Security and performance are the two main concerns, that Windows XP users (similar to Windows Vista and Windows 2000) need to seriously understanding these 72 Windows services.
Windows service is essentially a Windows program which is running in background. As such, Windows service taking up system resources throughout its execution. While Windows security is not hardened, some of these Windows services might easily expose security vulnerability (such as Alerter, Remote Registry, etc).
This guide covers
72 Windows services, to assist Windows XP users (as well as Windows 2000 or
Windows Vista users) to determine which Windows XP services that can be safely
disabled.
Note, not all Windows services could be disabled. Some of these Windows
services are critical to Windows XP, and should not be disabled. Although, you
may re-enable them by booting Windows XP into Recovery Console mode.
Function
Notify system users or programs about any administrative alerts that raised in Windows XP.
Status
Can be safely disabled at all time.
Function
Provides support for application-level protocol plug-ins for Internet Connection Sharing and Windows Firewall.
Status
Windows Messenger, MSN Messenger, etc, rely on this service to operate. If there is a firewall enabled to safeguard Windo 757b11h ws XP, it is safe to enable.
Function
Provides program installation related services.
Status
Disable this service will disallow non-administrator users to perform program installation related activities.
Function
Enables the download and installation of critical Windows updates.
Status
You can safely disable it, and manually trigger the process by using Windows Update online service.
Function
Transfers files between clients and servers in the background using idle network bandwidth.
Status
If Automatic Updates service has been disabled, you may want to disable this service as well. However, you may not able to download some of the programs from Windows Live, if this service is disabled.
Function
Enables ClipBook Viewer to store information and share it with remote computers.
Status
This service can be safely disabled, as most users don't utilize this feature.
Function
Supports System Event Notification Service by providing automatic distribution of events to subscribing COM components.
Status
These two services can not be disabled!
Function
Maintain an up-to-date list of networked resources, such as network shared drive and printer, and supply the list to programs that request it.
Status
You may safely disable this service if you're not going to share any resources to the network.
Function
Provides three management services
Status
This service should be enabled at all time. Automatic Updates and Task Manager rely on this service to function properly.
Function
Allow Windows XP to automatically obtain IP address, WINS server information, routing information, etc.
Status
There is no reason to enable it, if you're using fix IP, or no DHCP server available in the network.
Function
Ensures shortcuts and OLE links to work properly when the target file is renamed or moved, by automatically maintain links in NTFS file system.
Status
Depending on your wish, this service is safe to disable at all time.
Function
Coordinates transactions that span over multiple resource managers, such as databases, message queues, and file systems.
Status
For most home users, this service is safe to disable at all time.
Function
Allows Windows XP to communicate with canonical names rather than numeric-based IP address, by resolving and caching DNS names.
Status
This service should be enabled at all time, to facilitate Windows XP communicate over the network, especially on a network environment with domain controller.
Function
Allow error reporting (to Microsoft) for services and programs running in non-standard environments.
Status
You may enable this service only when you are frequently encounter system or program crash.
Function
Enable event log messages raised by Windows-based programs to be viewed in Event Viewer.
Status
Unlike Error Reporting service, this service should be enabled at all time to assist you resolving system failures, audit system security logs, etc.
Function
Enable fast user switching feature that introduced in Windows XP.
Status
Although fast user switching is good, but it consumes huge system resources, both memory and CPU. So, it is better to disable this service for performance reason.
Function
Enables Windows XP Help and Support Center to run on this computer.
Status
Depending on your wish, if you feel comfortable without consulting Windows XP help, then you may safely disable it.
Function
Enables generic input access to Human Interface Devices, which activates and maintains the use of predefined hot buttons on keyboards, remote controls, and other multimedia devices.
Status
This service can be safely disabled to free up more system resources to critical services.
Function
Manages CD recording using Image Mastering Applications Programming Interface (IMAPI).
Status
This service can be safely disabled, as most Windows XP users are using Nero burning software for CD/DVD burning.
Function
Indexes contents and properties of files on local and remote computers and provides rapid access to files through flexible querying language.
Status
If you don't frequently searching files using Windows search function, or you can tolerate with slow searching function, then you can disable this service to free up some system resources.
