For an Article on Disabling Windows Vista Services Click Here
Note: Disabling the Services below will not affect Internet Access
When you install Windows XP, there are many services enabled by default in your Windows XP system. You need to disable those services which you do not need. For example if you do not have a printer then why the printer service should be running.
To disable any services Click start>Run & Type services.msc. In the right pane double click on any service name a properties dialogue will come up in the Startup Type field select disable similarly if you want to set a service to manual then select manual in this field. For you knowledge I am listing what does Automatic, Manual and Disabled startup Types Mean?
Configuration Information
Automatic ~ With a service in this state, it will start at boot time. Some services, when no longer
required, will also automatically stop when not needed. However, this is very rare. If you find
you do not need a service, place it into Manual or Disabled.
Manual ~ Manual mode allows Windows to start a service when needed. However, very few
services will start up when required in Manual mode. If you find you need a service, place it into
Automatic.
Disabled ~ This setting will stop a service from starting, even if needed. Errors in the Event
Viewer will show up complaining of that fact. Some services, while Disabled, will constantly
complain. However, this situation is taken care of if placed in Manual. The service descriptions
identifies those that should be in Manual vice Disabled.
Here I will give you a list of services which are not required to run for most users
Wireless Zero Configuration
- If you are not connected to any Internet wireless connection then you can disable this service
System Restore Service
- If you do not use System Restore then disable this Service
Indexing Service
- By default Windows XP do not Index your hard drive, the indexing service is set to manual by default set it to disabled
Print Spooler
- If you do not have a printer and you also do print using XPS & PDF printer then disable this service.
Note: XPS printer & PDF printer do come preinstalled you do have to install XPS Essentials Pack for XPS printing and Adobe Acrobat for PDF printing
Office Source Engine
- If you have installed Microsoft Office 2003 or 2007 then set this service to manual not automatic
SSDP Discovery Service
Remote Registry
Remote Desktop Help Session Manager
Application Layer Gateway Service
- These services should be disabled because most users do not need them.
Network DDE
Network DDE DSDM
- If you have Windows XP SP2 then you do not need to disable these services otherwise disable these
WMI Performance Adapter
Distributed Link Tracking Client
Telnet
You have disable extra services now disable some more services.
Disable Error Reporting
Right Click My Computer and Open up Properties, Switch to Advanced and click Error Reporting in the next dialogue click Disable error reporting see the figure below.
Disable Advanced Text Services
Open Up Control Panel switch to classical view if have not switched before. Open up Regional and Language Options, switch to Languages tab and click Details button
Now in the Text Services and Input Languages dialogue click Advanced and then click Turn off advanced text services. See figure below
Now you have disabled all those unnecessary services.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Great Info
Do not disable Task Scheduler Service!
On systems prior to Windows XP the Task Scheduler service was simply a convenience for users and was not required by the system. This is no longer true. On XP and later systems the Task Scheduler is used to perform a number of important functions. A number of system maintenance tasks are scheduled to take place every 3 days. But more important, the prefetch system relies on this service. If it is not enabled and set to Automatic, the system will be unable to update entries in the prefetch folder. Over time this can lead to serious impairment of boot and application launch times. The Task Scheduler is not related to Task Manager in any way.
Be very careful when disabling services. Even Microsoft documentation is not complete, many services do more than is stated. Setting a service to Manual is not normally sufficient. This makes it possible for an application or the system to start the service. But the system will not do so to resolve a dependency and many applications assume required services are running.
In any event, the benefits of disabling services is highly overrated.
Larry Miller
Microsoft MCSA
Ive had Task Scheduler disabled for roughly 5 years on all my workstations, never needed it. Regardless if it ate up a lot or not, it was not required. As hardware gets older, and software gets newer, keeping the resources as low as possible to meet your mission requirements is always the goal. One of the easier services to quickly disable and forget about is Task Scheduler, forever, unless however, it is used. Not all environments are the same, as in your case, YOU have tasks scheduled every 3 days. This is not the same for everyone.
How to disable a guilty “conscience” for a better night’s sleep. -1 Timothy 1:5.
Thanks So Much. How Wonderful to find something that Actually HELPED me. I even understood the instructions LOL. None of ; go to/.<<t7))8and then start HDSJN. Again Thank You.
Patricia