Turn Off Unnecessary Windows XP Services

Windows xp is a good user friendly operating system.But very less speedy for having useless features and CPU resource hogging services enabled by default. Most of the default services are useless that comes with windows installation.
This services start up when your computer boots and they continue to run in background.Do you know that every running, but unused, service on your machine is an unnecessary security vulnerability and because of them your pc turned into a slow boring turtle.
So disable all unnecessary Windows XP Services to speed up your pc and keep your pc security high.

Note:

You can always turn on any service at any time if you find out that you need it in the future.Like if you need windows messenger ,you can turn it on at any time which is usually unnecessary.

Only turn off the services listed below.

List of unnecessary services with description:

Alerter :

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 services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.

Application Layer Gateway Service :

Provides support for 3rd party protocol plug-ins for Internet Connection Sharing and the Windows Firewall.One of the bits and pieces you need if you connect to the internet using Microsoft's Internet Connection Sharing or Internet Connection Firewall.

Application Management

Provides software installation services such as Assign, Publish, and Remove.

Automatic Updates

Enables the download and installation of Windows updates. If this service is disabled, this computer will not be able to use the Automatic Updates feature or the Windows Update Web site.

Background Intelligent Transfer

Transfers files in the background using idle network bandwidth. If the service is stopped, features such as Windows Update, and MSN Explorer will be unable to automatically download programs and other information. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it may fail to transfer files if they do not have a fail safe mechanism to transfer files directly through IE in case BITS has been disabled.

Clipbook

Enables 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 services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.

Distributed Link Tracking Client

Maintains links between NTFS files within a computer or across computers in a network domain.

Distributed Transaction Coordinater

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 services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.

Error Reporting Service

Allows error reporting for services and applications running in non-standard environments.

Fast User Switching Compatibility

Provides management for applications that require assistance in a multiple user environment.

IMAPI CD-Burning

Manages CD recording using Image Mastering Applications Programming Interface (IMAPI). If this service is stopped, this computer will be unable to record CDs. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.

Indexing Service

Indexes contents and properties of files on local and remote computers; provides rapid access to files through flexible querying language.

IPSEC Services

Manages IP security policy and starts the ISAKMP/Oakley (IKE) and the IP security driver.

Messenger

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 services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.

Net Logon

Supports pass-through authentication of account logon events for computers in a domain.

Net Meeting Remote Desktop Sharing

Enables an authorized user to access this computer remotely by using NetMeeting over a corporate intranet. If this service is stopped, remote desktop sharing will be unavailable. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.

Network DDE

Provides network transport and security for Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) for programs running on the same computer or on different computers. If this service is stopped, DDE transport and security will be unavailable. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.

Network DDE DSDM

Manages Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) network shares. If this service is stopped, DDE network shares will be unavailable. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.

Portable Media Serial Number

Retrieves the serial number of any portable media player connected to this computer. If this service is stopped, protected content might not be down loaded to the device.

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.

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.

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.

Smartcard

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.

SSDP Discovery Service

Enables discovery of UPnP devices on your home network.

Uninterruptible Power Supply

Manages an uninterrupted power supply (UPS) connected to the computer.

Universal Plug and Play Device Host

Provides support to host Universal Plug and Play devices.

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.

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.

Wireless Zero Configuration

Provides automatic configuration for the 802.11 adapters

WMI Performance Adaptor

Provides performance library information from WMI HiPerf providers.

If you want to see all unnecessary services without description click here

This is the list for all unnecessary services of windows xp.

Steps to turn off services

Step 1 : Click start and then click Run

*** Another process : If you dont have Run option in your start menu then goto Control panel,Then Administrative tools and then services.If you follow this process then you dont have to follow step 2.

Step 2 : Now type services.msc

Click Ok and a window will be opened like this

Step 3: Double Click on the services which you want to disable [ Follow the above list ] .This will open a window to disable.Select disable and click apply.

* Note : If a service is already disabled.You dont have to do anything.

This is all.Hope Everything is cleared.If you have any problem to understand above steps,please feel free to ask any question in comment section.