On Windows platforms, the MySQL server can be installed as a Windows service. When installed this way, the MySQL server can be started automatically during system startup, and even restarted automatically by Windows in the event of a service failure.
          The MySQL Server Instance Configuration Wizard installs the
          MySQL server as a service by default, using the service name
          MySQL. If you do not wish to install the
          service, uncheck the box next to the Install As
          Windows Service option. You can change the
          service name by picking a new service name from the drop-down
          box provided or by entering a new service name into the
          drop-down box.
        
            Service names can include any legal character except forward
            (/) or backward (\)
            slashes, and must be less than 256 characters long.
          
If you are installing multiple versions of MySQL onto the same machine, you must choose a different service name for each version that you install. If you do not choose a different service for each installed version then the service manager information will be inconsistent and this will cause problems when you try to uninstall a previous version.
            If you have already installed multiple versions using the
            same service name, you must manually edit the contents of
            the
            HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services
            parameters within the Windows registry to update the
            association of the service name with the correct server
            version.
          
            Typically, when installing multiple versions you create a
            service name based on the version information. For example,
            you might install MySQL 5.x as mysql5, or
            specific versions such as MySQL 5.4.0 as
            mysql50400.
          
To install the MySQL server as a service but not have it started automatically at startup, uncheck the box next to the Launch the MySQL Server Automatically option.

