List of unnecessary startup items in XP

[TheMajor]

The default Windows XP installation contains a number of unnecessary services that are started by default. Extra running services consume CPU cycles and memory. To free up system resources and tune your operating system for optimum performance, you can stop and disable some services.

To change your startup items:
Click "Start" » "Run"
Type "msconfig"
Go to "Services"

The list details those that are unnecessary:

(Disable them at your own risk, some programs may need some of these services to work)

a.. Alerter
b.. Application Layer Gateway Services
c.. Automatic Updates
Many users prefer to manually download updates from Microsoft. If you wish to use the automatic update facility, leave this service enabled.
d.. Background Intelligent Transfer Service
e.. ClipBook
f.. Computer Browser
This service should only be disabled if you are not running in a Windows NT / 2000 Domain environment
g.. Distributed Link Tracking Client
h.. Error Reporting Service
i.. Fast User Switching Compatibility
j.. Fax
k.. Human Interface Device Access
This service should remain enabled if you use user-defined hot-keys on keyboards, remote controls, etc.
l.. IIS Admin
This service should only be enabled if you run the personal version of IIS on Windows XP
m.. IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service
This service should only be disabled if you do not have / use a CD-Writer.
n.. Indexing Service
o.. Infrared Monitor
This service should only be disabled if you do not have an IR port on your computer, or if you do not use IR communications.
p.. Internet Connection Firewall (ICF) / Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)
This service should only be disabled if you do not use either ICS or the ICF.
q.. Messenger
r.. MS Software Shadow Copy Provider
s.. NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing
This service should only be disabled if you do not use the Desktop Sharing facility in NetMeeting
t.. Portable Media Serial Number
This service should only be disabled if you do not have a portable MP3 or music device that connects directly to your computer via a digital interface.
u.. QoS RSVP
v.. Remote Desktop Help Session Manager
This service should only be disabled if you do not use the Remote Assistance feature of Windows XP
w.. Remote Registry
x.. Removable Storage
y.. Routing and Remote Access
z.. Smart Card
aa.. Smart Card Helper
ab.. SSDP Discovery Service
This service should only be disabled if you do not have any Universal PnP devices on your network.
ac.. System Restore Service
This service should only be disabled if you do not use the System Restore functionality of Windows XP.
ad.. Telnet
ae.. Terminal Services
This service underpins the following functions:
a.. Remote Desktop
b.. Remote Assistance
c.. Fast User Switching
Terminal Services should only be disabled if none of the above are in use
af.. Themes
ag.. Uninterruptible Power Supply
ah.. Universal Plug and Play Device Host
ai.. Upload Manager
aj.. Volume Shadow Copy
ak.. WebClient
al.. Windows Image Acquisition (WIA)
This service should only be disabled if you do not have a scanner or digital camera connected to your computer.
am.. Windows Time
This service should only be disabled if not operating in a Windows NT / Windows 2000 Domain.
an.. Wireless Zero Configuration
This service should only be disabled if you're not using a WLAN (WiFi, 802.11) card on your computer
ao.. WMI Performance Adapter
ap.. World Wide Web Publishing
This service should only be disabled if you're not running the personal version of IIS on your computer.

 

[derrmc]

Thanks, major. I will give it a shot. will it bug me about the changes each time i boot?

 

[TheMajor]

You will get a message the first time u reboot, just click the checkmark and it will not come back.

 

[EricB]

can you make a batch file to do this major?

 

[Jam3s-Zer0]

I believe this should work but you would have to run it every boot.

NET STOP "

