c# - Relative path not working in windows service -

i have bit weird situation. in onstart method of windows service if put following code:

file.appendalltext(appdomain.currentdomain.basedirectory + "\\testfile.txt", "started " + appdomain.currentdomain.basedirectory); 

it works , inside text file stored:

started c:\users\guser\documents\visual studio 2012\projects\freespacecontrolservice\freespacecontrolservice\bin\debug\ 

the text file created inside debug directory.

but if use such code instead of above(at same place):

  file.appendalltext("testfile.txt", "started");         

the text file is not created in same directory above. why not created in same directory? (it seems created in windows/system32 check - there 2 executables? why did first return debug directory?)

and typically(in path) store settings windows service , logs?

because working directory of windows services %windir%\system32.

you can verify yourself:

file.appendalltext(appdomain.currentdomain.basedirectory + "\\testfile.txt",                    "my working directory is: " + directory.getcurrentdirectory()); 

and typically(in path) store settings windows service , logs?

• settings: in windows registry.
• logs: in windows event log.
• any other files service might need: somewhere below system.environment.specialfolder.commonapplicationdata (e.g. c:\programdata\myservice). more details, see following question:
  what significance of programdata folder in windows?.