Windows XP Services Guide
Windows XP Services Guide
To access the service configuration:
- Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Services-snapin.
- Using the registry editor Regedit to change service state.
A service has 3 basic startup states :
- Disabled : The service will not be loaded (Some programs stops working, won’t take memory, and quick boot time)
- Manual : The service will be loaded on demand (Slow program start, will take memory when needed, and quick boot time)
- Automatic : The service is loaded at boot time (Fast program start, will take memory, and slow boot time)
Explanation of recommendations:
- Recommended: For users who prefers things safe and easy
- Trimmed: For users who prefers only to have the most necessary started at the expense of manual maintenance and backup
Comments for recommendations (* = Recommendation divert from “default” state):
- Lock: Increases security by disabling vulnerable features.
- Trim: Lessens CPU/RAM usage on the expense of loosing special features.
- Care: Enables Windows Self Maintenance, so it can take better care of it self.
- DUN (Dial Up Networking): Enables Internet access through a dialup connection like Phone-, ISDN-, Cable- modem (internal or external).
- Net (Network): Enables Internet access and filesharing via the network adapter to a hub, switch, router or another machine. The network is a simple one at home, without Domain Controller, Virtual Private Network or Internet Connection Sharing.
Select recommendation:
Service | Default | Recommended | Trimmed |
Alerter | Manual | Disabled *(Lock) | Disabled *(Lock) |
Application Layer Gateway | Manual | Manual (Care) | Disabled *(Trim) |
Application Management | Manual | Manual | Manual |
Automatic Updates | Automatic | Automatic (Care) | Disabled *(Trim) |
Background Intelligent Transfer | Manual | Manual (Care) | Disabled *(Trim) |
Clipbook | Manual | Disabled *(Lock) | Disabled *(Lock) |
Computer Browser | Automatic | Automatic (Net) | Disabled *(Trim) |
COM+ Event System | Manual | Manual | Manual |
COM+ System Application | Manual | Manual | Manual |
Cryptographic Services | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
DCOM Server Process Launcher | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
DHCP Client | Automatic | Automatic (Net) | Disabled *(Trim) |
Distributed Link Tracking Client | Automatic | Disabled *(Trim) | Disabled *(Trim) |
Distributed Transaction Coordinator | Manual | Manual | Manual |
DNS Client | Automatic | Automatic (Net) | Disabled *(Trim) |
Error Reporting Service | Automatic | Disabled *(Trim) | Disabled *(Trim) |
Event Log | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
Extensible Authentication Protocol | Manual | Manual | Manual |
Fast User Switching Compatibility | Manual | Disabled *(Trim) | Disabled *(Trim) |
Fax Service | Manual | Manual | Manual |
Health Key and Certificate Management | Manual | Manual | Manual |
Help and Support | Automatic | Automatic (Care) | Disabled *(Trim) |
HTTP SSL | Manual | Manual | Manual |
Human Interface Device Access | Manual | Manual | Disabled *(Trim) |
IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service | Manual | Manual | Disabled *(Trim) |
Indexing Service | Manual | Disabled *(Trim) | Disabled *(Trim) |
IPSEC Services | Automatic | Manual *(Trim) | Manual *(Trim) |
Logical Disk Manager | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
Logical Disk Manager Administrative Service | Manual | Manual | Manual |
Messenger | Automatic | Disabled *(Lock) | Disabled *(Lock) |
MS Software Shadow Copy Provider | Manual | Manual | Manual |
NET Logon | Manual | Manual | Manual |
Netmeeting Remote Desktop Sharing | Manual | Disabled *(Lock) | Disabled *(Lock) |
Network Access Protection Agent | Manual | Manual | Manual |
Network Connections | Manual | Manual | Manual |
