Windows XP Services Tweak Guide

[SBcheater]

"SAFE" Configuration ~ This is the configuration that 95% of the people will be able to use with little or no side effects. It will also minimize the amount of "errors" that is reported in the Event Viewer. This does not guarantee it will work for you, but if adjusting your services scares you, this configuration would be a good starting point.

Power User Configuration ~ This is the power user setup. This setup is a system that connects through a network (such as a gateway / router) to the internet, provides file and print sharing resources and gaming enjoyment. Some things may not function with this setup. No passwords save. Its use is not for a computer with analog modems or some direct DSL/cable connections. Try the "Safe" Configuration first.

# Bare Bones Configuration ~ This is the super geek setup. This setup is a system that connects through a network (such as a gateway / router) to the internet with a static IP address. This system does not provide file and print sharing resources, nor have the ability to print. Its use is not for a computer with analog modems or many direct DSL/cable connections. You can use this configuration for extreme tweaking and testing purposes. Many things may not function with this setup. No passwords save. The Event Log will display "errors" of not being able to start certain services. Built in Windows CDR-RW functions may no longer work.


Categorize yourself in light of descriptions given above and use following Chart to Tweak your Windows,

Disabled services means = Service that are disabled by default or that can be disabled:






Source: Windows XP x86 (32-bit) Service Pack 3 Service Configurations by Black Viper

[anon]

Thanks for sharing, but the "bare bones" setup includes too many useless services

This is a bare bones XP:


You could even disable the Windows Audio service if you're not going to use audio, and PnP if you don't plan to install any new hardware or update drivers, I guess. According eXPer1ence, RPC is the "main Windows service" and shouldn't be disabled for any reason.

Let's have a look at how much RAM XP uses with that setup :

[SealLion]

If your not going to listen to music and watch films that have audio, sure you could disable that and have a useless internet experience.

[alpacino]

Thanks, nice guides. Do you think there's any way to creat any kind of shortcut or bat, in order to temporarely disable the services and make a for example the "bare bones" version. I mean, in a way that after a reboot, things would come all back to default settings?

[thecoolest]

as i think most of the xp sp2's tricks works with sp3 too....try it..i tried it.when i have xp sp3..it works perfect

[vDD+wR]

Hey ovais,

another good and useful thread of you!

When I was a windows user I always used program for disabling windows services:
Shutdown Windows' servers

It helped me too, but since more Service Packs came out the more you had to manually configure too.
But the good thing is that the software is free, and can be modified.
So, if someone has the knowledge to modify it, we would appreciate it very much, I think.

[anon]

SealLion, you're of course right, such as system is useless. I just wanted to show how Windows can run with just one (!) service enabled, when nowadays the default installation turns many things you don't need on, such as Wireless Zero Config on PCs without Wi-Fi cards

vDD, why not using ServiceTuner? It's from eXPer1ence (= quality work) and you can find at TPB, but it seems to have 0S/0L. I can upload here if you want, I doubt it's illegal since it's just an app to disable and reenable services.

Do you think there's any way to creat any kind of shortcut or bat, in order to temporarely disable the services and make a for example the "bare bones" version. I mean, in a way that after a reboot, things would come all back to default settings?

Have a look at this:
Windows XP Pro Service Pack 3 Custom Services Control Batch File

You'll need to write down your current config and make another custom batch file to go back to it once done - you'd run it at the end of your "bare bones" session, when you're about to restart.

By the way, I don't know why these services are part of the bare bones setup in the table:

• Workstation - unless you're on a LAN, this is a security risk
• Windows Management Instrumentation - can be disabled if you don't mind seeing a message about this on Network Connections and some other places
• DCOM Server Process Launcher - disabling it prevents some programs from working, but XP can still run

Also note that disabling the Task Scheduler will prevent prefetching from working correctly.

[SBfreak]

I wish there was something like this for windows 7 but I think I'm expecting too much since it just got out of the beta stage.

[anon]

At least you can do it yourself

Windows 7 Service Configurations by Black Viper

[vDD+wR]

vDD, why not using ServiceTuner? It's from eXPer1ence (= quality work) and you can find at TPB, but it seems to have 0S/0L. I can upload here if you want, I doubt it's illegal since it's just an app to disable and reenable services.

Since I neither use XP nor Vista anymore, I thought don't need it anymore. Win7 ftw! Doing a bunch of stuff besides and "just" using ~900mb.Compared to Vista, I think that's a fair amount.
Regarding ServiceTuner, I think I still have it somewhere on my external Hdd. I'll let you know if I can't find it.

[anon]

Doing a bunch of stuff besides and "just" using ~900mb.

That's less than an official XP installation after being updated

Note I don't know if ServiceTuner works on 7, you could be the first to try

[vDD+wR]

That's less than an official XP installation after being updated

Good to hear that!

Note I don't know if ServiceTuner works on 7, you could be the first to try

Since most of the services stayed the same, I think, it could be used on those services too, right?

[anon]

Since most of the services stayed the same, I think, it could be used on those services too, right?

Yes, but what if the location of services in the 7 registry changed, for example? I deleted my Tiny7 install to make room for a download, so I can't check...

[vDD+wR]

Yes, but what if the location of services in the 7 registry changed, for example?

Yes right, I didn't think of that. So, in the best case scenario everything they haven't changed anything, so that it would work and in the worst case you would f*ck up your system... Risky, if you ask me.

Just serched on google for some information about ServiceTuner's Windows7-compatibility but haven't found any useful information...

[anon]

Just serched on google for some information about ServiceTuner's Windows7-compatibility but haven't found any useful information...

Me neither...

You could make a registry backup and then try it if you feel adventurous.