Service-specific error code 4 when starting Confluence service in Windows

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Summary

After following the instructions on Start Confluence Automatically on Windows as a Service page, Confluence can't be started with "service-specific error code 4".

The following appears in the Windows Event Log:

The "Confluence" service terminated with service-specific error 
The system cannot open the file.

Environment

  • Confluence Server
  • Windows OS


Diagnosis

Cause

When executing the command " service.bat install Confluence" , the Command Prompt console is not run as an Administrator account. This causes the Confluence service to be installed without sufficient privileges for accessing the required files.

This can also be caused by the service logon account not having enough permissions to start the service, especially if it's set to a network service account.

Resolution

  1. Remove the service with the command " service.bat remove Confluence "
  2. Open the Command Prompt console as an Administrator
  3. Follow the instructions to install Confluence as Windows service
  4. If the issue persists: Open the service properties, go to the log on tab and change the option to  Local System Account.


Last modified on Mar 21, 2024

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