Improve performance by disabling Windows Vista-services

Windows Vista 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.

NOTE: 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? It is also possible to enable and disable the services with the tool MSCONFIG (tab Services). 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.

Services to disable 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.

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.

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.

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.

Function Discovery Provider Host: Makes it possible to share network shares 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.

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 a 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 in stead 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).

Print Spooler: Necessary for loading a print job into memory for later printing. If there is no printer connected to the computer, this service can be disabled. But remember that it is not possible to add printers if the service is not running! If a printer is already installed, this printer will probably have a service running as well.

ReadyBoost: Used for improving the system performance by using flash memory, like a USB flash drive or a Compact Flash drive. Flash memory is faster in reading and writing data compared to a hard drive, which in some cases can improve the system performances. If the flash memory is fast enough, the system will popup a message and asks whether the memory must be used for ReadyBoost or not. If the computer is fast enough, ReadyBoost won't improve the system performances further more and it becomes useless to run the 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 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.

Security Center: This service monitors the security status of the computer (like Windows Update, Windows Firewall, Windows Defender, User Account Control and virus protection software) and notifies the user with a message in the system tray if there is a security issue. Disabling the service does not lower the security level, but only stops the monitoring of the security level. Before disabling this service, start the Windows Security Center in the Control Panel, click the option Change the way Security Center alerts me in the left task pane and select the option Don't notify me and don't display the icon (not recommended). Else there will be a message in the system tray that the Security Center is not running. Because the Security Center does not slow down the performance, it is probably wise not to disable the service.

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 sharing in the Network and Sharing Center.

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.

Superfetch: Tracks the running programs, and improves the performance of the frequently used programs over time. Because this service is improved significantly compared to Windows XP, it is not wise to disable the service (disabling causes no problems).

System Event Notification--service: Monitors and notifies system events like network activity or the energy status for laptop computers. Disabling this service has probably no negative side effects, but this can be different for each situation.

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.

TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper: Offers support for the (rarely used) NetBIOS over TCP/IP. Disabling the service will probably not casue any problems.

Terminal Services: As long as Remote Desktop is not used, it is safe to disable this service.

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. 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 Image Acquisition (WIA): For transferring images from a scanner or camera to the computer.

Windows Audio and Windows Audio Endpoint Builder: Keep these services enabled to be able to hear the audio effects.

Windows Defender: Additional scanning software for unwanted software. If this service is disabled, disable the automatic start up of the tool Windows Defender as well, else the error message 0x800106BA appears. This error message can bed solved by disabling the automatic stat up with the tool MSCONFIG (tab Startup). After disabling the service, Windows Defender is no longer accessible 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 Media Center Service Launcher: Starts other Media Center-services at startup if TV is enabled within Windows Media Center. The startup type of this service is automatic but delayed, which causes no delays at startup. If Windows Media Center is not used, it is safe to disable this service and the other Media Center services.

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.

Windows Update: Automatically detecting, downloading and installing updates for Windows and other programs. If the automatic updates are not desired, disable this service. Note: after disabling this service, it is no longer possible to do a manual update as well.