it in the list of services but any attempt to add a service with the same name will fail afterward. the easy solution is to restart. this way windows removes the service before login or you can remove it from Registry in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services

be careful with that


Some time when we install windows service from setup then also problem arises like we can not uninstall. here i will discuss few steps which solve this problem to remove install application entry from Add/Remove panel and again we can install the same application.

Open registry by Regedit and To locate the program's uninstall key, navigate to the following sub-folder:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall

select Uninstall icon and start find your program by name. when it will appear then just remove that entry from registry. after remove the program name will not display in Add/Remove. problem will be solved and again user can install the same application. i got this tips from this location http://eugene2k.hubpages.com/hub/How-to-force-uninstall-a-program and i tested and it worked.

The below steps is for how to remove services when service is not starting or file missing or corrupted.

1- Open cmd as administrator

sc delete servicename

2- open run > regedit , back it up first and then browse to

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services

and delete the service key

3- remove the folder where win service was installed

4- reboot the machine