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
- Jump started to STSADM to stop the service: stsadm -o provisionservice -action stop -servicetype SPWebService
- Did IISReset
- 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.