Understanding of Basic Windows Services

Improve performance by disabling Windows 7 services

Windows 7 loads many services at startup, most of them are essential for the core system features. By disabling unnecessary services, the performance can be improved significantly, especially on computers with low system resources. The command SERVICES.MSC in the search field of the Start menu will start the management console to tweak the services (the management console is also available by Administrative Tools in the Control Panel, option Services). In the management console, a description of each service is shown, including the relationship (dependencies) between the different services.

Disabling services

The specific description for each service is shown in the left pane. This information can be of use, if you are not sure if it is safe to disable a service. Because there are many services and the description is not always clear, it can be time consuming to find out which services can be disabled safely, and which services better stay as they are. For some services, the effect is even unpredictable which will result in strange future problems.
By double clicking a service, the tab General opens with a description of the service and the current start up settings. Most services have Manual (started only if needed by a program) or Automatic (started by Windows) as startup type. The startup type Automatic (Delay Start) is a special startup type which makes sure the startup process of Windows is not delayed by loading these kind of services. Services with the startup type Disabled won't run at all, even if a program needs the service. In most cases a strange error message is shown by the program which does not seem to relate to a disabled service. The tab Dependencies gives information about which other services the service depends on and which other services depend on the service. It is obvious not to disable a service if other services depend on it.

ATTENTION: After the startup of Windows some services with the startup type Automatic are disabled automatically to save system resources if the service is not needed anymore.

TWEAKING SERVICES WITH MSCONFIG? Services can be disabled with the tool MSCONFIG (tab Services) as well. However, this is not the place to tweak the services! Use the Management Console to make changes in the settings of the services. It is also safer because it is not possible to disable essential services.

