How to Delete Broken Windows Service

As a developer who writes Windows Services, I sometimes get services registered with the source code and executables long gone (because I no longer work on that project). When it finally came the time to cleanup. I found it difficult to remove them from the registry without the original executables.

After a bit of Google, however, I found a useful tool: sc.exe (Service Controller Tool) come with Windows Resource Kit. This command line tool make deleting service very easy, just run:

sc.exe delete [service name]

Notice: the service name for the command line is not the same as "Name" you see in the list (this is usually the "Display Name"). You need to double click the service to open the properties page. And there you will find "Service Name".