Webuser Forums: XP Services 2

Performance Logs and Alerts	Collects performance data from local or remote computers based on preconfigured schedule parameters, then writes the data to a log or triggers an alert. If this service is stopped, performance information will not be collected. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start. *Combine the information that this service will produce in the performance log and System Monitor and you have some pretty technical info. Not really necessary IMO.	None	Disabled
Plug and Play	Enables a computer to recognize and adapt to hardware changes with little or no user input. Stopping or disabling this service will result in system instability. *One of the basic natures of your operating systems of today are Plug and Play. Install a device or component and your system automatically detects it. Without this, your system will not ask for proper drivers to be installed. You will be left unaware that you have hardware configuration problems if not immediately apparent through normal operation of your machine. In other words, don't disable this baby!	None	Automatic
Portable Media Serial Number	Retrieves the serial number of any portable music player connected to your computer. *I haven't heard of any device that requires this service yet.	None	Disabled
Print Spooler	Loads files to memory for later printing.	Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	Automatic
Protected Storage	Provides protected storage for sensitive data, such as private keys, to prevent access by unauthorized services, processes, or users. *This service is responsible for saving passwords using Auto Complete, Dialup Networking and Domain Controller/Server that requires authentication. I leave this one set to Automatic myself. You decide which is best for you.	Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	Automatic saves passwords Disabled more security
QoS RSVP	Provides network signalling and local traffic control setup functionality for QoS-aware programs and control applets. *You will find this installed by default in any Network connection. Some applications can request the extra bandwidth made available by this service. Approximately 20%. When the bandwidth is no longer needed, it is returned to your systems available bandwidth. 100% is now available again. Disable this service if you have no need for the bandwidth redirect. Better still, uninstall it from your network connection. More about this service.	AFD Networking Support Environment Remote Procedure Call (RPC) TCP/IP Protocol Driver	Disabled
Remote Access Auto Connection Manager	Creates a connection to a remote network whenever a program references a remote DNS or NetBIOS name or address. *Your internet connection may need this service running due to some ISP's logon processes. Test it out with Disabled. If your connection fails, set it to Automatic.	Remote Access Connection Manager Telephony	Disabled if not required for your connection. Automatic if required for your connection
Remote Access Connection Manager	Creates a network connection. *Internet Connection Sharing requires this service and as above, your Internet connection may need this service running due to some ISP's logon processes. Test it out with Disabled. If your connection fails, set it to Automatic.	Telephony	Disabled if not required for your connection. Automatic if required for your connection
Remote Desktop Help Session Manager	Manages and controls Remote Assistance. If this service is stopped, Remote Assistance will be unavailable. Before stopping this service, see the Dependencies tab of the Properties dialog box. *This can be a handy service for the Newbie and the helpful Power User. If you don't plan on using this service, Disable it.	Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	Disabled
Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	Provides the endpoint mapper and other miscellaneous RPC services. *As you can see by the dependency column, lots of services depend on this service.	None	Automatic
Remote Procedure Call (RPC) Locator	Manages the RPC name service database. *If your connection fails after Disabling this service, set it to Manual.	Workstation	Disabled
Remote Registry	Enables remote users to modify registry settings on this computer. If this service is stopped, the registry can be modified only by users on this computer. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start. *You will be able to modify your registry only from your computer. No remote computer will be able to gain access.	Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	Disabled
Removable Storage	Used for managing removable media. *e.g. Tape backup devices and CD-ROM's may not work properly if Disabled. Test it out and see.	Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	Disabled
Routing and Remote Access	Offers routing services to businesses in local area and wide area network environments.	NetBIOSGroup Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	Disabled
Secondary Logon	Enables starting processes under alternate credentials. If this service is stopped, this type of logon access will be unavailable. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.	None	Disabled
Security Accounts Manager	Stores security information for local user accounts. *If you use Group Policy Editor, (gpedit.msc) you must have this set to Automatic for your custom policy settings to work.	Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	Disabled Automatic if you use Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc)
Server	Supports file, print, and named-pipe sharing over the network for this computer. If this service is stopped, these functions will be unavailable. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start. *If you are on a network and have file and print sharing turned on, you will need this set to Automatic. Home users should Disable this security risk service.	None	Disabled
Shell Hardware Detection	*Some actions require a device to be detected in order to produce. Such as playing a music CD. A CD-ROM device has to be found. Sorry for my vagueness on this one.	Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	Manual
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol	*Supports the use of a local (outbound) email server. Not installed by default.	Event Log IIS Admin	Disabled
Simple TCP/IP Service	*Supports UNIX Networking services. Not installed by default.	AFD Networking Support Environment	Disabled
Smart Card	Manages access to smart cards read by this computer. If this service is stopped, this computer will be unable to read smart cards. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start. *In a Network of computers you might have a Smart Sard installed for Network Authentication. If you don't have any Smart Cards installed, Disable this service.	Plug and Play	Disabled
Smart Card Helper	Enables support for legacy non-plug and play smart-card readers used by this computer. If this service is stopped, this computer will not support legacy reader. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start. *No Smart Card? Disable this service.	None	Disabled
SNMP Service	Supports the use of networking equipment that use SNMP as a mode of management. *Not installed by default	Event Log	Disabled
SNMP Trap Service	Supports the use of networking equipment that use SNMP as a mode of management.	Event Log	Disabled
SSDP Discovery Service	Enables discovery of UPnP devices on your home network. *If you don't have any of these devices, disable it. If you do have home networking devices set up, test it out on Disable. If any device stops working, set to Automatic.	None	Disabled
System Event Notification	Tracks system events such as Windows logon, network, and power events. Notifies COM+ Event System subscribers of these events. *This service will notify and log events such as logon's and power problems. Most of us couldn't care less about this information.	COM+ Event System	Disabled
System Restore Service	Performs system restore functions. To stop service, turn off System Restore from the System Restore tab in My Computer, Properties, System Restore tab. *2 schools of thought on this one. Some think it's a resource hog. It will create a new restore point every time you install a new program. The restore point is as big as your amount of RAM you have installed. You can remove old restore points if you want as to not use up to much of your hard drive space. I like it. before I do some kind of major hacking to my system or install some kind of beta ware, I create a restore point to return to if need be. Multiple partitions with multiple O/S's? Turn off System Restore on all drives except Windows XP's partition.	Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	Automatic Disabled If you like to do a fresh install if problems occur.
