Removing Unnecessary Services XP IN DETAILS
Source:*forums.speedguide.net/
Every time WinXP boots, it loads a large number of 'services'. These
include all kinds of things, such as UPS support, Netmeeting Remote
desktop sharing, QoS packet scheduler (we'll get into that in the
networking section), telnet, themes, and a whole lot of very obscure
stuff. As you can imagine, all these services eat up RAM and cpu
cycles...so, probably one of the absolute best tweaks you can do
revolves around removing unnecessary services.
However, now comes the hard part. What services are unnecessary? Well,
some are very necessary, so you can't just go around arbitrarily
shutting off services. I will do my utmost to list as many optional
services as I can, with a description so that you can know what it is
you're turning off. First, I suppose I should tell you how to turn the
services off in the first place.
1) Go to the administrative tools.
2) Open the services applet.
That wasn't that hard. You should have a LONG list of services in
here. These are all the happy puppies that we're going to kill.
What you'll need to do is right-click on the appropriate service, go
to properties, and then alter the "startup type" to either automatic
(starts at boot), manual (starts if windows needs it) or disabled
(never starts). A rule to use here is, if you definetely don't need
it, disable it. If you don't know for sure, but think you don't need
it, set it to manual. Also...don't do all the services at once. Tweak
a couple, then reboot and make sure your computer still functions
fully. If it doesn't, go turn the services back on. If it does,
continue on.
If you've ever overclocked a processor or a video card, then you're
probably familiar with the process. Only small tweaks at a time, then
test, then some more tweaking. That is the only safe way to overclock
(or disable system services). You have been warned.
Following is a list of services and their descriptions. If you don't
need the service, feel free to kill it. Please note that alot of
programs will install their own services as well. Additionally, most
services have a description attached to them already, though these
tend to be less descriptive than they could be.
Alerter Notifies selected users and computers of administrative
alerts. This is only useful if you're on a large network with many
users...which most of us are not, at least not at home.
Application Layer Gateway Service Provides support for 3rd party
protocol plug-ins for Internet Connection Sharing and the Internet.
This actually provides services for the XP firewall. ONLY DISABLE THIS
IF YOU ARE NOT RUNNING THE XP FIREWALL.
Application Management Provides software installation services such as
Assign, Publish, and Remove. This should be set to manual. If you're
having problems uninstalling/modifying a program's installation,
reenable this service.
Background Intelligent Transfer Service Used to transfer asynchronous
data via http1.1 servers. What this is ACTUALLY used for is to allow
you to transfer data from WindowsUpdate...and to continue it even
after a reboot (if the prior transfer wasn't complete). This is
pointless, so disable it.
ClipBook Support clipbook viewer, which allows pages to be seen by
remote clipbooks. This is some sort of network copy/paste utility.
Once more, totally useless.
COM+ System Application This allows COM+ applications to function.
However, there are decidely few of these, and chances are you don't
need it. Check "c:\program files\com+ applications" to see if you have
any apps. If not, disable it. Note that the event viewer will
complain.
Computer Browser Maintains an up-to-date list of computers on your
network and supplies the list to programs that request it. This is
meant primarily for networks, so if you're not on one, disable. If you
are on a network...well...everything networking related will still
work with this turned off. Honestly, I see no reason to run it at all,
unless you have a really large network. In that case, leave it enabled
on one computer, and disable it on the rest.
Distributed Link Tracking Client Sends notification of files moving
between NTFS volumes in a network domain. If you're not in a domain,
disable this. If you are, but don't run NTFS, disable this.
Distributed Transaction Coordinator Coordinates transactions that are
distributed across two or more databases, message queues, file
systems, or other transaction protected resource managers. Very long
way of saying multiple connections to different places. This won't
happen in a home user environment, so disable it.
Error Reporting Service This service will report error messages and
such back to Microsoft. Personally, I don't want them knowing any more
about me than they already do. I would definetely recommend disabling
this.
Fast User Switching Compatibility Unless you use fast user switching,
this service is pointless. Most people run XP with only one user, for
instance. Disable it.
Help and Support This service is required to access Microsoft online
help documents. Since I (and probably you) never use this, it's
pointless. Disable.
IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service This service allows the XP burn-cd
feature. By setting this to manual, this service will automatically
load and UNLOAD itself when needed. If you still have problems burning
CD's, enable it. No burner at all, disable it.
Indexing Service This service allows the computer to index the
contents of drives for speedier searches. However, it's an incredible
resource hog and tends to start and very inopportune times. To get rid
of this, go to the control panel, add/remove programs, the windows
setup tab, and remove it from there.
Internet Connection Firewall (ICF) / Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)
This is basically for if you're using ICS to share out your connection
to multiple computers. Honestly, buying an actual router is a better
idea. Disable this unless you use ICS.
IPSEC Services Manages IP security policy and starts the ISAKMP/Oakley
(IKE) and the ip security driver. What this does is enable IP security
features. 99% of us don't use this (we just get firewalls) so disable
it.
Logical Disk Manager Administrative Service Administrative service for
disk management requests. This is used to run the Disk Management MMC
console for dynamic volumes, whatever that means. I would disable it,
but if you're unable to "manage your disk", then reenable it.
MS Software Shadow Copy Provider This is a service for MS Backup. If
you don't use it (who does?) then disable it.
Net Logon This service is used to log in to a domain. If you don't
have a domain, disable it. If you don't know what a domain is, disable
it.
NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing This allows remote desktop sharing
for netmeeting (duh). I don't even use netmeeting, and would
definetely not share out my desktop. Disable it.
