• Syntax for passing a parameter to a Windows Service from the command line:

net start WindowsServiceName /ParameterName

08/19/2011 The above step was not working.  The parameter was not being passed to the service.  Instead, after intalling the service, I modified the registry.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\service name

Within the key of your chosen service name you will find a value pair named ImagePath which is associated with the path to the service complete with any related parameters.

For example: "C:\Program Files\WindowServiceProgramName.exe" ParameterName     (Notice that the parameter goes OUTSIDE of the quotes of the path to the executable.) 

Here is the link where I found this information.