How Can a Windows Service Launch GUI Applications on the Active Desktop Remotely?

How to Run GUI Applications from a Windows Service

Remotely managing applications through a Windows service is common, but launching GUI applications on the active desktop from within a service presents unique challenges.

Problem: How can a Windows service locate and interact with the active desktop to run a GUI application?

Solution: Utilizing WTSEnumerateSessions and CreateProcessAsUser offers a viable solution.

Roger Lipscombe's recommendation involves using WTSEnumerateSessions to identify the active desktop and CreateProcessAsUser to start the application on that desktop.

However, there are potential drawbacks to this approach:

• Determining the active desktop in certain environments (e.g., Terminal Server hosts) can be complex or impractical.
• The unexpected appearance of an application on a user's desktop may be disruptive and cause unintended consequences.

A recommended alternative:

• Place a shortcut to a small client application for the service in the global startup group.
• This application will launch with every user session and can initiate the desired actions, including starting other applications.
• This method adheres to Windows application standards, simplifies deployment, and allows administrators to manage the application's visibility as needed.

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