Windows Vista
Services
You will notice that Vista has some
of the same old Services as XP. Along with many new Services to control
and maintain Windows operating system. Here are some Services in Vista
that we really don’t need.
Some of
these services are already set to manual. So completely disabling them really won’t make too much of
a difference. And may be better in the long run to leave them as is.
But, if you don’t want them to start up
if they may be needed. Then just set them to “Disabled”.
1. First let’s go to “Start” and then
click on “Run”.
2. When the Run box opens,
just type in “services.msc” and press “OK”. Next the Services applet will load.
3. How to stop and disable
a service? Just right click on a service and select Properties.
4. Then, in the properties
box. Stop the service if it is running, then change the Startup type to ”Disabled” and hit “OK”.
Repeat this step for each service you wish to disable
Finally, restart your computer and the service will no longer be
able to start.
Disabling these following
services can help to decrease RAM usage, and help to improve your systems
performance:
Base Filtering Engine
Disable if you don't use the Windows Firewall
Diagnostic Policy Service
Digital ID Management Service - Listens for Digital ID related events and invokes the
registered Providers to perform their tasks. The order that the Providers
are invoked is specified by the dependency settings. If this service is
stopped or disabled, this computer and all logged on users will be unable
to use the automated functionality. This sounds like a fancy service, but
your probably don't have a use for it unless you use any DRM technologies.
Distributed Link Tracking Client - Maintains links between NTFS files within a computer or
across computers in a network.
Function Discovery Provider Host
Function Discovery Resource Publication
Group Policy Client - The service is responsible for applying settings configured by
administrators for the computer and users through the Group Policy
component. If the service is stopped or disabled, the settings will not
be applied and applications and components will not be manageable through
Group Policy. Any components or applications that depend on the Group
Policy component might not be functional if the service is stopped or
disabled. Are you using any of the new account restrictions in Windows
Vista, if not, and if this computer is not on a enterprise network,
disable this service to free up some bytes.
Human Interface Device Access
Disable if you don't use/need hotkeys on your
keyboard.
IKE and AuthIP IPSec Keying Modules
Disable to improve network performance and decrease
RAM usage.
Disabling will have a negative impact on network
security. . Unless you are doing crazy VPN stuff, home users have little
use for this service.
Infrared monitor service - Supports infrared devices installed on the computer and
detect other devices that are in range. Still have any infrared device
sitting around? Yeah right!, disable this unless you are still using any
legacy devices that require infrared. If so, consider upgrading sometime
in the future to this thing called Blue tooth.
Internet Connection Sharing
Disable if you don't need to share your internet
connection.
IP Helper
Disable to improve network performance and decrease
RAM usage.
Will also disable IPv6 connectivity over IPv4. Might
be useful in the future.
IPSec Policy Agent
Disable to improve network performance and decrease
RAM usage.
Disabling will have a negative impact on network
security.
KtmRm for Distributed Transaction
Coordinator
Disable if you don't use MSDTC and/or KTM.
Messenger Sharing Folders USN Journal
Reader service
This service is only available if Messenger Live is
installed.
Disable if you don't use Messenger’s Live sharing
folders.
Microsoft Software Shadow Copy Provider
Disable if you don't use MS Shadow Copy.
Disabling will have a negative impact on system redundancy.
Net.Tcp Port Sharing Service
Disable if you don't use the Net.Tcp protocol (from
.NET framework).
Disabling will make .NET applications using this
protocol not to function properly.
Network Access Protection Agent - Allows windows clients to participate in NAP. If you have no
use for NAP or don't know what it is, disable this. You probably don't
need it.
Network List Service
Disable if you aren't connected to a LAN with multiple
computers or if you don't share files or printers through your LAN.
Network Location Awareness
Disable if you aren't connected to a LAN with
multiple computers or if you don't share files or printers through your
LAN.
Offline Files
Disable if you only use local profiles and aren't
connected to a domain.
Peer Name Resolution Protocol - Enables Serverless Peer Name Resolution over the Internet.
DNS lookups without a DNS server? Possibly, but still no use for it.
Peer Networking Identity Manager - Provides Identity service for Peer Networking. P2P service
that performance users don't need. Unless you are using the new P2P
networking features.
Pen Service - Tablet PC Pen Input Service. This service is running by
default on my laptop which is not a tablet PC!
