Windows Resource: 20 Services that you can Turn Off and Boost System Performance

Here is a list of 20 Windows Services that your Home and Standalone system can live without. Turning them off increases performance and minimizes security risks as well.

Alerter - You don’t need this service unless you want to see your Windows alerting you for un-necessary things.

Automatic Updates - Turn off unless you want to automatically receive updates for your OS. Most often a manual update is more than sufficient for your Windows.

Background Intelligent Transfer Service - Is used to transfer data when your system is idle. Automatic Updates service uses this service to transfer data. You don’t need this unless you are leaving Automatic Updates on.

ClipBook - Safe to turn off if you will not be sharing your clip book information with remote computers. For systems at home this can be happily turned off!

Computer Browser - Unless you are connected to a network and want to see other computers on the network, you don’t need this. Turn it off!

Help and Support - If you are tech savvy and manage to troubleshoot the common system problems without the ‘Help and Support’ of Windows, you can turn this off and save some resources.

Indexing Service - This services indexes files and folders on local and remote system. Turning it off may not have any negative impact on your system’s ability to search files and folders. Turn it off and observe how it impacts your system for a week then turn it back on if needed.

IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service - If you have CD burning software installed, this can be turned off.

Messenger - You should turn it off. You don’t need this for home and standalone systems.

Net Logon - Home and Standalone systems that does not login to a domain can live happily without this service. Turn it off!

NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing - Not even 1 out of 100 people use this to share their desktops. Unless you need this badly to share your system, turn it off.

Remote Desktop Help Session Manager - Turn it off if you have turned off Netmeeting service above.

Remote Registry - This enables modification of your system’s registry from remote systems. If you don’t expect people to modify your system’s valuable registry from remote system, it’s really worth to turn it off.

System Restore Service - Performs system restore functions. To stop service, turn off System Restore from the System Restore tab in My Computer->Properties. It’s your choice. If you face frequent problems with Device Drivers, Spyware etc.. you should leave this on.

Telephony - Unless you use Windows Telephony, you don’t need this service. You may disable it.

Telnet - Are there people connecting to your system from remote PCs? If not, it’s better to turn this off.

Terminal Services - Allows multiple users to be connected interactively to a machine and you may really not need it on a home or standalone systems. It’s good to turn this off.

Uninterruptible Power Supply - If your system has a UPS which is capable of shutting down your system in case of low battery power then leave this on. Otherwise, disable this service.

Windows Time - Turn this off. You may not need synchronization with a remote time server.

Workstation - Unless you are on a local area network, you have a reason to leave it on. For home systems, you can turn this off.

Do let us know about your experience after you have turned these services off. If you have other performance enhancing tips, please do let us know.