Network DDE Provides network transport and security for dynamic data
exchange. In simple terms, besides clipbook I have no idea what uses
this. Disable it unless you use some sort of network DDE programs
(unlikely).
Network DDE DSDM Manages shared dynamic data exchange and is used by
network DDE. If you disabled Network DDE, disable this.
Network Location Awareness (NLA) This is a service that allows the use
of Internet Connection Sharing (ICS). If you don't use ICS (I highly
recommend you not use it), then get rid of this service.
NT LM Security Support Provider Provides security to remote procedure
call (RPC) programs that use transports other than named pipes. This
is used for message queuing and telnet servers. Useless to most of us.
Performance Logs and Alerts Configures performance logs and alerts.
This service gathers performance data and logs it. Pretty useless
unless you're a megadork and enjoy this sort of thing.
Portable Media Serial Number This service retrieves serial numbers
from portable music devices that you connect to your computer. Why?
Who knows. Disable it, and if any of your music devices cease to
function, reenable it.
Print Spooler Loads files to memory for later printing. If you have a
printer attached to your computer, keep this on. If not, disable it.
Protected Storage Provides protected storage for sensitive data, such
as private keys, to prevent access by unauthorized services,
processes, or users. This basically allows autocomplete to work. By
disabling this service, you won't be able to store passwords, either
locally, for shares, or for websites, as well as disabling
autocomplete. Personally, I don't think that's a bad thing.
QoS RSVP Provides network signaling and local traffic control setup
functionality for QoS-aware programs and control applets. This
provides traffic control for IPSEC apps that support QOS. This is
really pointless, just disable it.
Remote Desktop Help Session Manager This manages and controls remote
assistance, which is a new microsoft toy to allow their techs to
directly mess with your computer. I fix everything myself (or
reinstall the O/S if it comes to that), so this is completely and
totally useless. It's also a potential security hole.
Remote Procedure Call (RPC) Locator Manages the RPC name service
database. This appears to be useless. Disable it, and if something
breaks on your network, set it to manual.
Remote Registry Service Allows remote registry manipulation. Totally
and completely useless, and a potential security hole to boot. Disable
it.
Removable Storage Manages removable media, drives, and libraries. This
is meant for removeable hard drives and tape backups. Disable it, but
if your CD-ROM starts acting funny, set it back to automatic.
Routing and Remote Access Offers routing services to businesses in LAN
and WAN environments. Totally useless on home machines.
Secondary Logon This allows the user to start processes (programs)
under a different logon, while you're logged on. Personally, all I can
see here is a possible security hole. Disable it.
Server Provides RPC support and file, print, and named pipe sharing.
This allows the sharing of files and printers to other computers. If
you have a home network and share stuff out, leave this enabled. Note
that this won't affect your ability to connect to another computer's
shares.
Smart Card Manages and controls access to a smart card inserted into a
smart card reader attached to the computer. This one is pretty
self-explanatory. If you don't have a smart card reader, disable it.
Smart Card Helper Provides support for legacy smart card readers
attached to the computer. Once more, totally unnecessary unless you
have a smart card reader (and a legacy one, in this case).
SSDP Discovery Service This service is used for UPnP devices on a home
network. This basically boils down to devices that are installed on a
network as a device on the computer, such as scanners and printers. If
you don't have any of these (probably not) then disable it. Note, this
service has NOTHING to do with regular PnP, or scanners/printers
hooked up via the parallel port, serial port or USB/firewire ports.
System Restore Service This is used to automatically make "restore
points' so that you can roll back your computer a day, a week, etc. I
would never use this functionality, but if you do, then leave it
automatic. If you're like me, kill it. Note that this is a serious
resource hog.
Task Scheduler Enables a program to run at a designated time. How many
of us use this? Not me. Disable it.
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper Enables support for NetBIOS over TCP/IP (NetBT)
service and NetBIOS name resolution. Basically, unless you have a WINS
or NETBIOS server on your network, disable this service.
Telnet Telnet allows another computer to remotely 'telnet' into your
computer and do things to it. Obviously this is a security hole, and
not of any real use to the vast majority of us. Disable it.
Themes This service controls the pretty GUI that is XP. By disabling
this service, you disable all the prettiness (the O/S still functions
fine), and, in the process, free up RAM. This is personal taste.
Uninterruptible Power Supply This allows XP to control any UPS you may
have attached to the computer. I have a UPS, but the software that
came with it does everything I need it to do...no need for this
service at all.
Universal Plug and Play Device Host Like the SSDP discovery service,
this is for UPnP devices, which you probably have none of. Disable it
unless you need it.
Volume Shadow Copy Another service for MS Backup. Disable it unless
you use that program.
Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) This is used for some cameras and
scanners. Disable this service, but if your scanner or camera fail to
work, reenable this device.
Windows Installer This is used by some programs to install themselves
(program with msi files). I would recommend leaving this service on
until you've installed all your main programs, then disable it. If you
run into errors referencing RPC services, try putting the service to
manual. If all else fails, set it back to automatic.
Windows Time This allows windows to grab the time from an internet
server. Personally, I set the time on my computer myself. Disable this
service to save some RAM and clock cycles.
Wireless Zero Configuration This service allows wireless networking
devices to work without you having to do any manual configuration. If
you don't use a wireless network, disable it.
WMI Performance Adapter No idea what this does.
Congratulations...that concludes the services tweak portion. Of all
the tweaks available in this tweak guide, tweaking out the services
will probably take the longest, but also result in the biggest change
in performance.
