What are valid characters in a Windows service (key) name?

Question

Does anyone happen to know what the convention for Windows service key names is, which characters are legal?

Answer 1

Based on the documentation for the underlying C++ structure used to create a service:

The maximum string length is 256 characters. The service control manager database preserves the case of the characters, but service name comparisons are always case insensitive. Forward-slash (/) and backslash (\) are not valid service name characters.

Additionally, the following rules apply to the "Display Name":

This string has a maximum length of 256 characters. The name is case-preserved in the service control manager. Display name comparisons are always case-insensitive.