To enable or disable services, go to Start -> Run -> and type services.msc and hit Enter.

Computer Browser

Maintains an updated list of computers on the network and supplies this list to computers designated as
browsers.Contrary to what it may sound like, disabling this service still allows you to browse a network in your
office. And of course, you dont need this at home. Disable it.

Distributed Link Tracking Client

Maintains links between NTFS files within a computer or across computers in a network domain. This one
sounds useful, but only if you often create files on one computer, shortcuts to those files on another computer,
and then move the original files around the network. Not many people do so. In fact, not many people even have
NTFS on their Windows for some orthodox reason. Not required on FAT32, at home or even at work if your
scenario doesnt match with the description. Disable it.

Error Reporting Service

Allows error reporting for services and applictions running in non-standard environments. I.e. Send system
information to Microsoft. No thanks. Disable it.

Help and Support

Enables Help and Support Center to run on this computer. This is okay to leave as-is if you hit F1 a lot, but if
you almost never need to use the built-in help features (as opposed to just Googling for the problem - always a
better option), then disabling this service would be a good idea. Now the problem is that the service automatically
gets turned back on when required even if its disabled, so keeping it disabled is actually a better option to keeping
it on automatic.

Indexing Service

Indexes contents and properties of files on local and remote computers; provides rapid access to files through
flexible querying language. Use AvaFind (link to review) and/or Google Desktop Search instead. Just disable it no questions asked.

Net Logon

Supports pass-through authentication of account logon events for computers in a domain. Useless for single
machines or even most networks out here that dont actually have a domain. Disable.

NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing

Enables an authorized user to access this computer remotely by using NetMeeting over a corporate intranet. As
a general rule of thumb, avoid any combination of remote and internet/intranet. If you dont want people to
use NetMeeting to connect to your computer and see your desktop over the Internet/Intranet, disable this please.

Network Location Awareness (NLA)

Collects and stores network configuration and location information, and notifies applications when this
information changes. And how is that going to help you? Disable it.
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Network Provisioning Service

Manages XML configuration files on a domain basis for automatic network provisioning. Not necessary for
home and/or simple networks. Disable.

Performance Logs and Alerts

Collects performance data from local or remote computers based on preconfigured schedule parameters, then
writes the data to a log or triggers an alert. There are other, more efficient ways of tracking performance of your
machine(s) than using this service, if at all you need to do so. Most home users will never need it. Disable it.

Portable Media Serial Number Service

Retrieves the serial number of any portable media player connected to this computer. Unless you use some
100% Windows Media based/compatible (PlaysForSure) portable audio/video device and Windows Media
Player, this service is useless. iPod and regular flash based MP3 player users dont need it. Disable it.

QoS RSVP

Provides network signaling and local traffic control setup functionality for QoS-aware programs and control
applets. This is an interesting concept to give more bandwidth to applications that request it, unfortunately, not
many actually do this QoS thing, so it doesnt make sense to enable it. You can use cFos Speed for better
bandwidth prioritization that actually works.

Remote Desktop Help Session Manager

Manages and controls Remote Assistance. Remote Assistance should be avoided. Disable this service.

Remote Registry

Enables remote users to modify registry settings on this computer. Well let you guess this one out

Secondary Logon

Enables starting processes under alternate credentials. This offers the Run As option to limited user accounts
to be able to temporarily run some applications as an administrator (after entering the password, of course).
Standalone machines usually have just one account with administrator access and other accounts, if any, are also
usually administrators. You should keep this service only if your limited users often need to run applications with
admin access, otherwise disable it.

Security Center

Monitors system security settings and configurations. That thing that pops up and tells you when your firewall
is down, your anti-virus is out of date, or automatic updates are turned off. Personally, I like the alerts because
then I know my anti-virus was unable to download its updates. I dont really bother with the firewall and my
automatic updates are always on. If youve never needed or received any alerts on these events, this service can
be disabled. The feature doesnt offer any protection by itself - it is only a monitor. Not really required.

Server

Supports file, print, and named-pipe sharing over the network for this computer. Only if you share files on a
network would this be required. If you disable the Server service, you may still be able to access other shares, so
you wont be entirely unconnected. Decide and disable if not required.

Smart Card

Manages access to smart cards read by this computer. How many of you actually use smart cards with your
computer? Disable this.

SSDP Discovery Service

Enables discovery of UPnP devices on your home network. Most people dont have any UPnP devices on the
network, so this service is useless. Do not confuse this with standard PnP (Plug-n-Play), which remains
unaffected if this service is disabled.

System Restore Service

Performs system restore functions. I prefer trying to manually troubleshoot and fix, or reinstalling Windows in
case of a fatal problem. Ive never felt comfortable with using System Restore to restore old versions of files
and all that, so I keep it disabled. It frees up memory and a good amount of disk space as well.

TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper

Enables support for NetBIOS over TCP/IP (NetBT) service and NetBIOS name resolution. Nobody uses
NetBIOS anymore. Get over it. Disable this.

Themes

Provides user experience theme management. For performance reasons (or if youre just bored of all Blue), you
may want to use the classic Windows 2000-style interface. You can switch to it from the Desktop Properties
dialog, but theres no reason to have the service running if youre not using Luna / Default Blue, so disable it.
Remember: if youre using the Luna / Default Blue interface, this service is necessary.

Uninterruptible Power Supply

Manages an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) connected to the computer. If you dont have a UPS, you dont
need this service. If you have a UPS that you use independent of the computer (i.e. without automatic turn off
etc.), you dont need this service. Even if you do have a UPS that requires installing its own software for power
management, this service is not required. Use it only if your UPS connects to your PC via a COM port and
automatically gets Windows to work with it (not many).

Universal Plug and Play Device Host

Provides support to host Universal Plug and Play devices. Works along with the SSDP service that we doubt
you require. Dont know what UPnP is? Disable this.

WebClient

Enables Windows-based programs to create, access, and modify Internet-based files. Not a very popular
feature. Disable it. If some features in Internet Explorer dont work for you, then you may need it. But then, why
are you using IE, again? Huh?

Windows Time

Maintains date and time synchronization on all clients and servers in the network. Ive kept this on. In fact, Im
so particular about having the correct time on my system, Ive actually increased the update frequency from
weekly to daily. If you dont share the same enthusiasm as me, you can disable this service. You can use a
freeware, third party, on-demand time sync utility that will not need this service to be running, saving you
memory.

Wireless Zero Configuration

Provides automatic configuration for the 802.11 adapters I dont have any WiFi devices or networks to get on
to, so Ive disabled it. If you dont have any WiFi, do the same.

WMI Performance Adapter

Provides performance library information from WMI HiPerf providers. Nobody is really sure what to do with
this thing. Ive never needed it, and its unlikely that you ever will. Off with it.

Workstation

Creates and maintains client network connections to remote servers. If yourre sharing files and folders over a
network, leave this on. If not, disable it. This is not needed or even utilized in a standalone PC. This doesnt affect
Internet connectivity.