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)