I am not familiar with the xp_servicecontrol querystate option and cannot find any documentation on its use. In addition this option has a caveat to it. It works but not always. I believe that the answer is just to query sysprocesses for the sqlAgent and forget about undocumented procedures. Some of these undocumented procedures may have undocumented affects. I am with MG on this, I don't think we should encourage their use, but if you do want to use them, remember the explanation to this QOTD. It works except...!:)