A Windows Service generally has three different states after being started: running, stopped, and what?

When a Windows Service is started, it can indeed be in three primary states: running, stopped, and paused. The "paused" state allows a service to temporarily halt its operations without shutting it down completely. This is useful for services that may need to temporarily suspend their tasks for maintenance or control purposes, yet can continue from the same point where they left off once they are resumed.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately reflect standard states for Windows Services. For instance, a service does not have a defined "terminated" state; rather, it is either stopped or running. "Idle" is not a recognized state within the lifecycle management of a service, as it does not convey meaningful information about its operational status. The term "restarting" could refer to the process of a service being stopped and started again but does not denote a distinct state that a service can maintain while it is operating.

Thus, the "paused" state is integral to understanding the lifecycle of a Windows Service, allowing for greater control and management over service operations.