howto script disable unnecessary services in winxp

In modern operating systems a whole new approach is opened once you start to script repetitive tasks so that you NEVER have to do them again. All you have to do is run the script – and that annoying task is completed. Computers are probably the easiest place in the world to automate a task, so why not start taking advantage of automation and script something today!

Having just reinstalled WinXP as my Vista RC2 is reaching the end of it’s [time limited, and performance restricted] lifespan, I took the time to tweak all the services that start up in a default install on WinXP. I disabled everything that I thought I safely could while still retaining a fully functioning system using guides I found online here. All seems to be running smoothly (and blindingly fast after Vista, even without the Omega video drivers). I did have to re-enable the HIDServ service (Human Interface Device service) which handles keyboards and the like . I found that the extra buttons on my keyboard (things like Play, and Track Advance, which I use so frequently) weren’t working with it disabled.

The guide mentions taking a system restore of your settings prior to making any changes so you can always roll back, which is essential in case you muck things up and can’t work out which service controls what. Once you have worked out which services you don’t need and disabled them it is time to create a script that will automate the task so that if you reinstall you won’t have to go through the painstaking process all over again.

Fire up notepad.exe. Open another window to Services (My Computer\Manage\Services). In the properties window of the services window double click the service at the top of the list. In the properties windows that appears we are interested in the service name at the top. Not the Display name (although it will often be identical).

In the notepad window enter this text (copy and paste is better):

sc config “Alerter” start= disabled

note the space here after the =

Repeat this process for each service, replacing their service name in a new sc config line and setting their status to one of disable, auto, demand (i.e. manual) as you have them configured according to the guide.

Once you have finished save the notepad document into a new folder (Scripts is a good name) and call it something like Services_Disable.bat. You may have to select All Files from the Save As dialog rather than Text. Execute it from a cmd window and fix any typos.

Here is my one which you may want to use as a guide:

sc config “Adobe LM Service” start= demand
sc config “Alerter” start= disabled
sc config “ALG” start= demand
sc config “AppMgmt” start= demand
sc config “wuauserv” start= auto
sc config “BITS” start= demand
sc config “ClipSrv” start= disabled
sc config “EventSystem” start= demand
sc config “COMSysApp” start= demand
sc config “Browser” start= auto
sc config “CryptSvc” start= auto
sc config “DcomLaunch” start= auto
sc config “Dhcp” start= auto
sc config “TrkWks” start= disabled
sc config “MSDTC” start= demand
sc config “Dnscache” start= auto
sc config “ERSvc” start= disabled
sc config “Eventlog” start= auto
sc config “FastUserSwitchingCompatibility” start= disabled
sc config “helpsvc” start= disabled
sc config “HidServ” start= auto
sc config “HTTPFilter” start= demand
sc config “ImapiService” start= demand
sc config “CiSvc” start= disabled
sc config “PolicyAgent” start= disabled
sc config “dmserver” start= auto
sc config “dmadmin” start= demand
sc config “Messenger” start= disabled
sc config “odserv” start= demand
sc config “Microsoft Office Groove Audit Service” start= demand
sc config “Netlogon” start= demand
sc config “mnmsrvc” start= demand
sc config “Netman” start= demand
sc config “NetDDE” start= disabled
sc config “NetDDEdsdm” start= disabled
sc config “Nla” start= demand
sc config “xmlprov” start= demand
sc config “NtLmSsp” start= disabled
sc config “ose” start= demand
sc config “SysmonLog” start= disabled
sc config “NetDDE” start= disabled
sc config “PlugPlay” start= auto
sc config “WmdmPmSN” start= disabled
sc config “Spooler” start= demand
sc config “ProtectedStorage” start= auto
sc config “RSVP” start= disabled
sc config “RasAuto” start= demand
sc config “RasMan” start= demand
sc config “RDSessMgr” start= demand
sc config “RpcLocator” start= disabled
sc config “RemoteRegistry” start= disabled
sc config “NtmsSvc” start= demand
sc config “RemoteAccess” start= disabled
sc config “seclogon” start= disabled
sc config “SamSs” start= disabled
sc config “wscsvc” start= disabled
sc config “lanmanserver” start= auto
sc config “ShellHWDetection” start= auto
sc config “SiSWLSvc” start= auto
sc config “SCardSvr” start= demand
sc config “SSDPSRV” start= disabled
sc config “SENS” start= disabled
sc config “srservice” start= auto
sc config “Schedule” start= disabled
sc config “LmHosts” start= disabled
sc config “TapiSrv” start= disabled
sc config “TlntSvr” start= disabled
sc config “TermService” start= demand
sc config “Themes” start= auto
sc config “UPS” start= disabled
sc config “upnphost” start= disabled
sc config “VSS” start= demand
sc config “WebClient” start= disabled
sc config “AudioSrv” start= auto
sc config “SharedAccess” start= auto
sc config “stisvc” start= demand
sc config “MSIServer” start= demand
sc config “winmgmt” start= auto
sc config “wmi” start= demand
sc config “W32Time” start= disabled
sc config “WZCSVC” start= auto
sc config “WmiApSrv” start= disabled
sc config “lanmanworkstation” start= auto

And wow do I notice a performance increase. I hope you do – and enjoy never having to tweak all those services again!

(If you find out later on that you require a service, don’t forget to update your script.)