Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Note - Do ONE tweak at a time and think about what you are doing.
To launch the Services Management Console do a START --> RUN and type SERVICES.MSC
Disabling services that you don't need can significantly enhance the speed of WindowsXP/2000
Alerter
Microsoft Description - Notifies selected users and computers of administrative alerts. If the service is
stopped, programs that use administrative alerts will not receive them. If this service is disabled, any services
that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Human Description - Good for big brother corporate networks. Home PCs do not need to send/receive
administrative alerts.
Microsoft Description - Provides support for 3rd party protocol plug-ins for Internet Connection Sharing and
the Internet Connection Firewall
Go to www.zonelabs.com and download ZoneAlarm. Disable this service unless you are on a home LAN and
use Microsoft's Internet Connection Sharing.
Application Management
Microsoft Description - Provides software installation services such as Assign, Publish, and Remove.
Best leaving this on the default setting of Manual. Rarely used but when you need it, it will be activated.
Automatic Updates
Microsoft Description - Enables the download and installation of critical Windows updates. If the service is
disabled, the operating system can be manually updated at the Windows Update Web site.
Human Description - Allows Windows XP free reign to contact the Microsoft servers and download a whole
host of "critical" updates.
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Most likely Windows XP will attempt this every time you are furiously playing Half-Life or Q3, then suddenly
you wonder why you can't hit a barn-door from 5 paces as your ping rockets to 500ms+. No thanks Bill, think I
can connect to WindowsUpdate by myself...
Human Description - A sneaky way of doing Automatic Updates - Windows XP will judge whether you are
using your bandwidth or just sat there motionless looking at your screen. If not it will happily download
away.No thanks, and besides, automatic services will quash those extra 2fps in quake 3.
ClipBook
Microsoft Description - Enables ClipBook Viewer to store information and share it with remote computers. If
the service is stopped, ClipBook Viewer will not be able to share information with remote computers. If this
service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Microsoft Description - Supports System Event Notification Service (SENS), which provides automatic
distribution of events to subscribing Component Object Model (COM) components. If the service is stopped,
SENS will close and will not be able to provide logon and logoff notifications. If this service is disabled, any
services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Human Description - Kind of like a communication method between different modules in Windows.
Microsoft Description - Manages the configuration and tracking of Component Object Model (COM)+-based
components. If the service is stopped, most COM+-based components will not function properly. If this service
is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Human Description - If COM+ Event System is the car then this service is the driver
Computer Browser
Microsoft Description - Maintains an updated list of computers on the network and supplies this list to
computers designated as browsers. If this service is stopped, this list will not be updated or maintained. If this
service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Human Description - Like it says, needed to keep tracks of computers on your network.
If you'
re on a LAN, leave it to manual, if you'
re a standalone system then disable it.
Cryptographic Services
Microsoft Description - Provides three management services: Catalog Database Service, which confirms the
signatures of Windows files; Protected Root Service, which adds and removes Trusted Root Certification
Authority certificates from this computer; and Key Service, which helps enroll this computer for certificates. If
this service is stopped, these management services will not function properly. If this service is disabled, any
services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Human Description - Among other things, this service authenticates WHQL drivers (i.e. for graphics cards)
DHCP Client
Microsoft Description - Manages network configuration by registering and updating IP addresses and DNS
names.
Human Description - Under Windows managed networks DCHP is useful in assigning IP/DNS addresses.
Microsoft Description - Maintains links between NTFS files within a computer or across computers in a
network domain.
Human Description - Good for (e.g.) databases that rely on networked files for updating.
Do you share files that lots of people work on? Do you even use NTFS as a home user?
Microsoft Description - Coordinates transactions that span multiple resource managers, such as databases,
message queues, and file systems. If this service is stopped, these transactions will not occur. If this service is
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The service sounds like a job title for a pointless middle manager somewhere. For home users it'
s the same story
for our Distributed Transaction Coordinator; going nowhere fast.
DNS Client
Microsoft Description - Resolves and caches Domain Name System (DNS) names for this computer. If this
service is stopped, this computer will not be able to resolve DNS names and locate Active Directory domain
controllers. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Human Description -
Microsoft Description - Allows error reporting for services and applictions running in non-standard
environments.
