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Yeah I know, the Services are only there to help, but I kill off as many as I can anyway. Compared to other people's computers, mine is pretty basic. There isn't much in the way of peripherals, no multiple users, no local network of any kind. This is a standalone computer with minimal hardware and a direct connection to the Internet via cable modem, so I got away with the Services settings listed below. And because parts of said computer are a little underpowered (well ok fine, a LOT underpowered), I do what I can to minimize the burden on the hard drive, the cpu etc... and pairing down Services is part of that effort. The Services are probably where I spent the most time when it came to pushing buttons and pulling levers in Windows XP.
Caution: Please be careful when messing around in the Services applet. I know it's hard to be patient but if you're going to change settings in here, do them one at a time and make sure that XP and all your favorite programs still work properly before going any further.
By the way, Services are found by doing one of the following:
- Start Menu / Control Panel / Administrative Tools / Services
- Start Menu / Run... / type services.msc / press ENTER.
- Right-click My Computer / Manage / Services and Applications / ServicesIt took a while before I found a mix that worked on this machine. I used The Elder Geek and Black Viper as guides, along with trial and error. Here are the results, sprinkled with commentary:
Application Layer Gateway Service - Disabled
Application Management - Disabled
Automatic Updates - normally Disabled. (Before visiting Windows Update, I flip it to Automatic and start it.)
Background Intelligent Transfer Service - same as above
ClipBook - Disabled
COM+ Event System - normally Disabled -- Though I haven't yet done any testing to confirm this, the COM+ services <as well as a few others> appear to be needed for visits to Windows Update. After installing SP2, there was a period of a few months when Windows Update wouldn't list any new fixes, though several had been released by MS in that time. Finally after setting both COM+ services to Automatic, along with Automatic Updates, Cryptographic Services, Error Reporting Service and System Event Notification, I was able to view, download and install the fixes I'd missed.
COM+ System Application - normally Disabled (see above)
Cryptographic Services - likes to switch itself to Manual, even after being Disabled -- Before a visit to Windows Update, I set it to Automatic and start it.
There was a time when I could leave CS Disabled and it would stay that way with no ill effects-- then after an XP reinstall, Windows Update started giving me "update now" and "administrators only" pages, even after I applied the remedies MS had suggested. Setting the service to Automatic and starting it helped, though it wasn't the whole story; a catroot2 folder had to be renamed as well. More about that misadventure.
Then, when SP2 came along, the rules had changed again. Now, not only do Cryptographic Services have to be Enabled and set to Automatic -- Automatic Updates, Background Intelligent Transfer Service, the two COM+ services, the Error Reporting Service, and System Event Notification all seem to be needed before Windows Update will do anything useful for me.
DCOM Server Process Launcher - Automatic or Manual -- showed up after I installed SP2 ... Disabling it caused TASKKILL to fail and give the error "RPC Server is unavailable"
DHCP Client - Automatic -- Around here, Disabled = no Internet... bad.
Distributed Link Tracking Client - Disabled
Distributed Transaction Coordinator - Disabled
DNS Client - Disabled -- Earlier on, when this thing was enabled, it caused long delays when checking for email and loading web pages for the first time after bootup... later tries went better, but the problem always came back after an XP restart... At present, there is no delay time difference on this machine, DNS Client or no, none that I can see anyway. And I'm not sure what changed in the meantime.
Error Reporting Service - normally Disabled (set to Automatic before visiting Windows Update)
Event Log - Automatic -- This one won't let itself be shut off... It's for the best though; a few other services (like Task Scheduler) and apps (like BootVis) won't work without it.
Fast User Switching Compatibility - Disabled
Help and Support - Manual -- This is only my opinion but for the most part, Help & Support aren't very helpful or supportive... I keep disabling it but it comes back sometimes, whereupon I kill it again.
HTTP SSL - Disabled -- another one that showed up with SP2... It's supposed to be for Windows Server 2003, came disabled by default... Could be that SP2 thought I might want to run this machine like a server instead of a workstation, and made the service available just in case... And all this could be due to my choice of SP2 install file-- I went for the big gorilla, the 266mb one called "Windows XP Service Pack 2 Network Installation Package for IT Professionals and Developers"
Human Interface Device Access - Disabled
IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service - Automatic -- set to Disabled when using Nero
Indexing Service - Disabled -- This could be theeeee most useless thing about Windows XP, more than useless-- a performance hog. Besides, If I need anything indexed, the free Copernic Desktop Search will do it better and faster-- and only when I tell it to.
IPSEC Services - Disabled
Logical Disk Manager - Automatic
Logical Disk Manager Administrative Service - Manual
MS Software Shadow Copy Provider - Disabled -- I believe the Backup utility is one program that requires this service, but as I don't need Backup right now, I don't need Shadow Copy either.
NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing - Disabled
Network Connections - Automatic -- Disabled = no Internet = no good.
Network DDE - Disabled
Network DDE DSDM - Disabled
Network Location Awareness (NLA) - Disabled
Performance Logs and Alerts - Disabled
Plug and Play - Automatic -- Disabled = a severe drop in XP's device recognition IQ, assuming "IQ" is a good way to put it.
Portable Media Serial Number - Disabled
Print Spooler - Automatic -- I thought I could leave this one on Manual and things would still print, but I got a surprise-- it's either Automatic or forget about installing and setting up a printer, much less using one.
Protected Storage - Automatic -- Disabled = password amnesia for Outlook Express and other programs.
QoS RSVP - Disabled
Remote Access Auto Connection Manager - Disabled
Remote Access Connection Manager - Disabled
Remote Desktop Help Session Manager - Disabled
<-- Mostly, if it's got "Remote" in front of it, I put a "Disabled" behind it -->
Remote Procedure Call (RPC) - Automatic -- So much depends on RPC, it's one of the few services I haven't even bothered toying with
Remote Registry - Disabled
Removable Storage - Disabled
Routing and Remote Access - Disabled
Secondary Logon - Disabled
Security Accounts Manager - Automatic -- no SAM, no Group Policy Editor
Security Center - Disabled -- new with SP2 ... not something I need, though others will want it around ... I already know that Automatic Updates are turned off-- I turned them off... I also know that Windows Firewall is disabled <how do I know that?... because I disabled it too, in favor of Zone Alarm> ... so I'll manage without the Security Center, its swanky control panel and its reminders.
Shell Hardware Detection - Automatic
Smart Card - Disabled
Smart Card Helper - Disabled
SSDP Discovery Service - Disabled
System Event Notification - normally Disabled -- set to Automatic before visiting Windows Update
System Restore Service - Disabled -- I have other ways of backing up files and settings <including the Registry> and frankly, System Restore is too big a resource muncher to suit my modest computer. But other people get mileage from it.
Task Scheduler - Automatic -- One XP feature that needs this service, is Prefetching, possibly Chkdsk as well <tons of other progs, no doubt>, though I haven't experimented indepth, and probably won't either.
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper - Disabled
Telephony - Disabled
Telnet - Disabled
Terminal Services - Disabled
Themes - Disabled -- When I learned that Themes took up some memory, and that I could still use wallpaper without using Themes, I shut this service off.
TrueVector Internet Monitor - Automatic -- No T.V. = no Zone Alarm firewall = scummy intruders.
Uninterruptible Power Supply - Disabled
Universal Plug and Play Device Host - Disabled
Upload Manager - Disabled
Volume Shadow Copy - Disabled
WebClient - Disabled
Windows Audio - Automatic -- Disabled = no tunes... nuff said.
Windows Firewall (formerly Internet Connection Firewall (ICF) / Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) - Disabled -- No thanks... I'll take Zone Alarm over this one.
Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) - Disabled
Windows Installer - Manual -- Some kinds of programs won't install unless this one is set to Manual at the very least. Apps whose installers have the extension .msi are among them.
Windows Management Instrumentation - Automatic -- lots of things depend on it, more than just the built-in firewall and the Security Center <which my system had listed as needing WMI> ... The Elder Geek put it best: "If you don't want your computer to work, set this to Disabled"
Windows Management Instrumentation Driver Extensions - Manual
Windows Time - Disabled -- I use an app called AtomTime for syncing the XP clock. There are others though-- Snapfiles has a collection of freeware Time Synchronization programs for Windows.
Windows User Mode Driver Framework - Disabled -- It first appeared when I installed Media Player 10 ... I still don't know exactly what it does ... For certain, it doesn't perform an essential function on this computer ... Judging from a Google search, it looks like a driver developer tool, something to do with improving driver stability.
Wireless Zero Configuration - Disabled
WMI Performance Adapter - Disabled
More on Services:
- Service Controller XP: "...allows you to control your Windows (NT/2000/XP) services. You can instantly see which ones are running and view detailed information about all the standard Windows services. In addition, the program provides information that lets you decide whether to enable or disable a service..." Alternate link at Major Geeks.
- Stop Unnecessary Services Batch File (PC World): These are a pair of .cmd scripts that turn a few unnecessary Services on and off. More info here.
- WinNT4, Win2k, WinXP services (Home of the Snakefoot)
- Disabling unnecessary and potentially dangerous services (uksecurityonline)
- TweakHound's Super XP Tweaking Guide - Services