Services You Can Disable
To speed up Windows XP boot time and free your system resources you can
disable quite a few services from starting automatically.
These are only suggestions so we suggest you to read the description of each
one as mentioned below and not disable the services you feel like you might be
needing. However, disabling the following services with not effect the normal
working of your system under general conditions.
- Alerter - Sends alert messages to specified users that are
connected to the server computer.
- Application Management - Allows software to tap directly into the
Add/Remove Programs feature via the Windows Installer technology.
- Background Intelligent Transfer Service - The Background
Intelligent Transfer service is used by programs (such as Windows AutoUpdate)
to download files by using spare bandwidth.
- Clipbook - ClipBook permits you to cut and paste text and
graphics over the network.
- Error Reporting Service - Allows applications to send error
reports to Microsoft in the event of an application fault.
- Fast User Switching - Windows XP allows users to switch quickly
between accounts, without requiring them to log off.
- Help and Support - Allows the XP Built-in Help and Support Center
to run.
- IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service - You don't need this if you have
other software to create CDs.
- Indexing Service - Indexes contents and properties of files on
local and remote computers; provides rapid access to files through flexible
querying language.
- IP SEC - Manages IP security policy and starts the ISAKMP/Oakley
(IKE) and the IP security driver. If you are not on a domain, you likely
don't need this running.
- Messenger - Transmits net send and Alerter service messages
between clients and servers. This is how a lot of pop-up windows start
appearing on your desktop.
- Net Logon - Supports pass-through authentication of account logon
events for computers in a domain. If you are not on a domain, you don't need
this running
- Network DDE - Provides network transport and security for Dynamic
Data Exchange (DDE) for programs running on the same computer or on
different computers.
- NT LM Security Support Provider - Provides security to remote
procedure call (RPC) programs that use transports other than named pipes.
- Performance Logs and Alerts - Collects performance data from
local or remote computers based on preconfigured schedule parameters, then
writes the data to a log or triggers an alert. If you don't need to monitor
your performance logs, then you don't need this service.
- Portable Media Serial Number - Retrieves the serial number of any
portable music player connected to your computer
- QOS RSVP - Provides network signaling and local traffic control
setup functionality for QoS-aware programs and control applets.
- Remote Desktop Help Session Manager - Manages and controls Remote
Assistance. If you are not using Remote Desktop you don't need this service.
- Remote Registry - Enables remote users to modify registry
settings on this computer.
- Routing & Remote Access - Offers routing services to businesses
in local area and wide area network environments. Allows dial-in access.
- Secondary Login - Enables starting processes under alternate
credentials. This is what allows you to run an application as another user.
- Smart Card - Manages access to smart cards read by this computer.
- Smart Card Helper - Enables support for legacy non-plug and play
smart-card readers used by this computer.
- SSDP Discovery Service - Enables discovery of UPnP devices on
your home network.
- TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper - Enables support for NetBIOS over TCP/IP (NetBT)
service and NetBIOS name resolution. This should not be needed in today's
network environment.
- Telnet - Enables a remote user to log on to this computer and run
programs, and supports various TCP/IP Telnet clients.
- Uninterruptible Power Supply Service - Manages an uninterruptible
power supply (UPS) connected to the computer.
- Universal Plug and Play Device Host - Provides support to host
Universal Plug and Play devices
- Upload Manager - Manages synchronous and asynchronous file
transfers between clients and servers on the network.
- Volume Shadow Copy Service - Manages and implements Volume Shadow
Copies used for backup and other purposes.
- Web Client - Enables Windows-based programs to create, access,
and modify non-local files across the Internet.
- Wireless Zero Configuration - Provides automatic configuration
for the 802.11 adapters
- WMI Performance Adapter - Provides performance library
information from WMI HiPerf providers