Guidline for Safely Disabling Services

 

Giving recommendations for disabling services can be a very complex issue. Every user has different requirements and uses different aspects of the operating system for their own needs. Considering this anytime you are discussing disabling any services you as a user must first determine whether you use the services.

 

Disabling services in which you normally use will disable the features of that service and in turn prevent you from using the feature.

 

I have outlined a list of generic services which typically are safe to disable. If you use any one of these services it is not recommended to disable that service.

 

 

 

First to be safe you will need to generate a restore point.

 

• Browse to start\control panel and open the system icon

• On the systems panel select the “Advanced System Settings” in the left pane

• On the “System Properties” page select the “System Protection” tab

• At the bottom select the “Create” button and follow the on screen instructions

 

Disabling services

 

• Open your services, Press the Windows + R keys (Or Start then Run), type services.msc.

• Review the column labeled Status for a list of started services.

   

The only items which need to be addressed will be labeled as started. If one of the services listed below is already set to disabled or manual move to the next item as no modification is needed.

 

Alter the following services:

 

DFS Replication

Diagnostic Policy Service (change to manual)

Distributed Link Tracking Client

IKE and AuthIP IPsec Keying Modules

IPsec Policy Agent

KtmRm for Distributed Transaction Coordinator

Offline Files

ReadyBoost (do not disable if you use a ready boost device)

Remote Registry (for security purposes)

Tablet PC Input Service

Windows Error Reporting Service

Windows Search (if you use the search feature frequently leave this item enabled)