By default, Windows XP starts a large number of services. Most of them are used for the proper functioning of Windows, but some of them are unnecessary and only serve to slow down the performance of the computer.
Also, some of the services expose your computer to attacks, allowing remote users to access your computer.
To access the services, go to Control Panel, Administrative Tools and run Services, you will get a list with all the services, with the status and description of each one.
You can go find each service and read the description, they are all self explanatory, you don’t need much knowledge to understand what each one means, but I will give you a list with some Services that you can disable without any problem.
1. Alert
Notifies selected users and computers of administrative alerts. If the service is stopped, programs that use administrative alerts will not receive them. If this service is disabled, any service that explicitly depends on it will fail to start.
I don’t think there is a need for a computer to continuously pester the user with alerts.
2. Application layer gateway service
Provides support for third-party protocol plugins for Internet Connection Sharing and Internet Connection Firewall
If you want to share your Internet connections, leave it on, but I don’t think you want to share your connection with others, because almost all Internet Service Providers don’t want their users to share the Internet, and companies or big networks that want to share connection use routers that are cheap.
3. Automatic updates
Allows the download and installation of critical Windows updates. If the service is disabled, the operating system can be manually updated.
How many times have you found automatic updates necessary? Microsoft software will always have problems, when they try to fix something they will make other security holes, if you want to be safe you should use a firewall.
4.Intelligent transfer service in the background
Use idle network bandwidth to transfer data.
This will work fine for automatic updates, but are you sure you want your computer to connect to the Internet and download stuff you don’t want?
5. Clipboard
Allows ClipBook Viewer to store information and share it with remote computers. If the service is stopped, ClipBook Viewer will not be able to share information with remote computers. If this service is disabled, any service that explicitly depends on it will fail to start.
This will share your clipboard with other computers on the network, seriously why would you want to do this?
6. Computer browser
It maintains a current list of computers on the network and provides this list to computers designated as browsers. If this service is stopped, this list will not be updated or maintained. If this service is disabled, any service that explicitly depends on it will fail to start.
If you frequently copy files from other computers on your network, don’t disable it, otherwise it’s a waste of resources.
7. Cryptographic services
Provides three management services: Catalog Database Service, which confirms Windows file signatures; Protected Root Service, which adds and removes trusted root CA certificates from this computer; and Key Service, which helps enroll this computer for certificates. If this service is stopped, these management services will not work properly. If this service is disabled, any service that explicitly depends on it will fail to start.
This is used when you want to pass certificates to the network. Unless you’re on a large corporate network, you don’t need this.
8. Distributed transaction coordinator
It coordinates transactions that span multiple resource managers, such as databases, message queues, and file systems. If this service is stopped, these transactions will not occur. If this service is disabled, any service that explicitly depends on it will fail to start.
This is used only if you want to access file systems and databases on the network.
9.Bug reporting service
Allows you to generate error reports for services and applications running in non-standard environments.
You’ve probably seen the “submit bug report” dialog box enough times.
10.Help and support
Allow Help and Support Center to run on this computer. If this service is stopped, the Help and Support Center will not be available. If this service is disabled, any service that explicitly depends on it will fail to start.
How many times did you receive help from your help and service center?
11 IMAPI CD Burn COM Service
Manages CD burning using the Image Mastering Application Programming Interface (IMAPI). If this service is stopped, this computer will not be able to write CDs. If this service is disabled, any service that explicitly depends on it will fail to start.
Don’t turn this off if you have a CD burner connected to your computer.
12. Messenger
It transmits Net Send and Alerter service messages between clients and servers. This service is not related to Windows Messenger. If this service is stopped, Alerter messages will not be transmitted. If this service is disabled, any service that explicitly depends on it will fail to start.
This has nothing in common with Windows Messenger or any other Messenger client. It is used to send messages over the network.
13. NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing
Allows an authorized user to access this computer remotely using NetMeeting on a corporate intranet. If this service is stopped, remote desktop sharing will not be available. If this service is disabled, any service that explicitly depends on it will fail to start.
Do you want other computers on your network or the Internet to access your computer’s desktop? if yes then don’t disable this otherwise do it for security.
14. Remote Desktop Help Session Manager
Manage and control Remote Assistance. If this service is stopped, Remote Assistance will not be available. Before stopping this service, check the Dependencies tab of the Properties dialog.
Again, if you want to connect to this computer from somewhere else, change your operating system.
15. Remote registration
Allows remote users to modify registry settings on this computer. If this service is stopped, only users of this computer can modify the registry. If this service is disabled, any service that explicitly depends on it will fail to start.
I don’t think you want to change your registry from another computer.
16. Wireless zero configuration
Provides automatic configuration for 802.11 adapters
If you don’t have a wireless connection, turn it off. But, I tell you from my experience, the first thing my wireless internet service provider administrator told me was to disable wireless zero configuration, this way the connection will work better.