Alerter
Application Layer Gateway Service
Application Management
ASP.NET State Service
Automatic Updates
Background Intelligent Transfer Service
ClipBook
COM+ Event System
COM+ System Application
Computer Browser
Cryptographic Services
DCOM Server Process Launcher
DHCP Client
Distributed Link Tracking Client
Distributed Transaction Coordinator
DNS Client
Error Reporting Service
Fast User Switching Compatibility
Fax
FTP Publishing
HTTP SSL
Help and Support
Human Interface Device Access
IIS Admin
IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service
Indexing Service
IPSEC Services
IPv6 Helper Service
Logical Disk Manager
Logical Disk Manager Administrative Service
Message Queuing
Message Queuing Triggers
Messenger
MS Software Shadow Copy Provider
Net Logon
NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing
Network Connections
Network DDE
Network DDE DSDM
Network Location Awareness (NLA)
Network Provisioning Service
NT LM Security Support Provider
Peer Name Resolution Protocol
Peer Networking
Peer Networking Group Authentication
Peer Networking Identity Manager
Performance Logs and Alerts
Plug and Play
Portable Media Serial Number Service
Print Spooler
Protected Storage
QoS RSVP
Remote Access Auto Connection Manager
Remote Access Connection Manager
Remote Desktop Help Session Manager
Remote Procedure Call (RPC)
Remote Procedure Call (RPC) Locator
Remote Registry Service
Removable Storage
RIP Listener
Routing and Remote Access
Secondary Logon
Security Accounts Manager
Security Center
Server
Shell Hardware Detection
Simple Mail Transport Protocol (SMTP)
Simple TCP/IP Services
Smart Card
SNMP Service
SNMP Trap Service
SSDP Discovery Service
System Event Notification
System Restore Service
Task Scheduler
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper Service
TCP/IP Printer Server
Telephony
Telnet
Terminal Services
Themes
Uninterruptible Power Supply
Universal Plug and Play Device Host
Volume Shadow Copy
WebClient
Windows Audio
Windows Firewall / Internet Connection Sharing
Windows Image Acquisition (WIA)
Windows Installer
Windows Management Instrumentation
Windows Management Instrumentation Driver Extension
Windows Time
Wireless Zero Configuration
WMI Performance Adapter

Create a .reg to permanently change it.

; SERVICES

; 00000002=Automatic, 00000003=Manual, 00000004=Disabled


; Computer Browser
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Browser]
"Start"=dword:00000004

; DHCP Client
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Dhcp]
"Start"=dword:00000002

; Error Reporting
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ERSvc]
"Start"=dword:00000004

; Fast User Switching Compatibility
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\FastUserSwitchingCompatibility]
"Start"=dword:00000004

; Help and Support
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\helpsvc]
"Start"=dword:00000004

; Indexing Service
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\cisvc]
"Start"=dword:00000004

; Remote Desktop Help Session Manager
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\RDSessMgr]
"Start"=dword:00000004

; Remote Registry
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\RemoteRegistry]
"Start"=dword:00000004

; Secondary Logon
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\seclogon]
"Start"=dword:00000004

; Security Center
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\wscsvc]
"Start"=dword:00000004

; Server
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\lanmanserver]
"Start"=dword:00000004

; System Restore Service
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\srservice]
"Start"=dword:00000004

; TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LmHosts]
"Start"=dword:00000004

; Terminal Services
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\TermService]
"Start"=dword:00000004

; Themes
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Themes]
"Start"=dword:00000004

; Wireless Zero Configuration
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WZCSVC]
"Start"=dword:00000004

 

[MrCoffee]

Very usefull for low spec system that can only just run XP, otherwise your probably just laying in store problems for yourself later on, unless you know what you're doing of course.

Seriously, any PC built in the last 2-3 years is not going to gain any significant benefit from disabling all these services.

 

[The General]

Thanks

 

[EricB]

I believe this should work but you would have to run it every boot.



Create a .reg to permanently change it.

so I copy that in notepad and make it with a .reg extension?

 

[Jam3s-Zer0]

The top should be created as a batch file (.bat) and the bottom one a registry (.reg file). I believe the batch file should be

NET STOP "Automatic Updates"
NET STOP "Computer Browser"
NET STOP "Cryptographic Services"
NET STOP "Diskeeper"
NET STOP "Distributed Link Tracking Client"
NET STOP "DNS Client"
NET STOP "Error Reporting Service"
NET STOP "FireDaemon Service:FAH"
NET STOP "Help and Support"
NET STOP "IPSEC Services"
NET STOP "Messenger"
NET STOP "Network Connections"
NET STOP "Norton AntiVirus Auto Protect Service"
NET STOP "Print Spooler"
NET STOP "Protected Storage"
NET STOP "Remote Access Auto Connection Manager"
NET STOP "Secondary Logon"
NET STOP "Security Accounts Manager"
NET STOP "Server"
NET STOP "Shell Hardware Detection
NET STOP "System Event Notification"
NET STOP "System Restore Service"
NET STOP "Task Scheduler"
NET STOP "Themes"
NET STOP "Upload Manager"
NET STOP "Windows Management Instrumentation"
NET STOP "Windows Time"

I was mistaken in my other post. Long time since i've used a batch file.

Ye, just copy it in notepad and call it 'netstop.bat' or 'netstop.reg' depending on which one you want to use.

 

[EricB]

thanks