Function
Provides end-to-end security between clients and servers on TCP/IP networks.
Status
Don't disable this service, if you're connecting over an IPSec secured connection.
Function
Detects and monitors new hard disk drives added to Windows XP, and sends disk volume information to Logical Disk Manager Administrative service for configuration.
Status
You may enable these two service only when you are going to add new hard disk drives to Windows XP, rather than turning it on at all time.
Function
Supports local and remote debugging for Visual Studio and script debuggers.
Status
Disable this service if you don't perform program debugging processes.
Function
Transmits net send and Alerter service messages between clients and servers. Note, this service is not related to Windows Messenger or MSN Messenger.
Status
This service is safe to disable, if you disable Alerter service.
Function
Manages software-based volume shadow copies taken by the Volume Shadow Copy service.
Status
Disable this service if you don't perform Windows Backup.
Function
Enables an authorized user to access you computer remotely by using NetMeeting over a corporate intranet.
Status
You should able to justify the reason of enabling this service, that allow remote users access to your Windows XP.
Function
Manages the network and dial-up connections, such as network status notification and configuration.
Status
This service should be turned on at all time, if your Windows XP is connected to network or Internet.
Function
Provides network transport and security for Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) for programs running on the same computer or on different computers.
Status
This service is safe to disable, if there is no such need for your Windows XP.
Function
Manages Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) network shares.
Status
Disable this service, if you don't use DDE network shares.
Function
Collects and stores network configuration and location information and notifies applications when this information changes.
Status
Enable if this service, if your Windows XP has Internet Connection Sharing or Internet Connection Firewall enabled.
Function
Provides security to remote procedure call (RPC) programs that use transports other than named pipes.
Status
You may enable this service, if your Windows XP needs to log on to pre-Windows 2000 computers or domains
Function
Collects performance data from local or remote computers, based on pre-configured schedule parameters, then writes the data to a log or triggers an alert.
Status
Unless you are in the midst of fine tuning Windows XP, you may safely disable this service to free up system resources. This service has potential to impact Windows XP performance after running for some times.
Function
Enables a computer to recognize and adapt to hardware changes with little or no user input.
Status
This service should be enabled at all time. Disable it will cause Windows XP becomes unstable.
Function
Retrieves serial number of any portable media player connected to Windows XP.
Status
Disable this service will cause protected content unable to download to the device.
Function
Manages print queues and load files to memory for later printing.
Status
You may safely disable it, if you don't have a printer attached to Windows XP.
Function
Provides protected storage for sensitive data, such as private keys, to prevent access by unauthorized services, processes, or users.
Status
This service should be enabled at all time.
Function
Provides network signaling and local traffic-control setup functionality for QoS-aware programs (Quality of Service) and control applets.
Status
You may enable this service, if you're using QoS aware applications.
Function
Creates a connection to a remote network whenever a program references a remote DNS or NetBIOS name or address.
Status
This service should be enabled at all time, in order Windows XP to communicate successfully over the network.
Function
Manages dial-up and virtual private network (VPN) connections from your Windows XP to the Internet or other remote networks.
Status
This service should be enabled at all time.
Function
Manages and controls Remote Assistance.
Status
You may safely disable this service, if you don't want remote users to access to your Windows XP via Remote Desktop.
Function
Allows processes to communicate internally and across the network with each other.
Status
Don't ever disable this service! Disable this service will cause Windows XP fail to boot up.
Function
Manages the RPC name service database, which is similar to DNS service for TCP/IP.
Status
This is also a critical service, which should be turned on at all time.
Function
Enables remote users to modify your Windows XP registry settings.
Status
Editing Windows Registry is dangerous! Unless you could justify the reason of enabling this service, Remote Registry service should be disabled whenever possible.
Function
Manages and catalogs removable storage media (such as USB mass storage drive) and operates automated removable media devices.
Status
This service should be enabled if you frequently attaching removable storage media to Windows XP.
Function
Enables multiprotocol LAN-to-LAN, LAN-to-WAN, virtual private network (VPN), and network address translation (NAT) routing services for clients and servers on the network.