Human Description - When something crashes (quite frequently) and Windows pops up and advises you to tell
Microsoft all about it. Why they already know windows sux.
Event Log
Microsoft Description - Enables event log messages issued by Windows-based programs and components to
be viewed in Event Viewer. This service cannot be stopped.
Can' t stop it, fair enough, but we can disable it muhahahahaha... unless of course you actually want to read that
Internet Explorer caused a fatal exception in blah blah blah...
Microsoft Description - Provides management for applications that require assistance in a multiple user
environment.
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Human Description - For home users this functions as "switch user" when the logoff option is used.
Microsoft Description - Enables Help and Support Center to run on this computer. If this service is stopped,
Help and Support Center will be unavailable. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it
will fail to start.
I never use this as I suspect 90% of the people reading this don'
t either.
Microsoft Description - Enables generic input access to Human Interface Devices (HID), which activates and
maintains the use of predefined hot buttons on keyboards, remote controls, and other multimedia devices. If this
service is stopped, hot buttons controlled by this service will no longer function. If this service is disabled, any
services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Human Description - If you have one of those fancy keyboards or other peripherals mentioned above then this
allows you to use them in Windows.
--------------------
Microsoft Description - Manages CD recording using Image Mastering Applications Programming Interface
(IMAPI). If this service is stopped, this computer will be unable to record CDs. If this service is disabled, any
services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
If you don'
t use the in-built software then disable the service. Incidentally disabling this makes NERO Burning
ROM open quicker.
Indexing Service
Microsoft Description - Indexes contents and properties of files on local and remote computers; provides
rapid access to files through flexible querying language.
Human Description - Works like an advanced search feature. This can search through files and index
keywords for rapid searching.
Microsoft Description - Provides network address translation, addressing, name resolution and/or intrusion
prevention services for a home or small office network.
IPSEC Services
Microsoft Description - Manages IP security policy and starts the ISAKMP/Oakley (IKE) and the IP security
driver.
Human Description - Authenticates hosts before transfer of data, Encryption of IP traffic, Prevention of reply
attacks
Microsoft Description - Detects and monitors new hard disk drives and sends disk volume information to
Logical Disk Manager Administrative Service for configuration. If this service is stopped, dynamic disk status
and configuration information may become out of date. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly
depend on it will fail to start.
Leaving something to download overnight only to return and find you didn' t have enough space? I'
m sure you
will slap your head and think to yourself, "Why did I disable the Logical Disk Manager?".
Microsoft Description - Configures hard disk drives and volumes. The service only runs for configuration
processes and then stops.
Messenger
Microsoft Description - Transmits net send and Alerter service messages between clients and servers. This
service is not related to Windows Messenger. If this service is stopped, Alerter messages will not be transmitted.
If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
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Human Description - Allows network administrators the ability to pop a little prompt on your screen with
information.
Although hilarious for the first 25 seconds in forcing your non-computer literate friends to think their machine
has been hacked into this service is pretty much pointless.
Incidentally the command to pop-up a prompt on someones screen is "net send [computername] I know where
you live" (or some other intimidating message). Enjoy your 25 seconds of fun...
Microsoft Description - Manages software-based volume shadow copies taken by the Volume Shadow Copy
service. If this service is stopped, software-based volume shadow copies cannot be managed. If this service is
disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Set to disabled unless you want your shadow copy service to control your life.
Net Logon
Microsoft Description - Supports pass-through authentication of account logon events for computers in a
domain.
If you'
re a home user you probably won'
t have a domain. Disable this service and free up that memory.
Microsoft Description - Enables an authorized user to access this computer remotely by using NetMeeting
over a corporate intranet. If this service is stopped, remote desktop sharing will be unavailable. If this service is
disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Human Description -
Why use the bloated netmeeting when VNC does it about 10 times faster and is free?
Network Connections
Microsoft Description - Manages objects in the Network and Dial-Up Connections folder, in which you can
view both local area network and remote connections.
If you want to use the internet it may be best to leave this setting to its default value of manual.
Network DDE
Microsoft Description - Provides network transport and security for Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) for
programs running on the same computer or on different computers. If this service is stopped, DDE transport
and security will be unavailable. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to
start.
Human Description - Makes use of programs that have the ability to use DDE.
More than likely you will never make use of this service. DDE functions are usually restricted to business
applications.
