Every service that runs on your XP computer could be a known or unknown security risk. Do you need certain automatic services, they can be vectors for undesirables? Or they can be questionable (data tunneling)? Is your security product in bed with big media to analyse what is on your machine? Remote possibilities, but so you know for sure?
Look here for what could be installed by default, or what you could decide to disable: http://www.beemerworld.com/tips/servicesxp.htm
The guy who made that list is really clueless he also tells you to disable the DNS Client which will disable your DNS cache.
Here are some other uninformed comments from that page:
BootVis deals with prefetch settings and prefetching only occurs at bootup.
BootVis, Anti virus program auto updates, added maintenance routines, Windows XP prefetch, Windows Updates service, are a few of the programs and services that won't start if Disabled. I do everything manually so I Disable this service.
I would like him to explain to me how he uses the Windows XP Prefetcher manually. ???
That is the problem, there are no good comprehensive service guides. Black Viper’s was the most accurate in it’s descriptions but some of his recommendations were wrong as well.
I don’t use or need task scheduler and it isn’t a dependency for any other service on my system, so mine is disabled.
They/he isn’t telling you to disable it, they are giving options, and there are several categories given - his setting ‘Mine’, ‘Default Pro’, “SAFE”, ‘Internet gateway’, ‘Gaming’. The options in the same order Disabled, Automatic, Automatic , Disabled, Disabled. So the recommended SAFE option is Automatic so where are they recommending everyone disable the Task Scheduler ?
The advice comes with the usual health warning:
# Do not use msconfig to disable services. Type in the Run box "services.msc" instead!
# Before disabling ANY service, check out the information listed about each service by clicking on the name.
# Only disable a few services at a time to avoid changing "50" settings and trying to figure out "what broke it."
# Still unsure? Put your setting to "manual" or the listing under "Safe." Manual allows Windows XP to start the service when it needs to (or when ever it feels like it,) but not at boot up. NOTE: Depending on your configuration, not all services will start when required while in Manual mode. If you find you need a service, place it in Automatic.
There is also supporting information to help make an informed decision:
# Task Scheduler ~ This service is used to schedule maintenance, M$ Backup sessions or maybe even Auto Update. I do everything manually, so as to avoid having this service running all the time. Some third party software may require this service to be active for automated functions, such as Virus Scanners, system maintenance tools, and automatic patch/driver lookups. Take note: BootVis Requires Task Scheduler and COM+ Event System to be running if you wish to take advantage of the "optimize system" function. Why? It is due to the pre-fetching function built into WinXP. Another Note: Pre-fetching only occurs on boot up and application start, so if you do not care about a few extra seconds of boot time, do not even bother with it and disable Task Scheduler.
* Dependencies:
o Remote Procedure Call (RPC)</blockquote>
I don't use or need task scheduler and it isn't a dependency for any other service on my system, so mine is disabled.
Which means you are slowing your system down because you disabled the Windows XP Prefetcher.
Informed decision? This information is 100% innaccurate:
Another Note: Pre-fetching only occurs on boot up and application start, so if you do not care about a few extra seconds of boot time, do not even bother with it and disable Task Scheduler.
I wonder how many computers are out there where people deliberately crippled their system performance? Because people don't understand how things work and spread bad advice?
I did have it set for all programs at one point and saw no appreciable difference, that is why I changed it for boot programs. When I used the pre-fetcher just for boot-programs I saw no appreciable difference in boot times, whether or not pre-fetch was enabled or not, so it is currently disabled.
To me my system my system doesn’t seem slow at all, so no end of telling me disabling the pre-fetcher slows my system, will change my informed decision not to have it enabled and also to have task scheduler disabled also, it is all about personal preference and that is mine.
That is because you did not properly time it. It only improves performance. You need to use BootVis to time boot times. I am not interested in what you “noticed” but actual data. Anyone who has properly timed it knows that it improves performance.
To me my system my system doesn't seem slow at all
This is a really ridiculous comment. Sure your system may "seem" fast but why would you NOT want to make it faster? How long do large applications like Quake 4 take to load? It can always be faster. If my system boots in 15 seconds instead of 30, that is an improvement. If FF loads in 7 seconds instead of 14 that is an improvement. I've never seen more people deliberately slow their systems down because they cannot comprehend how something works.
If you have to properly time it to notice a difference then there is no appreciable difference to the human brain.
How you can make a statement that something is ridiculous, when it is my perception and if I’m happy with my system speed you can’t, simple as that, so I won’t waste any more time on you particular hobby horse.
The human brain is not an exact device to use for timing purposes. I honestly don’t care what you “noticed”, I do care what is actually happening. The reason is simple, this sort of inaccurate and misleading advice spreads to other unknowledgeable users and wastes their time.
The faster the system and/or in combination with a smaller application will have less of an impact but the difference is still there. Saving 8 or 9 seconds adds up to a minute in a week. Now multiply that by all the applications you use and time adds up. The larger the application and the slower the system the more dramatic the effect and all for what? I mean honestly why are you disabling this? For what purpose? You are doing nothing but negatively affecting your application and system load times.
Perception many times is completely wrong and here is a simple example how. I had someone claim that with Prefetching disabled his system booted faster. His perception was looking at the time the Windows Boot Screen was displayed. With prefetching enabled it was displayed for 10 seconds and with it disabled it was displayed for only 8 seconds. I then had him use bootvis to actually time the WHOLE boot process and with Prefetching enabled it took 32 seconds to boot and with it disabled over 60 seconds. Now the perception here was completely flawed because the human brain was looking for visual cues. So what you “notice” has absolutely NOTHING to do with reality.
An just who am I advising, no one, you were the on who brought up the pre-fetch issue not me and as I have said I intend to waste no more time on it. Can you not simply accept other people who are happy with their informed decision/s and let then get on with it, the information is out there for them to make up their own minds and be happy with their own decisions.
Unless of course you can’t accept the views/opinions/decisions of other who don’t hold the same point of view as yourself.
Bravo, I couldn’t care less what it did on your system, I don’t have your system, I have to work with mine and I’m happy with it. So be happy with your system setup and I will be happy with mine and others will be happy with theirs (I’m not trying to change anyone’s mind) and that is my last word on it.
I can accept informed decisions not uninformed ones. You still have not answered the question why did you disable Prefetching and the Task Scheduler?
How the Windows XP Prefetcher works is NOT an opinion.
As for decisions, example: if your decision is to disable your CPU L2 cache have fun but don’t expect anyone who understands how the CPU L2 cache works to accept that as an informed decision.