Status
Unless you're running Windows XP as server, this service is safe to disabled at most of time, for most Windows XP users.
Function
Enables starting processes under alternate credentials.
Status
Disable this service will disable Run As features.
Function
Stores security information for local user accounts.
Status
Disable this service will cause Group Policy objects, DHCP, etc, to fail functioning.
Function
Allows the sharing of Windows XP resources, such as files and printers, as well as named pipe communication.
Status
If you don't want remote users access to Windows XP resources, or attack via Windows XP hidden share (such as C$, D$, IPC$, etc), you may want to disable this service at all time.
Function
Provides notifications for AutoPlay hardware events.
Status
If you don't want Windows XP automatically pop up auto-play dialog box, you could safely disable this service.
Function
Manages access to smart cards read by Windows XP.
Status
There is no reason to enable this service, if you don't have smart card reader attached to Windows XP.
Function
Used to detect UPnP devices found on the network.
Status
Disable this service, if you don't have UPNP devices attached to the network.
Function
Tracks system events such as Windows logon, network, and power events. Notifies COM+ Event System subscribers of these events.
Status
This service should be enabled at all time, especially Windows XP powered laptop (to receive battery related events).
Function
Performs system restore functions, such as saving periodic checkpoints.
Status
This is one of the system resouce sucker. Although, it is useful in the case of system failure. If you can tolerate with system failure or you could restore Windows XP to functioning state via Norton Ghost image, then you may safe to disable this service.
Function
Configure and schedule automated tasks on Windows XP.
Status
Disable this service will disable scheduled tasks from running automatically.
Function
Provides support for NetBIOS over TCP/IP and NetBIOS name lookups.
Status
This service could be safely disabled, if you don't share Windows XP resources.
Function
Provides Telephony API (TAPI) support for programs that control telephony devices and IP-based voice connections.
Status
If you don't have a modem attached, or connect to Internet via modem, you may safely disable this service.
Function
Enables remote users to log on to Windows XP and run programs, via various TCP/IP Telnet clients
Status
There is no obvious reason to enable this service, especially if you don't want remote users access to Windows XP.
Function
Allows multiple users to connect interactively to a Windows XP.
Status
You may safely disable this service, if you don't allow remote users access to Windows XP.
Function
Provides user experience theme management.
Status
If you are using Windows Classic theme, you can safely disable this service to boost Windows XP performance.
Function
Manages uninterruptible power supply (UPS) connected to the Windows XP.
Status
No reason to turn on this services, if there is no UPS attached to Windows XP.
Function
Provides support to host Universal Plug and Play devices.
Status
If you disable SSDP Discovery service, you may safely disable this service as well.
Function
Manages and implements volume shadow copies used for backup and other purposes.
Status
You may safely disable this service, if you don't rely on Windows Backup.
Function
Enables Windows-based programs to create, access, and modify Internet-based files.
Status
This service can be safely disabled, if there is no such need.
Function
Manages audio devices for Windows-based programs.
Status
Disable this service, if you don't want your Windows XP to speak at all!
Function
Provides image acquisition services for scanners and cameras.
Status
No harm to disable this service, if there is no such need.
Function
Adds, modifies, and removes applications provided as a Windows Installer (*.msi) package.
Status
This service should be enabled at all time, in order to perform Windows update.
Function
Provides a common interface and object model to access management information about operating system, devices, applications and services.
Status
This service is critical to Windows XP, and should be enabled at all time.
Function
Monitors all drivers and event trace providers that are configured to publish Windows Management Instrumentation or event trace information.
Status
This service is not as critical as the Windows Management Instrumentation service, but is worth to enable at all time.
Function
Uses NTP protocol to synchronize Windows XP local time with NTP server.
Status
Enable this service, if you want to synchronize Windows XP time with a NTP server.
Function
Automatically configured WIFI (802.11) network adapters.
Status
This service should be enabled on laptop that supports WIFI connection.
Function
Provides performance library information from Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) providers to clients on the network.
Status
This service should be enabled at all time.
Function
Creates and maintains client network connections to remote servers.
Status
This service should be enabled, when running Windows XP on a network environment.
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