Network DDE | Manual | Disabled *(Lock) | Disabled *(Lock) |
Network DDE DSDM | Manual | Disabled *(Lock) | Disabled *(Lock) |
Network Location Awareness | Manual | Manual | Manual |
Network Provisioning Service | Manual | Manual | Manual |
NT LM Security Support Provider | Manual | Manual | Manual |
Performance Logs and Alerts | Manual | Manual | Manual |
Plug and Play | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
Portable Media Serial Number Service | Manual | Manual | Manual |
Print Spooler | Automatic | Automatic | Disabled *(Trim) |
Protected Storage | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
QoS RSVP | Manual | Manual | Manual |
Remote Access Auto Connection Manager | Manual | Manual (DUN) | Disabled * |
Remote Access Connection Manager | Manual | Manual (DUN) | Disabled * |
Remote Desktop Help Session Manager | Manual | Disabled *(Lock) | Disabled *(Lock) |
Remote Procedure Call (RPC) | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
Remote Procedure Call (RPC) Locator | Manual | Manual | Manual |
Remote Registry Service | Automatic | Disabled *(Lock) | Disabled *(Lock) |
Removable Storage | Manual | Manual | Manual |
Routing and Remote Access | Manual | Disabled *(Lock) | Disabled *(Lock) |
Secondary Logon | Automatic | Manual *(Trim) | Manual *(Trim) |
Security Accounts Manager | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
Security Center | Automatic | Automatic (Care) | Disabled *(Trim) |
Server | Automatic | Automatic (Net) | Disabled *(Trim) |
Shell Hardware Detection | Automatic | Automatic | Disabled *(Trim) |
Smart Card | Manual | Manual | Manual |
Smart Card Helper | Manual | Manual | Manual |
SSDP Discovery Service | Manual | Disabled *(Lock) | Disabled *(Lock) |
System Event Notification | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
System Restore Service | Automatic | Automatic (Care) | Disabled *(Trim) |
Task Scheduler | Automatic | Automatic (Care) | Disabled *(Trim) |
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper Service | Automatic | Disabled *(Trim) | Disabled *(Trim) |
Telephony | Manual | Manual (DUN) | Disabled *(Trim) |
Telnet | Manual | Disabled *(Lock) | Disabled *(Lock) |
Terminal Services | Manual | Disabled *(Lock) | Disabled *(Lock) |
Themes | Automatic | Automatic | Disabled *(Trim) |
Uninterruptible Power Supply | Manual | Manual | Manual |
Upload Manager | Manual | Manual | Manual |
Universal Plug and Play Device Host | Manual | Disabled *(Lock) | Disabled *(Lock) |
Volume Shadow Copy | Manual | Manual | Manual |
WebClient | Automatic | Disabled *(Trim) | Disabled *(Trim) |
Windows Audio | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) | Automatic | Automatic (Care) | Disabled *(Trim) |
Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) | Manual | Manual | Disabled *(Trim) |
Windows Installer | Manual | Manual | Manual |
Windows Management Instrumentation | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
Windows Management Instrumentation Driver Extentions | Manual | Manual | Manual |
Windows Time | Automatic | Disabled *(Trim) | Disabled *(Trim) |
Wired AutoConfig | Manual | Manual | Manual |
Wireless Zero Configuration | Automatic | Automatic (Net) | Disabled *(Trim) |
WMI Performance Adapter | Manual | Manual | Manual |
Workstation | Automatic | Automatic (Net) | Disabled *(Trim) |
Other Service Guides:
- Microsoft : Windows XP Default settings for services
- 3DSpotlight : Windows XP Services tweak guide
- Black Viper’s Windows XP Services Configurations - Mirror - Debunked
- ElderGeek : Services Guide for Windows XP
- Gene Goldring : Removal Recommendations For Windows XP Services
- XpMania : The BIG XP Services Explanation
- TweakHound.com : Super XP Tweaking Guide for Services
- PCStats.com : Beginners Guides: Understanding and Tweaking WindowsXP Services
- CastleCops.com - List of Windows XP/NT services (Also non-Microsoft)