How To Create a User-Defined Service

Because I always forget how, here is how to create a user-defined service in Windows:

1. Get a copy of the Windows 2003 Resource Toolkit
2. Install the service:

   path\INSTSRV.EXE My Service path\SRVANY.EXE

3. Open the service you just created in regedit here:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\[My Service]

4. Right click the service itself and create a key named ‘Parameters’. This creates a new sub-folder.
5. Select the ‘Parameters’ key and then right-click on the space to the right and choose the ‘New Key’ option. Name it ‘Application’.
6. Its type will default to ‘REG_SZ’. Leave that alone.
7. For its value enter in the executable path.
8. You are done.

(via Microsoft Support)