diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/extras/windows/win_nssm.ps1 b/lib/ansible/modules/extras/windows/win_nssm.ps1
index 3ea4a211c3a..91e63069ddc 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/extras/windows/win_nssm.ps1
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/extras/windows/win_nssm.ps1
@@ -42,6 +42,33 @@ $dependencies = Get-Attr $params "dependencies" -default $null
 $user = Get-Attr $params "user" -default $null
 $password = Get-Attr $params "password" -default $null
 
+
+#abstract the calling of nssm because some PowerShell environments
+#mishandle its stdout(which is Unicode) as UTF8
+Function Nssm-Invoke
+{
+    [CmdletBinding()]
+    param(
+        [Parameter(Mandatory=$true)]
+        [string]$cmd
+    )
+    Try {
+      $encodingWas = [System.Console]::OutputEncoding
+      [System.Console]::OutputEncoding = [System.Text.Encoding]::Unicode
+
+      $nssmOutput = invoke-expression "nssm $cmd"
+      return $nssmOutput
+    }
+    Catch {
+      $ErrorMessage = $_.Exception.Message
+      Fail-Json $result "an exception occurred when invoking NSSM: $ErrorMessage"
+    }
+    Finally {
+      # Set the console encoding back to what it was
+      [System.Console]::OutputEncoding = $encodingWas
+    }
+}
+
 Function Service-Exists
 {
     [CmdletBinding()]
@@ -63,11 +90,11 @@ Function Nssm-Remove
 
     if (Service-Exists -name $name)
     {
-        $cmd = "nssm stop ""$name"""
-        $results = invoke-expression $cmd
+        $cmd = "stop ""$name"""
+        $results = Nssm-Invoke $cmd
 
-        $cmd = "nssm remove ""$name"" confirm"
-        $results = invoke-expression $cmd
+        $cmd = "remove ""$name"" confirm"
+        $results = Nssm-Invoke $cmd
 
         if ($LastExitCode -ne 0)
         {
@@ -76,6 +103,7 @@ Function Nssm-Remove
             Throw "Error removing service ""$name"""
         }
 
+        Set-Attr $result "changed_by" "remove_service"
         $result.changed = $true
      }
 }
@@ -101,9 +129,7 @@ Function Nssm-Install
 
     if (!(Service-Exists -name $name))
     {
-        $cmd = "nssm install ""$name"" $application"
-
-        $results = invoke-expression $cmd
+        $results = Nssm-Invoke "install ""$name"" $application"
 
         if ($LastExitCode -ne 0)
         {
@@ -112,11 +138,11 @@ Function Nssm-Install
             Throw "Error installing service ""$name"""
         }
 
+        Set-Attr $result "changed_by" "install_service"
         $result.changed = $true
         
      } else {
-        $cmd = "nssm get ""$name"" Application"
-        $results = invoke-expression $cmd
+        $results = Nssm-Invoke "get ""$name"" Application"
 
         if ($LastExitCode -ne 0)
         {
@@ -125,11 +151,11 @@ Function Nssm-Install
             Throw "Error installing service ""$name"""
         }
 
-        if ($results -ne $application)
+        if ($results -cnotlike $application)
         {
-            $cmd = "nssm set ""$name"" Application $application"
+            $cmd = "set ""$name"" Application $application"
 
-            $results = invoke-expression $cmd
+            $results = Nssm-Invoke $cmd
 
             if ($LastExitCode -ne 0)
             {
@@ -137,7 +163,9 @@ Function Nssm-Install
                 Set-Attr $result "nssm_error_log" "$results"
                 Throw "Error installing service ""$name"""
             }
+            Set-Attr $result "application" "$application"
 
+            Set-Attr $result "changed_by" "reinstall_service"
             $result.changed = $true
         }
      }
@@ -184,8 +212,8 @@ Function Nssm-Update-AppParameters
         [string]$appParameters
     )
 
