I have always been using the SC command. While the instsrv.exe is the GUI interface I found SC.EXE to be more reliable:
Creating Services:
Adding Service (Note: Space between binpath= and "C:\ has to be there.
\sc.exe create "Service Name" binPath= "C:\Your Program.exe"
Removing Service \sc.exe delete "Service Name"
Controlling Services:
Starting Service \sc.exe start "Service Name"
Pausing Service \sc.exe pause "Service Name"
Stoping Service \sc.exe stop "Service Name"