Microsoft Description - Manages Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) network shares. If this service is stopped,
DDE network shares will be unavailable. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will
fail to start.
More than likely you will never make use of this service. DDE functions are usually restricted to business
applications.
Microsoft Description - Collects and stores network configuration and location information, and notifies
applications when this information changes.
Human Description -
Perhaps useful (although not critical) if you are on a network as Windows will attempt to update the network
lists with events such as logon/logoff. If you are not on a network then disable this service.
Microsoft Description - Provides security to remote procedure call (RPC) programs that use transports other
than named pipes.
Microsoft Description -
Human Description - Provides help and support for NVIDIA graphics cards.
This is an optional service installed when NVIDIA detonator drivers are installed. Disabling this service seems
to significantly reduce the time Windows XP takes to shut down.
Microsoft Description - Collects performance data from local or remote computers based on preconfigured
schedule
Human Description -
Hardly useful for a home PC now is it? Unless they start assigning the equivalent of 3DMarks I doubt anyone is
really interested.
Microsoft Description - Enables a computer to recognize and adapt to hardware changes with little or no user
input. Stopping or disabling this service will result in system instability.
Human Description -
Microsoft Description - Retrieves the serial number of any portable music player connected to your computer
Human Description -
Quite possibly the most pointless and utterly useless service known to human kind. Why memory is allocated to
the retrieval of a needless serial number from your MP3 player is beyond me and I'm sure it'
s a joke.
Print Spooler
Human Description -
With the advent of greater than 500MHz machines I doubt there will be much speed increase seen from loading
files into memory for printing.
However after disabling this my printer would not work so thumbs up to MS for the vague description. Didn'
t
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Protected Storage
Microsoft Description - Provides protected storage for sensitive data, such as private keys, to prevent access
by unauthorized services, processes, or users.
Human Description -
QoS RSVP
Microsoft Description - Provides network signaling and local traffic control setup functionality for QoS-aware
programs and control applets.
Human Description - Quality Of Service - quite useful for services that use it
Used for network balancing and other nifty things to make "your internet experience as wonderful as possible".
This service eats 25% of your bandwidth doing it and hardly anything actually makes use of it.
Microsoft Description - Creates a connection to a remote network whenever a program references a remote
DNS or NetBIOS name or address.
Human Description - Makes use of embedded links in programs such as Office, also is used in autodial
functions
Microsoft Description - Manages and controls Remote Assistance. If this service is stopped, Remote
Assistance will be unavailable. Before stopping this service, see the Dependencies tab of the Properties dialog
box.
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If you don'
t use this feature of Windows XP (Remote Desktop) then disable this service.
Microsoft Description - Provides the endpoint mapper and other miscellaneous RPC services.
Remote Registry
Microsoft Description - Enables remote users to modify registry settings on this computer. If this service is
stopped, the registry can be modified only by users on this computer. If this service is disabled, any services
that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Human Description - Allow people to modify local registry settings via remote desktop or similar.
Possibly one of the biggest security holes that I am suprised nobody has yet exploited. Allowing your registry to
be edited remotely? Come on....
Removable Storage
Microsoft Description -
Microsoft Description - Offers routing services to businesses in local area and wide area network
environments.
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Secondary Logon
Microsoft Description - Enables starting processes under alternate credentials. If this service is stopped, this
type of logon access will be unavailable. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will
fail to start.
Leave on automatic.
Server
Microsoft Description - Supports file, print, and named-pipe sharing over the network for this computer. If this
service is stopped, these functions will be unavailable. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly
depend on it will fail to start.
Human Description - Supports file sharing and other basic LAN functions.
Used for sharing printers and files across Local Area Networks. If you'
re not on a network you don'
t need this.
Smart Card
Microsoft Description - Manages access to smart cards read by this computer. If this service is stopped, this
computer will be unable to read smart cards. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it
will fail to start.
If you don'
t use smart media, disable this service.
Microsoft Description - Enables support for legacy non-plug and play smart-card readers used by this
computer. If this service is stopped, this computer will not support legacy reader. If this service is disabled, any
services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
If you don'
t use smart media, disable this service.
Microsoft Description - Tracks system events such as Windows logon, network, and power events. Notifies
COM+ Event System subscribers of these events.
