Windows Services are computer programs that are created to run in the background of a computer, providing the necessary services to other programs and processes. They are responsible for many of the day-to-day operations of a computer, and they can be found in almost all versions of the Windows operating system.
Services can be managed from the Windows Services tool. This tool allows you to start or stop services, change their startup type, and view information about each service, such as its name, description, and status. However, some services may not have a visible name or description. In this case, the service name may appear as “GenericService” or “Unknown Service”, making it difficult to identify the service.
Fortunately, it is possible to change the display name of a Windows service. This means that instead of the generic or unknown name, the service will be given a more descriptive name. This can be useful for identifying services, and can help IT administrators better manage their systems.
In order to change the display name of a Windows service, you need to edit the service’s registry key. The registry key for a service is located at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\SYSTEM\\CurrentControlSet\\Services\\[name of service]. Under this key, you will find a “DisplayName” string value. This is the value that determines the service’s display name.
To change the display name, double-click on the “DisplayName” string value, and enter a new name into the “Value data” field. Once you have entered a new name, click “OK” to save the changes.
The new display name will now be visible in the Windows Services tool. However, the actual service name will remain the same, and will still be visible in the registry. If you want to change the service name as well, you will need to use the sc.exe command-line tool.
Changing the display name of a Windows service can be a useful way to identify and manage services. It can also help IT administrators better understand the services on their systems, and make it easier to troubleshoot any problems that may arise. However, it is important to remember to backup the registry before making any changes, as incorrect changes can cause serious problems.