Disabling services to recover system resources

The list below shows multiple services which are reasonably safe to disable. But remember to read carefully the service description before disabling a service! Keep in mind that possible future error messages can be created (and solved...) by changing the startup type of the services. If there is any doubt about the effect of disabling a service, rather keep it unchanged! If certain functionalities don't function properly anymore, just reactivate the service by changing the startup type to Automatic or Manual. Do not disable to many services at once, but take some time to investigate the individual changes and do not disable services where other services depend on! If you hesitate disabling a service permanently, change the startup type to Manual first.
Adaptive Brightness: This service can be disabled when the monitor doesn't support detection of ambient light with sensors to adjus the display brightness depending on the lighting conditions.
Application Experience: Investigates the compatibility of older programs and searches for updates for known problems. Although disabling this service doesn't have negative side effects, it is better to keep it unchanged.
BitLocker Drive Encryption Service: This service can be disabled when BitLocker is not used to encrypt files (and a secure startup of the operating system).
Bluetooth Support Service: This service is only useful when there are devices which are connected by Bluetooth.
Computer browser: Tracks the computers (and files) on the network and maintains an updated list. This service is only useful in case of a LAN where the computers share files with each other. After disabling this service, it is still possible to browse the network. The service depends on the services Server and Workstation.
Desktop Window Manager Session Manager: Necessary for the new Aero Glass-interface. Only disable this service if the new Aero Glass-interface is not used.
Diagnostic Policy-service and Diagnostic System Host: For the detection of problems, troubleshooting and presenting known resolutions for Window components. If there are no problems expected anymore, it is safe to disable the service.
Disk Defragmenter: This services provides (automatic) defragmentation of the partitions. When this service is disabled, disable the defragmentation task as well (control panel, item Administrative Tools, Task Scheduler, Task Scheduler Library, Microsoft, Windows, Defrag).
Distributed Link Tracking Client: Makes sure that linked files on multiple computers in a network stay linked. This service can be disabled safely, because in most home situations, this option is not used at all.
Encrypting File System (EFS): Provides encryption of files on NTFS partitions. It is safe to disable this service when encryption is not used.
Function Discovery Provider Host: Enables sharing files over the network with other computers. If this service is disabled, the shared files are no longer visible by other computers in the network. Disabling this service is also possible by disabling the option Network discovery in the Network and Sharing Center in the Control Panel.
Function Discovery Resource Publication: This service publishes the shared files and printers so they can be discovered by other computers in the network. Disable this service if it is not necessary that other computers are able to discover shared resources. This service can be disabled as well by disabling the option Network discovery.
HomeGroup Listener and HomeGroup Provider: Services for sharing personal files using the HomeGroup. When the HomeGroup is not used, both services can be disabled.
Human Interface Device Access: Support for a multimedia device like a remote control and hot buttons on keyboards (like the volume and e-mail button).
Internet Connection Sharing (ICS): For sharing the internet connection with other computers in the network (this computer operates as a router). If a router is used to connect all the computers to the internet, this service is not needed.
IP Helper: Support for an IPv6 connection over a IPv4 network. IPv6 is the new connection type of the future which makes it possible to give every computer connected to the internet a unique IP address instead of one single IP address for the internet connection (where the connected router uses special IP addresses for home use). The use of IPv6 has some advantages (but also disadvantages) but at the moment, there are not many providers supporting this new connection type. If IPv6 is not supported or used, disable the service for security reasons.
Network List-service and Network Location Awareness: Without these services, the network connection still works fine, but it is no longer possible to show the status in the system tray and the Network and Sharing Center. To keep this functionality, it is better not to disable these services.
Offline Files: Makes the network shares also available when the share is offline. The edited files will be synchronized automatically the first time the network share has become available. If this option is not desired, then it is better to disable this service.
Portable Device Enumerator Service: Enforces group policy for removable mass-storage devices. If this service is disabled, it is no longer possible to read/write protected devices. If it is not necessary to access removable mass-storage device using group policy, it is safe to disable the service (the removable media will still be accessible by applications which don't rely on this service).
Remote Access Connection Manager: Necessary for managing dial-up and virtual private network (VPN) connections. If the computer is connected to a router and no VPN connection is needed, this service can be disabled safely. Because the service Remote Access Auto Connection Manager depends on this service, it can be disabled as well.
Remote Desktop Configuration, Remote Desktop Services and Remote Desktop Services UserMode Port Redirector: Services needed for Remote Desktop, when Remote Desktop is not used it is safe to disable these services.
Remote Registry: Thanks to this service, external users are able to make changes to the registry keys over the network connection. This option is not safe, therefore it is better to disable it.
Routing and Remote Access: Disable this service if it is not desired that other computers are able to dial in to get access to the local network.
Server and Workstation: Necessary to share files and printers with other computes within a network. If this is not the case, it is safe to disable these services. After disabling the services, it is still possible to access shared folders on other computers. If these services are disabled, it is no longer possible to activate the option File and printer sharing in the Network and Sharing Center, task Change advanced sharing settings.
Shell Hardware Detection: This service starts the auto play of devices like DVD drives and memory cards. This service is also responsible for showing a window with the options which action to take with a certain type of file. If you don't like this function, disable this service. Because the service Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) depends on it, it has to be disabled as well.
Tablet PC Input-service: Enables the Tablet PC and ink functionality. If the computer is not a Tablet PC, it is safe to disable the service.
Task Scheduler: It is not possible to disable this service. That's no problem, because the most scheduled tasks won't run if the computer is actively used by the user. The settings of the scheduled tasks can be changed by the Administrative Tools in the Control Panel, Task Scheduler. The possibilities to add and change tasks have improved significantly compared to Windows XP.
Themes: Disable this service if there is no need for the visual effects like the new Aero interface. Disabling is only advised for slow computers because the new interface is one of the most important reasons to upgrade to Windows Vista or Windows 7. To disable visual settings manually, go to System in the Control Panel, Advanced system settings (in the left task pane), tab Advanced, button Settings (sub Performance).
Windows Audio and Windows Audio Endpoint Builder: Keep these services enabled to be able to hear the audio effects.
Windows Biometric Service: This service is used for capturing, comparing, manipulating and storing biometric data (like finger prints or iris scan).
Windows Defender: Additional scanning software for unwanted, malicious software. When Windows Defender is turned off (control panel, item Windows Defender, option Tools, link Options, task Administrator), the startup type is set to manual automatically. If this service is disabled, Windows Defender can no longer be opened by the control panel!
Windows Error Reporting-service: Generates an error message when a program no longer responds. If this service is disabled, error reporting is no longer possible and existing solutions are not delivered anymore.
Windows Firewall: If a software firewall is installed, the Windows firewall is no longer needed. For safety reasons, it is better not to disable it.
Windows Image Acquisition (WIA): For transferring images from a scanner or camera to the computer.
Windows Media Player Network Sharing-service: If it is not desired to share Windows Media Player libraries, it is safe to disable this service.
Windows Search: Provides content indexing (like personal files and e-mail) to speed up searching this content. Disabling this service will slow down the search process to a file by file search. Indexing takes place in the background at a moment the computer is not used, for this reason it is not necessary to disable the service.
Windows Time: For automatically synchronizing the time and date. If it is not essential that the shown time is correct, disabling the service is no problem.
WWAN AutoConfig: Service for connecting the computer to a network (internet included) by a mobile broadband service like GSM and CDMA.

Other services

It is advised to keep the services which are not mentioned on this page unchanged.


Hope this is Informative for you :)

Learn How to speed up your system's Boot up time

Top 10 Ways to Speed Up Your Computer’s Boot Time

If there's one thing everyone dreads, it's rebooting their computer. It may only take a minute or two, but it can seem like forever. Here are our top 10 tweaks that'll make your computer boot a little faster.