Human Description - (Example) Can notify programs such as Outlook when an internet connection is
established so that it can send its mail.
Microsoft Description - Performs system restore functions. To stop service, turn off System Restore from the
System Restore tab in My Computer->Properties
Bit of a sticky one this. I personally disable this sevice as it uses a lot of resources. It all depends on the
individual user of course.
Task Scheduler
Microsoft Description - Enables a user to configure and schedule automated tasks on this computer. If this
service is stopped, these tasks will not be run at their scheduled times. If this service is disabled, any services
that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Human Description -
Depends again on the individual. Task Scheduler uses a fair amount of resources and as such I normally disable
The BIG Windows XP Services Guide (Tweaks) 14 of 18
this service. Any program I wish to run, such as an Anti-Virus scan I eun when I want, not at 4.37am on a
Friday morning.
Microsoft Description - Enables support for NetBIOS over TCP/IP (NetBT) service and NetBIOS name
resolution.
Unless your fascinated by the intrinsic features of TCP/IP then use this feature. Or rather, go to a site that can
give you more help.
Telephony
Microsoft Description - Provides Telephony API (TAPI) support for programs that control telephony devices
and IP based voice connections on the local computer and, through the LAN, on servers that are also running
the service.
Human Description -
Best leaving this as manual. Not too sure if this covers modems etc.. aswell but it starts when a connection is
made to the internet.
Telnet
Microsoft Description - Enables a remote user to log on to this computer and run programs, and supports
various TCP/IP Telnet clients, including UNIX-based and Windows-based computers. If this service is stopped,
remote user access to programs might be unavailable. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly
depend on it will fail to start.
Human Description -
Cough*Big Security Hole*Cough - this is well worth disabling to bounce those 13 year old hackers.
Terminal Services
Microsoft Description - Allows multiple users to be connected interactively to a machine as well as the display
of desktops and applications to remote computers. The underpinning of Remote Desktop (including RD for
Administrators), Fast User Switching, Remote Assistance, and Terminal Server.
If you disabled Remote Desktop earlier then do the same with this.
Themes
Human Description - By default use either classic, Blue, Silver, or (nasty) Green themes in Windows XP
Microsoft Description - Manages an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) connected to the computer.
Human Description -
Most home users (unless you live in California) do not have UPS backups.
Microsoft Description - Provides support to host Universal Plug and Play devices.
Human Description -
Upload Manager
Microsoft Description - Manages synchronous and asynchronous file transfers between clients and servers on
the network. If this service is stopped, synchronous and asynchronous file transfers between clients and servers
on the network will not occur. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to
start.
Unless you want to have problems sending and receiving traffic to and from the internet it may be best to leave
this on automatic.
Microsoft Description - Manages and implements Volume Shadow Copies used for backup and other
purposes. If this service is stopped, shadow copies will be unavailable for backup and the backup may fail. If
this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
WebClient
Microsoft Description - Enables Windows-based programs to create, access, and modify Internet-based files.
If this service is stopped, these functions will not be available. If this service is disabled, any services that
explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Windows Audio
Microsoft Description - Manages audio devices for Windows-based programs. If this service is stopped, audio
devices and effects will not function properly. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it
will fail to start.
Microsoft Description - Provides image acquisition services for scanners and cameras.
If you don'
t have a scanner/camera then disable this service. Also if you use a 3rd party image aquisition
program then disable this in any case.
Microsoft Description - Provides a common interface and object model to access management information
about operating system, devices, applications and services. If this service is stopped, most Windows-based
software will not function properly. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail
to start.
Human Description -
Windows Time
Microsoft Description - Maintains date and time synchronization on all clients and servers in the network. If
this service is stopped, date and time synchronization will be unavailable. If this service is disabled, any
services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Human Description -
Unless you are in dire need to have exactly the same time as the administrator on your network this service can
be safely disabled.
Why this is defaulted to automatic is beyond me. Wireless technology is still relatively new so auto-
configuration functions resident in memory is pointless.
Microsoft Description - Provides performance library information from WMI HiPerf providers.
Human Description - Provides information about your system to system components that require it.
Leave as manual.
Workstation
Microsoft Description - Creates and maintains client network connections to remote servers. If this service is
stopped, these connections will be unavailable. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on
it will fail to start.
Human Description -