Proper way to delay an application while a service is starting?

[hoxsiew]

Use the service API:

#include <Winsvc.h>

//...
  SC_HANDLE hsv,hmc;
  SERVICE_STATUS sst;
  hsv=OpenSCManager(NULL,0,SC_MANAGER_CONNECT);
  hmc=OpenService(hsv,L"MyService",GENERIC_READ);
  if(hmc==NULL){
    //service not installed; handle error
  }
  QueryServiceStatus(hmc,&sst);
  if(SERVICE_RUNNING!=sst.dwCurrentState){
    //wait or do whatever until it starts
  }
  CloseServiceHandle(hmc);
  CloseServiceHandle(hsv);