-    $cmd = "nssm get ""$name"" AppParameters"
-    $results = invoke-expression $cmd
+    $cmd = "get ""$name"" AppParameters"
+    $results = Nssm-Invoke $cmd
 
     if ($LastExitCode -ne 0)
     {
@@ -228,11 +256,11 @@ Function Nssm-Update-AppParameters
     {
         if ($appParameters)
         {
-            $cmd = "nssm set ""$name"" AppParameters $singleLineParams"
+            $cmd = "set ""$name"" AppParameters $singleLineParams"
         } else {
-            $cmd = "nssm set ""$name"" AppParameters '""""'"
+            $cmd = "set ""$name"" AppParameters '""""'"
         }
-        $results = invoke-expression $cmd
+        $results = Nssm-Invoke $cmd
 
         if ($LastExitCode -ne 0)
         {
@@ -241,11 +269,12 @@ Function Nssm-Update-AppParameters
             Throw "Error updating AppParameters for service ""$name"""
         }
 
+        Set-Attr $result "changed_by" "update_app_parameters"
         $result.changed = $true
     }
 }
 
-Function Nssm-Set-Ouput-Files
+Function Nssm-Set-Output-Files
 {
     [CmdletBinding()]
     param(
@@ -255,8 +284,8 @@ Function Nssm-Set-Ouput-Files
         [string]$stderr
     )
 
-    $cmd = "nssm get ""$name"" AppStdout"
-    $results = invoke-expression $cmd
+    $cmd = "get ""$name"" AppStdout"
+    $results = Nssm-Invoke $cmd
 
     if ($LastExitCode -ne 0)
     {
@@ -265,16 +294,16 @@ Function Nssm-Set-Ouput-Files
         Throw "Error retrieving existing stdout file for service ""$name"""
     }
 
-    if ($results -ne $stdout)
+    if ($results -cnotlike $stdout)
     {
         if (!$stdout)
         {
-            $cmd = "nssm reset ""$name"" AppStdout"
+            $cmd = "reset ""$name"" AppStdout"
         } else {
-            $cmd = "nssm set ""$name"" AppStdout $stdout"        
+            $cmd = "set ""$name"" AppStdout $stdout"        
         }
     
-        $results = invoke-expression $cmd
+        $results = Nssm-Invoke $cmd
 
         if ($LastExitCode -ne 0)
         {
@@ -283,11 +312,12 @@ Function Nssm-Set-Ouput-Files
             Throw "Error setting stdout file for service ""$name"""
         }
 
+        Set-Attr $result "changed_by" "set_stdout"
         $result.changed = $true
     }
 
-    $cmd = "nssm get ""$name"" AppStderr"
-    $results = invoke-expression $cmd
+    $cmd = "get ""$name"" AppStderr"
+    $results = Nssm-Invoke $cmd
 
     if ($LastExitCode -ne 0)
     {
@@ -296,12 +326,12 @@ Function Nssm-Set-Ouput-Files
         Throw "Error retrieving existing stderr file for service ""$name"""
     }
 
-    if ($results -ne $stderr)
+    if ($results -cnotlike $stderr)
     {
         if (!$stderr)
         {
-            $cmd = "nssm reset ""$name"" AppStderr"
-            $results = invoke-expression $cmd
+            $cmd = "reset ""$name"" AppStderr"
+            $results = Nssm-Invoke $cmd
 
             if ($LastExitCode -ne 0)
             {
@@ -310,8 +340,8 @@ Function Nssm-Set-Ouput-Files
                 Throw "Error clearing stderr file setting for service ""$name"""
             }
         } else {
-            $cmd = "nssm set ""$name"" AppStderr $stderr"
-            $results = invoke-expression $cmd
+            $cmd = "set ""$name"" AppStderr $stderr"
+            $results = Nssm-Invoke $cmd
 
             if ($LastExitCode -ne 0)
             {
@@ -321,6 +351,7 @@ Function Nssm-Set-Ouput-Files
             }
         }
 
+        Set-Attr $result "changed_by" "set_stderr"
         $result.changed = $true
     }
 
