How to change service display name

In Windows 2000 it was possible to change the Display Name of a service simply by opening the service properties in services.msc and editing the field as desired. The Display Name field is now protected in Windows XP and Windows 2003 and cannot be edited in this way.

To change the display name of a service in XP or 2003:

- Login as an Administrator
- Open REGEDIT
- Browse to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services and locate the service you wish to change. Hint: If you don't know the Service Name, search for the current Display Name.
- In the right-hand pane double-click the DisplayName String value and edit it to the new name.
- Reboot the system.

Author: ASAK
Created: Nov 3 2005
Categories: Windows 2003 Server - Windows XP Professional
TechByte #73

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Comment posted by 'John McConkey' on Aug 30 2007 @ 15:53:57
Thanks a lot. I needed to do this today. The procedure worked fine.
Comment posted by 'Thankful' on Nov 29 2007 @ 04:06:26
thanks so much.
Comment posted by 'Anonymous' on May 1 2008 @ 21:12:52
Awesome! this was the only post i could find for what i needed (Edit Descripion filed on a Service)and it work great.
Comment posted by 'Jacob' on Aug 21 2008 @ 08:16:27
This is exactly what i was luking for....thank u so much buddy;-)
Comment posted by 'Leopold' on Sep 17 2008 @ 11:22:06
Thank you very much. You are great!!!!!!!!!!