Task Scheduler	Enables a user to configure and schedule automated tasks on this computer. If this service is stopped, these tasks will not be run at their scheduled times. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start. *BootVis, Anti virus program auto updates, added maintenance routines, Windows XP prefetch, Windows Updates service, are a few of the programs and services that won't start if Disabled. I do everything manually so I Disable this service.	Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	Disabled
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper	Enables support for NetBIOS over TCP/IP (NetBT) service and NetBIOS name resolution. *If NetBios or WINS is not implemented on your network, Disable this service.	AFD Networking Support Environment NetBios over TCP/IP	Disabled
Telephony	Provides Telephony API (TAPI) support for programs that control telephony devices and IP based voice connections on the local computer and, through the LAN, on servers that are also running the service. *Dialup Networking depends on this service to be running. If you are on Cable or DSL, test Disabled. If your connection fails, set to Automatic.	Plug and Play Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	Disabled
Telnet	Enables a remote user to log on to this computer and run programs, and supports various TCP/IP Telnet clients, including UNIX-based and Windows-based computers. If this service is stopped, remote user access to programs might be unavailable. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start. *This service isn't available on XP Home. Disable this one as it could pose a security risk.	NT LM Security Support Provider Remote Procedure Call (RPC) TCP/IP Protocol Driver	Disabled
Terminal Services	Allows multiple users to be connected interactively to a machine as well as the display of desktops and applications to remote computers. The underpinning of Remote Desktop (including RD for Administrators), Fast User Switching, Remote Assistance, and Terminal Server. *If you don't use any of these features, Disable this service. This service could pose a security threat as well.	Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	Disabled
Themes	Provides user experience theme management. *If you use the themes provided by the XP O/S, set this one to Automatic. If you don't like the colours and animations, Disable. If you want to shut down most of the resource wasting in the themes, this one should go	None	Automatic if you use themes. Disabled If you don't.
TrueVector Basic Logging Client	Writes alert text to a log file. *Required by Zone Alarm	TrueVector Internet Monitor	Automatic
TrueVector Internet Monitor	Monitors internet traffic and generates alerts for disallowed access. *Required by Zone Alarm	AFD Networking Support Environment Remote Procedure Call (RPC) vsdatant	Automatic
Uninterruptible Power Supply	Manages an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) connected to the computer. *If you use a Uninterruptible Power Supply, (UPS) leave this set to Automatic.	None	Disabled
Universal Plug and Play Device Host	Provides support to host Universal Plug and Play devices. *Some multiplayer games using Direct 7/8 require this service to be running. If this applies to you, set it to Automatic. Otherwise, Disable this service as it poses a possible security risk.	SSDP Discovery Service	Disabled
Upload Manager	Manages synchronous and asynchronous file transfers between clients and servers on the network. If this service is stopped, synchronous and asynchronous file transfers between clients and servers on the network will not occur. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start. *You won't need this one. Most Networks will have their own application that will take care of this one. FTP is the norm.	Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	Disabled
Volume Shadow Copy	Manages and implements Volume Shadow Copies used for backup and other purposes. If this service is stopped, shadow copies will be unavailable for backup and the backup may fail. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start. *This service is used with Microsoft Backup. If you don't use Microsoft Backup, Disable this service. If unsure, set to Manual.	Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	Disabled Manual if unsure.
WebClient	Enables Windows-based programs to create, access, and modify Internet-based files. If this service is stopped, these functions will not be available. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start. *It's been rumoured that DOT NET may require this service.	WebDav Client Redirector	Disabled
Windows Audio	Manages audio devices for Windows-based programs. If this service is stopped, audio devices and effects will not function properly. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start. *Don't Disable this one unless you don't have a sound card installed.	Plug and Play Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	Automatic
Windows Image Acquisition (WIA)	Provides image acquisition services for scanners and cameras. *If you Disable this service and your camera or scanner fails to function, set this to Automatic.	Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	Disabled Automatic If problems occur
Windows Installer	Installs, repairs and removes software according to instructions contained in .MSI files. *If you set this service to Manual, it will start when needed.	Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	Manual
Windows Management Instrumentation	Provides a common interface and object model to access management information about operating system, devices, applications and services. If this service is stopped, most Windows-based software will not function properly. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.	Event Log Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	Automatic
Windows Management Instrumentation Driver Extensions	Provides systems management information to and from drivers.	None	Manual
Windows Time	Maintains date and time synchronization on all clients and servers in the network. If this service is stopped, date and time synchronization will be unavailable. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.	None	Disabled
Wireless Zero Configuration	Provides automatic configuration for the 802.11 adapters. *If you don't have a wireless network setup, you can disable this service.	NDIS Usermode I/O Protocol Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	Disabled
WMI Performance Adapter	Provides performance library information from WMI HiPerf providers.	Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	Disabled
Workstation	Creates and maintains client network connections to remote servers. If this service is stopped, these connections will be unavailable. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start. Very important service.	None

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