@@ -329,28 +360,28 @@ Function Nssm-Set-Ouput-Files
     ###
 
     #set files to overwrite
-    $cmd = "nssm set ""$name"" AppStdoutCreationDisposition 2"
-    $results = invoke-expression $cmd
+    $cmd = "set ""$name"" AppStdoutCreationDisposition 2"
+    $results = Nssm-Invoke $cmd
 
-    $cmd = "nssm set ""$name"" AppStderrCreationDisposition 2"
-    $results = invoke-expression $cmd
+    $cmd = "set ""$name"" AppStderrCreationDisposition 2"
+    $results = Nssm-Invoke $cmd
 
     #enable file rotation
-    $cmd = "nssm set ""$name"" AppRotateFiles 1"
-    $results = invoke-expression $cmd
+    $cmd = "set ""$name"" AppRotateFiles 1"
+    $results = Nssm-Invoke $cmd
 
     #don't rotate until the service restarts
-    $cmd = "nssm set ""$name"" AppRotateOnline 0"
-    $results = invoke-expression $cmd
+    $cmd = "set ""$name"" AppRotateOnline 0"
+    $results = Nssm-Invoke $cmd
 
     #both of the below conditions must be met before rotation will happen
     #minimum age before rotating
-    $cmd = "nssm set ""$name"" AppRotateSeconds 86400"
-    $results = invoke-expression $cmd
+    $cmd = "set ""$name"" AppRotateSeconds 86400"
+    $results = Nssm-Invoke $cmd
 
     #minimum size before rotating
-    $cmd = "nssm set ""$name"" AppRotateBytes 104858"
-    $results = invoke-expression $cmd
+    $cmd = "set ""$name"" AppRotateBytes 104858"
+    $results = Nssm-Invoke $cmd
 }
 
 Function Nssm-Update-Credentials
@@ -365,8 +396,8 @@ Function Nssm-Update-Credentials
         [string]$password
     )
 
-    $cmd = "nssm get ""$name"" ObjectName"
-    $results = invoke-expression $cmd
+    $cmd = "get ""$name"" ObjectName"
+    $results = Nssm-Invoke $cmd
 
     if ($LastExitCode -ne 0)
     {
@@ -386,8 +417,8 @@ Function Nssm-Update-Credentials
             }
 
             If ($results -ne $fullUser) {
-                $cmd = "nssm set ""$name"" ObjectName $fullUser $password"
-                $results = invoke-expression $cmd
+                $cmd = "set ""$name"" ObjectName $fullUser $password"
+                $results = Nssm-Invoke $cmd
 
                 if ($LastExitCode -ne 0)
                 {
@@ -396,6 +427,7 @@ Function Nssm-Update-Credentials
                     Throw "Error updating credentials for service ""$name"""
                 }
 
+                Set-Attr $result "changed_by" "update_credentials"
                 $result.changed = $true
             }
         }
@@ -412,8 +444,8 @@ Function Nssm-Update-Dependencies
         [string]$dependencies
     )
 
-    $cmd = "nssm get ""$name"" DependOnService"
-    $results = invoke-expression $cmd
+    $cmd = "get ""$name"" DependOnService"
+    $results = Nssm-Invoke $cmd
 
     if ($LastExitCode -ne 0)
     {
@@ -423,8 +455,8 @@ Function Nssm-Update-Dependencies
     }
 
     If (($dependencies) -and ($results.Tolower() -ne $dependencies.Tolower())) {
-        $cmd = "nssm set ""$name"" DependOnService $dependencies"
-        $results = invoke-expression $cmd
+        $cmd = "set ""$name"" DependOnService $dependencies"
+        $results = Nssm-Invoke $cmd
 
         if ($LastExitCode -ne 0)
         {
@@ -433,6 +465,7 @@ Function Nssm-Update-Dependencies
             Throw "Error updating dependencies for service ""$name"""
         }
 
