Window's Service set to manual startup, but automatically starting

Question

I have a very strange thing happening on a Windows 10 machine.

I have a Windows service that is set startup manually. I wrote a script that starts the service when on the desktop. Basically a net start thing.

What happens is when I Log-off then log back on, the service automatically starts. I am using a "ForceAutoLogon" which bounces me off the logon screen right back in to windows, but it doesn't affect any of my other Windows 10 machines running the same service.

How is this possible? Has anyone seen anything like this before? Is there some setting in Windows or service that is preserving the state of the service?

Solution

This is a bug (or a hidden setting in windows). I have a service that I only start from the command line that is set to manual but Windows starts it if it was running when I shut down. It may be caused by that irritating fast boot thing that saves the PC state and does not do a proper reboot. I believe Microsoft forced this on users to discourage dual boot systems with Linux and Windows 10.

Comments

[Ravindra Bawane]

Which service is this?

[Ravindra Bawane]

Also, what is the exact trigger you describe as "when on the desktop"? Is that a scheduled task that runs when the desktop loads, or simply a script that you have saved in a file on your desktop that you intend to run manually?

[Kamil Maciorowski]

Something demands the service. What is the difference between “manual” and “disabled” service in Windows?

[Andy]

@music2myear - Oculus Rift service. And, net start is run from a bat file... from the desktop by double-click. I have started the service, gone in to services, disabled the service completely, then logoff-logon and it starts right back up. It will be in the service list as disabled, but running.

[Ravindra Bawane]

Have you checked if there is a program running each time to the computer is started (not a service) that is starting the service? Look for any Oculus Rift-related applications that start with each logon.

[Andy]

@music2myear -- Yes... I have Autoruns installed and went through that entire list. This is a fresh windows10 install on a new alienware/dell SKU. So maybe there is something that Alienware/Dell installed? I tried removing all their crap-ware, but the problem still persists. No other SKU in my building has this issue.

[Andy]

If the service is not started (but set to manual in service app), then log off/on... it doesn't start. That's what's puzzling. It only starts if it was started before the logoff occurs.