Disable unnecessary services

Time Required: 1 Minute, 5 Minutes, 10 Minutes, 15 Minutes

Notes: This is a highly recommended tweak. Doing this will free up a lot of system memory in general and, depending on how many you disable, you will see performance gains in a wide variety of tasks.

Warnings: This is dangerous if you do not know what you are doing. I do not take responsibility for anything that you do to your computer that harms it or any files on it in any way.

Written By: Max Feinstein

With Help From: Sanx.org and the authors.

How to do it:

  • Navigate to Start > Control Panel (Click on Control Panel).
  • Click "Performance and Maintenance".
  • Click "Administrative Tools".
  • Click "Services".
  • Use the following list, from Sanx.org, to decide what services you want to disable. To disable an active service, right-click it and select "Disable".

  • Alerter
  • Application Layer Gateway Services
  • Automatic Updates
    Many users prefer to manually download updates from Microsoft. If you wish to use the automatic update facility, leave this service enabled.
  • Background Intelligent Transfer Service
  • ClipBook
  • Computer Browser
    This service should only be disabled if you are not running in a Windows NT / 2000 Domain environment
  • Distributed Link Tracking Client
  • Error Reporting Service
  • Fast User Switching Compatibility
  • Fax
  • Human Interface Device Access
    This service should remain enabled if you use user-defined hot-keys on keyboards, remote controls, etc.
  • IIS Admin
    This service should only be enabled if you run the personal version of IIS on Windows XP
  • IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service
    This service should only be disabled if you do not have / use a CD-Writer.
  • Indexing Service
  • Infrared Monitor
    This service should only be disabled if you do not have an IR port on your computer, or if you do not use IR communications.
  • Internet Connection Firewall (ICF) / Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)
    This service should only be disabled if you do not use either ICS or the ICF.
  • Messenger
  • MS Software Shadow Copy Provider
  • NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing
    This service should only be disabled if you do not use the Desktop Sharing facility in NetMeeting
  • Portable Media Serial Number
    This service should only be disabled if you do not have a portable MP3 or music device that connects directly to your computer via a digital interface.
  • QoS RSVP
  • Remote Desktop Help Session Manager
    This service should only be disabled if you do not use the Remote Assistance feature of Windows XP
  • Remote Registry
  • Removable Storage
  • Routing and Remote Access
  • Smart Card
  • Smart Card Helper
  • SSDP Discovery Service
    This service should only be disabled if you do not have any Universal PnP devices on your network.
  • System Restore Service
    This service should only be disabled if you do not use the System Restore functionality of Windows XP.
  • Telnet
  • Terminal Services
    This service underpins the following functions:
    • Remote Desktop
    • Remote Assistance
    • Fast User Switching
    Terminal Services should only be disabled if none of the above are in use
  • Themes
  • Uninterruptible Power Supply
  • Universal Plug and Play Device Host
  • Upload Manager
  • Volume Shadow Copy
  • WebClient
  • Windows Image Acquisition (WIA)
    This service should only be disabled if you do not have a scanner or digital camera connected to your computer.
  • Windows Time
    This service should only be disabled if not operating in a Windows NT / Windows 2000 Domain.
  • Wireless Zero Configuration
    This service should only be disabled if you're not using a WLAN (WiFi, 802.11) card on your computer
  • WMI Performance Adapter
  • World Wide Web Publishing
    This service should only be disabled if you're not running the personal version of IIS on your computer.




    • This article comes from xpFREEDOM
    http://www.xpfreedom.com/