+        Set-Attr $result "changed_by" "update-dependencies"
         $result.changed = $true
     }
 }
@@ -447,8 +480,8 @@ Function Nssm-Update-StartMode
         [string]$mode
     )
 
-    $cmd = "nssm get ""$name"" Start"
-    $results = invoke-expression $cmd
+    $cmd = "get ""$name"" Start"
+    $results = Nssm-Invoke $cmd
 
     if ($LastExitCode -ne 0)
     {
@@ -459,9 +492,9 @@ Function Nssm-Update-StartMode
 
     $modes=@{"auto" = "SERVICE_AUTO_START"; "manual" = "SERVICE_DEMAND_START"; "disabled" = "SERVICE_DISABLED"}
     $mappedMode = $modes.$mode
-    if ($mappedMode -ne $results) {
-        $cmd = "nssm set ""$name"" Start $mappedMode"
-        $results = invoke-expression $cmd
+    if ($results -cnotlike $mappedMode) {
+        $cmd = "set ""$name"" Start $mappedMode"
+        $results = Nssm-Invoke $cmd
 
         if ($LastExitCode -ne 0)
         {
@@ -470,6 +503,7 @@ Function Nssm-Update-StartMode
             Throw "Error updating start mode for service ""$name"""
         }
 
+        Set-Attr $result "changed_by" "start_mode"
         $result.changed = $true
     }
 }
@@ -482,8 +516,8 @@ Function Nssm-Get-Status
         [string]$name
     )
 
-    $cmd = "nssm status ""$name"""
-    $results = invoke-expression $cmd
+    $cmd = "status ""$name"""
+    $results = Nssm-Invoke $cmd
 
     return ,$results
 }
@@ -526,9 +560,9 @@ Function Nssm-Start-Service-Command
         [string]$name
     )
 
-    $cmd = "nssm start ""$name"""
+    $cmd = "start ""$name"""
 
-    $results = invoke-expression $cmd
+    $results = Nssm-Invoke $cmd
 
     if ($LastExitCode -ne 0)
     {
@@ -537,6 +571,7 @@ Function Nssm-Start-Service-Command
         Throw "Error starting service ""$name"""
     }
 
+    Set-Attr $result "changed_by" "start_service"
     $result.changed = $true
 }
 
@@ -548,9 +583,9 @@ Function Nssm-Stop-Service-Command
         [string]$name
     )
 
-    $cmd = "nssm stop ""$name"""
+    $cmd = "stop ""$name"""
 
-    $results = invoke-expression $cmd
+    $results = Nssm-Invoke $cmd
 
     if ($LastExitCode -ne 0)
     {
@@ -559,6 +594,7 @@ Function Nssm-Stop-Service-Command
         Throw "Error stopping service ""$name"""
     }
 
+    Set-Attr $result "changed_by" "stop_service_command"
     $result.changed = $true
 }
 
@@ -581,9 +617,9 @@ Function Nssm-Stop
 
     if ($currentStatus -ne "SERVICE_STOPPED")
     {
-        $cmd = "nssm stop ""$name"""
+        $cmd = "stop ""$name"""
 
-        $results = invoke-expression $cmd
+        $results = Nssm-Invoke $cmd
 
         if ($LastExitCode -ne 0)
         {
@@ -592,6 +628,7 @@ Function Nssm-Stop
             Throw "Error stopping service ""$name"""
         }
 
+        Set-Attr $result "changed_by" "stop_service"
         $result.changed = $true
     }
 }
@@ -612,7 +649,7 @@ Function NssmProcedure
 {
     Nssm-Install -name $name -application $application
     Nssm-Update-AppParameters -name $name -appParameters $appParameters
-    Nssm-Set-Ouput-Files -name $name -stdout $stdoutFile -stderr $stderrFile
+    Nssm-Set-Output-Files -name $name -stdout $stdoutFile -stderr $stderrFile
     Nssm-Update-Dependencies -name $name -dependencies $dependencies
     Nssm-Update-Credentials -name $name -user $user -password $password
     Nssm-Update-StartMode -name $name -mode $startMode