HOME  >>  XP OPTIMIZATION (Updated: January 29th, 2009)      
Disable Services You Probably Don't Need - Improve Windows boot time and security by disabling extra services that most people never use. To disable some of these services, run XP-Antispy, Shoot The Messenger and Unplug n' Pray. If you don't know what your doing, leave it alone.

  • XP-Antispy - Home Page
    - Free utility that lets you disable some built-in update and authetication 'features' in WindowsXP.


  • Shoot The Messenger - Download - Home Page
    Disables Windows Messaging service. This will prevent online spammers from abusing this and causing non browser related message Pop-ups during normal system operation. Installing SP2 or higher will disable the messenger service for you.


  • Unplug n' Pray - Download - Home Page - Details
    Disables Windows potentially dangerous and exploitable Universal Plug and Play networking capability. UPNP allows software applications to automatically open ports on a UPNP router without your permission.
How to Control Services - Go to Start... Run... type "services.msc" and press enter. Left-click on the status bar twice so that all the started services get listed together at the top. Double left-click on the Service you wish to change. Change the "Startup Type" as desired, then select "Apply" and "OK", repeat for the following as desired:

Set to Disabled - The following can be disabled on most systems:

  • Alerter
  • Distributed Link Tracking Client
  • Help and Support - (leave enabled if you use Windows Help and Support)
  • Indexing Service
  • IPSEC Services
  • Messenger - (Service Pack 2 or higher, and Shoot the Messenger disables this)
  • Portable Media Serial Number - (leave enabled if you use security dongles)
  • Remote Registry Service
  • Secondary Logon
  • SSDP Discovery Service - (Unplug n' Pray disables this)
  • Telnet
  • Upload Manager
  • Wireless Zero Configuration - (leave enabled if you use a wireless network)
Set to Automatic - The following should always be set on automatic:
  • Application Layer Gateway Service - (Required by the Windows XP Firewall)Automatic Updates - (Required by Windows Updates)
  • Background Intelligent Transfer Service - (Required by Windows Updates)
  • COM+ Event System - (Required by BootVis and other applications)
  • Cryptographic Services - (Required to confirm the signature of Windows system files, protected root services and key services)
  • DCOM Server Process Launcher - (Required by the Disk Defragmenter)
  • DHCP Client - (Required for Cable/DSL connections and routers)
  • DNS Client - (Improves internet performance)
  • Event Log - (Required by Windows and cannot be stopped)
  • Logical Disk Manager - (Required to manage and update your harddrives)
  • Network Connections - (Required by network connections)
  • Plug and Play - (Required by your system hardware, Never Disable This!)
  • Print Spooler - (Required by printers)
  • Protected Storage - (Required to protected sensitive data and to prevent access by unauthorized services, processes, or users.)
  • Remote Procedure Call (RPC) - (Required by Windows, Never Disable This!)
  • Security Accounts Manager - (Required to store security information for local user accounts)
  • Security Center - (Notifies you of you Firewall and AntiVirus status)
  • Shell Hardware Detection - (Required by the AutoPlay feature)
  • System Event Notification - (Required by various applications)
  • System Restore Service - (Required by the System Restore feature)
  • Task Scheduler - (Required by the Windows Prefetcher, BootVis and Norton AV, Never Disable This!)
  • Themes - (Required by the new look of Windows XP)
  • Windows Audio - (Required for sound)
  • Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) - (Required by the Windows XP Firewall)
  • Windows Management Instrumentation - (Required by Windows, Never Disable This!)
Network Services - Services that are required on home networks and Local Area Networks:
  • Computer Browser - (Locates local computers and resources on a Local Area Network)
  • DHCP Client - (Required for Cable/DSL connections and routers)
  • Network Connections - (Required by network connections)
  • Server - (Required for network shares and managing local user accounts)
  • TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper - (Required for NetBIOS name resolution)
  • Wireless Zero Configuration - (Required if you are on a wireless network)
  • Workstation - (Required for access to Local Area Network shares and servers)