HOWTO: Create a User-Defined Service

• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.51 and 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.51 and 4.0

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information on how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" or the "Restoring a Registry Key" online Help topics in Registry Editor.

SUMMARY

The Windows NT Resource Kit provides two utilities that allow you to create a Windows NT user-defined service for Windows NT applications and some 16-bit applications (but not for batch files).

Instrsrv.exe installs and removes system services from Windows NT and Srvany.exe allows any Windows NT application to run as a service.

MORE INFORMATION

To create a Windows NT user-defined service, perform the following steps:

1. At a MS-DOS command prompt, type the following command:

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

         where <path> is the drive and directory of the Windows NT Resource
         Kit (i.e., C:\RESKIT) and <My Service> is the name of the service you
         are creating.
   

   WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

   For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys And Values" online Help topic or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" online Help topics in Registry Editor.

   NOTE: You should back up the registry before you edit it.

2. Run Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe)and locate the following subkey:

         HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\<My Service>
   

3. From the Edit menu, click Add Key. Type the following and click OK:

         Key Name: Parameters
         Class   : <leave blank>
   
   

4. Select the Parameters key.

5. From the Edit menu, click Add Value. Type the following and click OK:

         Value Name: Application
         Data Type : REG_SZ
         String    : <path>\<application.ext>
   
         where <path>\<application.ext> is the drive and full path to the
         application executable including the extension (i.e.,
         C:\WinNT\Notepad.exe)
   
   

6. Close Registry Editor.

   - From the Services applet in Control Panel

   - From a MS-DOS command prompt, type the following:

        NET START <My Service>

   - Use the Sc.exe utility from the Resource Kit. Type the following from
     a MS-DOS command prompt:

        <path>\Sc.exe start <My Service>

        where <path> is the drive and directory of the Windows NT Resource
        Kit (i.e., C:\Reskit).