Windows SharePoint Services Web Application – Stuck at “Starting” Status

I had this trouble after applying Service pack 3 on an existing MOSS 2007 environment: Windows SharePoint Services Web Application stuck at “Starting” status and yet it never starts!

Solution:

Stsadm command to stop windows SharePoint services web application stuck on stopping

1. Jump started to STSADM to stop the service: stsadm -o provisionservice -action stop -servicetype SPWebService
2. Did IISReset
3. After that, I could start it either from the command line or from the central admin. stsadm -o provisionservice -action start -servicetype SPWebService

Please note: Stopping the Windows SharePoint Services Web Application will remove the virtual directories in IIS, reverts the web.config changes, etc.

So, we have to apply the customizations once it started again.