Any way to override .NET Windows Service Name without recompiling?

Question

I have a windows service executable that I know is written in .NET which I need to install under a different service name to avoid a conflict. The install doesn't provide anyway to specify a service name. If I only have access to the binary, is there anyway to override the service name when I install it with installutil?

Answer 1

Do you have to use InstallUtil? Here are the commands to do what you want using sc:

sc create MyService binPath= "MyService.exe" DisplayName= "MyService"  
sc description MyService "My description"

Reference: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/251192

Answer 2

It is not true that InstallUtil doesn't allow you to configure the service name. I do it all the time like this

InstallUtil.exe /servicename="<service name>" "<path to service exe>"

Answer 3

1. Add project installer to your service

2. Add method to get CustomService name

   private void RetrieveServiceName() 
   {
       var serviceName = Context.Parameters["servicename"];
       if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(serviceName))
       {
           this.SomeService.ServiceName = serviceName;
           this.SomeService.DisplayName = serviceName;
       }
   }
   

3. call on install and uninstall

   public override void Install(System.Collections.IDictionary stateSaver)
   {
      RetrieveServiceName();
     base.Install(stateSaver);
   }
   
   
   public override void Uninstall(System.Collections.IDictionary savedState)
   
   {
      RetrieveServiceName();
      base.Uninstall(savedState);
   }
   

4. installutil /servicename=”My Service [SysTest]” d:\pathToMyService\Service.exe

Source

Answer 4

This exactly worked for me!

I hope someone can use this.

Answer 5

Try installing your service with sc.exe. A quick search will yield lots documentation. With that tool it's easy to modify existing services and/or add new ones -- including names.

Edit: I install my .NET services with this tool.