Editing Background process (section)

==Windows services==
{{Main article|Windows service}}
In [[Windows NT]] family of [[operating system]]s, a Windows service is a dedicated background process.<ref name="Services snap-in">{{cite web|title=Services overview|url=https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc783643%28v=ws.10%29.aspx|work=[[Microsoft TechNet]]|publisher=Microsoft|accessdate=29 March 2013}}</ref> A Windows service must conform to the interface rules and protocols of the [[Service Control Manager]], the component responsible for managing Windows services.<ref name="Service MSDN">{{Cite web |url=http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms685141.aspx |title=Services |work=[[Microsoft Developer Network]] |publisher=Microsoft |accessdate=29 March 2013}}</ref>

Windows services can be configured to start when the operating system starts, and to run in the background as long as Windows runs. Alternatively, they can be started manually or by an event. Windows NT operating systems [[List of Microsoft Windows components#Services|include numerous services]] which run in context of three [[user account]]s: <code>System</code>, <code>Network Service</code> and <code>Local Service</code>. These Windows components are often associated with Host Process for Windows Services: [[svchost.exe]]. Since Windows services operate in the context of their own dedicated user accounts, they can operate when a user is not logged on.

Before [[Windows Vista]], services installed as "interactive services" could interact with Windows [[desktop metaphor|desktop]] and show a [[graphical user interface]]. With Windows Vista, however, interactive services became [[deprecated]] and ceased operating properly, as a result of [[Windows Service Hardening]].<ref>{{cite web|title=New Elevation PowerToys for Windows Vista|url=https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/2008.06.elevation.aspx|work=TechNet Magazine|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|accessdate=21 June 2013|date=June 2008|quote=The service CmdAsSystem is configured  as interactive whose support is being deprecated. The service may not function properly. The problem is that this script tries to create and start an interactive service. Interactive services will not function correctly due to Session 0 Isolation in Windows Vista.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Services in Windows|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/hardware/gg463428.aspx|work=[[MSDN]]|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|accessdate=21 June 2013|date=18 October 2010}}</ref>

The three principal means of managing Windows services are:
# Services snap-in for [[Microsoft Management Console]]
# <code>sc.exe</code>
# [[Windows PowerShell]]