PnP-X IP Bus Enumerator Service - The PnP-X bus enumerator for network connected devices. If
you do not have any devices that use this feature (I don't know of any,
if any of you do, post a comment!) consider disabling it.
Portable Device Enumerator Service
Disable if you don't need to synchronize data with
removable storage (such as mp3 players. This will not affect third party
applications such as iTunes, only applications using this service, e.g.
Windows Media Player).
Program Compatibility Assistant Service
Disable if you don't care about compatibility
issues. (Running applications in compatibility mode will still function.)
ReadyBoost
Disable if you don't use this feature.
Remote Access Connection Manager
Disable if you don't use dial-up connections and/or
VPN-networks.
Remote Registry - Enables remote users to modify registry settings on this
computer. If this service is stopped, only users on this computer can
modify the registry. I do not understand why Microsoft always decides to
have this service started by default in Windows. This service is really
only useful for system administrators in enterprise environments.
Although my faith in Microsoft security is growing, for home users and
most power users this service is just waiting to be exploited by the
latest virus/Trojan. It provide no useful functionality to us so just
disable it.
Routing and Remote Access
Disable if you don't need to route network data
within a LAN or WAN.
Secondary Logon
Disable if you don't need to login two users at once.
Security Center
Disable if you can take care of the system security
manually.
Server
Disable if you don't share files and/or printers
through LAN.
Shell Hardware Detection
Disable to remove autoplay functionality on
removable media.
SL UI Notification Service
Disable. You can manually run this if it's needed
for activation or other software licensing issues.
SSDP Discovery Service - Discovers networked devices and services that use the SSDP
discovery protocol, such as UPnP devices. Also announces SSDP devices and
services running on the local computer. If this service is stopped,
SSDP-based devices will not be discovered. If this service is disabled,
any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start. Do you have
any UPnP devices? No, then disable this.
Tablet PC Input Service
Disable if you don't have a Tablet PC.
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper
Disable. Totally useless if you don't use NetBIOS
(NetBT).
Telephony
Disable if you don't use dial-up connections.
Terminal Services
Disable if you don't use Remote Desktop.
Disabling will improve system security.
UPnP Device Host - Allows UPnP devices to be hosted on this computer. If this
service is stopped, any hosted UPnP devices will stop functioning and no
additional hosted devices can be added. If this service is disabled, any
services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start. Do you have any
UPnP devices? No, then disable this as well.
Virtual Disk
Set as manual if you don't use Disk Management in
the Computer Management console.
You can manually start this service at any time if
you need to use Disk Management.
Volume Shadow Copy
Disable if you don't use MS Shadow Copy.
Disabling will have a negative impact on system
redundancy.
WebClient - 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. This service is used for
things like web folder and WEB DAV. If you are like me and don't use
these services, then disable them.
Windows Error Reporting Service - Enables error reporting and solution delivery for
application failures (crashes and hangs). If this service is stopped,
error reporting might not work correctly. This service has always been a
favorite for power users to disable. I'm not going to lie, it will give
you a slight performance gain if you disable it since less overhead =
more resources for your apps. However, Windows Vista is in Beta! Why
wouldn't you want Microsoft to hear about the problems you are having.
Don't you want them to have a chance to be fixed?
Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) - Provides image acquisition services for scanners and
cameras. Disable if you don't use a scanner and/or digital cameras.
Windows Management Instrumentation - 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. This service is used a lot in
the enterprise environment in scripting events on computers. In the home
area, there is no use for it and can be disabled. If in the future you
ever have any problems with installing programs. Try re-enabling this
service again since some, not all, tend to use it.
Windows Defender
Disable if you don't want to use it. Though,
consider using third party anti-malware application if you disable it.
Windows Error Reporting Service
Disable if you don't use error reporting.
Windows Firewall
Disable if you don't use the Windows Firewall.
Though, consider using third party firewall (hardware, software or router
w/ firewall).
Windows Media Center Extender Service
Disable if you don't use Media Center extensions.
Windows Search
Disable if you don't want to use the advanced
windows search feature with indexing (Normal search will still function,
but is allot slower).
Windows Time
Disable if you don't want the clock to synchronize
automatically.
WinHTTP WebProxy Auto-Discovery Service
Disable if you don't use applications, which use the
WPAD protocol (most applications don't). Manually enable if you need it.
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