This is a pretty controversial topic, as there are a lot of startup-tweaking myths out there. So, we took to the streets (of the internet) and searched for as many easy, well-supported tips as we could find. There may be others, some of which are controversial, but these 10 things are almost sure to get you a faster-booting machine.

10. Tweak Your BIOS

When you first set up your computer, your BIOS is set up to make things a bit more convenient for you, but once you're all set up, those things can be disabled. If you hold the DEL key when you start up your computer (or whatever key your BIOS tells you to enter setup), you can turn on the "Quick Boot" option and move your hard disk to the top of the boot priority list. The Quick Boot setting will turn off the tests your computer runs when it first turns on, and the boot priority tweak will tell your computer not to look for CDs, thumb drives, or other media when it first starts, which will get you booted into your OS quicker. If you ever need to boot from CD though, you'll have to go back into the BIOS and change this again before you do.

9. Clean Out Programs that Launch at Startup

One of the most tried and true ways to speed up your boot process is to keep unnecessary programs from starting up with your computer. You can do this by running msconfig from the Start Menu's search box, and going to the Startup tab. This applications list will tell you what each of those applications does, so you know which ones you can disable and which ones you don't want to.

8. Delay Windows Services That Run at Startup

Many people argue that disabling Services from msconfig will also speed up your boot time, but we've found that this is more problematic than anything. However, you can delay certain startup services so that your computer boots quickly and then worries about them later—after all, you don't need all those services the minute you start up your machine.

7. Change Your Boot Menu's Timeout Values

If you're dual-booting your machine, then your boot menu probably has a "timeout value", meaning the amount of time it waits for you to make a selection before it just boots into the default OS. On Windows, this timeout value is often 30 seconds, which is a long time to wait if you aren't looking directly at your screen. To change this timeout value, head to msconfig and click on the BOOT.INI tab, and change the number in the timeout box to something lower. If you're dual-booting with Linux, you're probably running the GRUB boot menu, and you can change the timeout on that too.

6. Disable Unused Hardware

Your computer loads a lot of drivers when it first starts up, some of which you might not even use. Head into the Device Manager from the Start Menu's search box, and look for anything you aren't using—Bluetooth controllers, modems, and virtual Wi-Fi adapters are common culprits. Right-click on the entry you want to disable and hit "Disable". Remember to only do this with things you don't actually use—if you use Wireless Hosted Networks, you'll need to keep those virtual Wi-Fi adapters enabled. It's also worth mentioning here that keeping all your drivers up to date will help this portion of the startup time, too (which you can do with the help of a program like previously mentioned Device Doctor).

5. Keep Your Antivirus Running and Up to Date

This should go without saying, but we'll say it anyway: install some antivirus software, keep it up to date, and run a regular scan. This is more of a preventative measure than an actual boot-speeding tip, but if you ever do get malware, it's sure to slow your computer's boot time. With a good antivirus around like Microsoft Security Essentials, you'll be more protected against that happening. Don't like MSE? There are some great ones out there too, so there's no reason not to have one around.

4. Remove Unnecessary Fonts

Since the dawn of time, Windows has loaded fonts at startup and slowed down the boot time. This is less of a problem than it used to be, but it can still slow you down a bit. Windows 7 loads over 200 fonts at startup; even more if you've installed Microsoft Office. Chances are, you use very few of those fonts, so you can hide them to speed up that process. In Windows 7, open up the Fonts folder from the Start Menu's search box, and check off all the fonts you don't need. Then click the "Hide" button in the toolbar. This way, if you ever want them, you can bring them back, but Windows won't load them at startup. Note that just removing a few fonts probably isn't going to make a noticeable difference—you'll probably need to get rid of a few hundred. That said, you might have hundreds more fonts installed than you realized, so that isn't as ridiculous as it sounds.

3. Upgrade Your RAM

Installing more RAM has always been an effective way of speeding up your computer, and that hasn't changed. RAM is pretty cheap these days, so if you're running low, there's no reason not to stock up and make your computer run a little smoother. We've gone over how to replace it in both a desktop and a laptop, and even for the inexperienced, it's a pretty simple procedure.

2. Give Your Computer a Static IP

When you first start up your computer, it spends a significant amount of time asking the network for an IP address. You can get rid of this process altogether by giving your computer a static IP address that never changes. Not only does this make your network easier to manage (since each computer will always have the same IP address), but it can shave a bit more time off your startup. Here's how to do it in different versions of Windows.

1. Install a Solid State Drive

These days, your hard drive is probably the biggest bottleneck in your machine. One of the best upgrades you can make to your computer is to install a solid state drive, which has super-fast read times that can speed up your startup considerably. They're certainly not a cheap upgrade, nor are they without their own maintenance requirements, but if you want to speed up your computer and its boot time, you can't go wrong by installing an SSD. The difference will be shocking.

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