C# Signature:

[DllImport("advapi32.dll", SetLastError=true)]
[return: MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)]
public static extern bool    ControlService( IntPtr         hService,
                       SERVICE_CONTROL    dwControl,
                       ref SERVICE_STATUS    lpServiceStatus
                                                    );

VB Signature:

Declare Function ControlService Lib "advapi32.dll" (ByVal hService As Long, ByVal lControlCode As Long, ByVal lpServiceStatus As SERVICE_STATUS) As Boolean

User-Defined Types:

[Flags]
public enum SERVICE_CONTROL : uint
{
    STOP           = 0x00000001,
    PAUSE          = 0x00000002,
    CONTINUE           = 0x00000003,
    INTERROGATE        = 0x00000004,
    SHUTDOWN           = 0x00000005,
    PARAMCHANGE        = 0x00000006,
    NETBINDADD         = 0x00000007,
    NETBINDREMOVE      = 0x00000008,
    NETBINDENABLE      = 0x00000009,
    NETBINDDISABLE     = 0x0000000A,
    DEVICEEVENT        = 0x0000000B,
    HARDWAREPROFILECHANGE  = 0x0000000C,
    POWEREVENT         = 0x0000000D,
    SESSIONCHANGE      = 0x0000000E
}

[StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)]
public struct SERVICE_STATUS
{
    SC_SERVICE_TYPE        dwServiceType;  
    SERVICE_STATE        dwCurrentState;  
    SERVICE_ACCEPT        dwControlsAccepted;  
    int            dwWin32ExitCode;  
    int            dwServiceSpecificExitCode;  
    uint            dwCheckPoint;  
    uint            dwWaitHint;
}

public enum SERVICE_STATE : uint
{
    SERVICE_STOPPED            = 0x00000001,
    SERVICE_START_PENDING          = 0x00000002,
    SERVICE_STOP_PENDING           = 0x00000003,
    SERVICE_RUNNING            = 0x00000004,
    SERVICE_CONTINUE_PENDING           = 0x00000005,
    SERVICE_PAUSE_PENDING          = 0x00000006,
    SERVICE_PAUSED             = 0x00000007
}

[Flags]
public enum SERVICE_ACCEPT : uint
{
    STOP            = 0x00000001,
    PAUSE_CONTINUE      = 0x00000002,
    SHUTDOWN        = 0x00000004,
    PARAMCHANGE         = 0x00000008,
    NETBINDCHANGE       = 0x00000010,
    HARDWAREPROFILECHANGE   = 0x00000020,
    POWEREVENT          = 0x00000040,
    SESSIONCHANGE       = 0x00000080,
}

Notes:

' SERVICE_STATUS Definition:
Public Structure SERVICE_STATUS
    Dim dwServiceType As Int32
    Dim dwCurrentState As Int32
    Dim dwControlsAccepted As Int32
    Dim dwWin32ExitCode As Int32
    Dim dwServiceSpecificExitCode As Int32
    Dim dwCheckPoint As Int32
    Dim dwWaitHint As Int32
End Structure

Tips & Tricks:

Please add some!

Sample Code:

Please add some!

Alternative Managed API:

Do you know one? Please contribute it!