Disable unnecessary services in Windows 7. Unnecessary services that can be disabled in Windows

How to optimize and increase the security of your computer! Or what services need to be disabled in Windows 7, 8?

Most services are system programs, part of the operating system, without which it would not be able to function. However, among them there are vulnerable services that are not needed by most computer users. What does vulnerable mean? And the fact is that with their help, viruses, when they get onto a computer, can do whatever they want.

“Well, what about the antivirus program!?”- you say. No antivirus can protect your computer 100%! Every now and then you can come across exclamations like: “I have the latest (Avast, Nod32, Aug, Norton, Kaspersky, Doctor Web, and so on...), but I caught a virus and now nothing works for me.”.

You can’t just install an antivirus and think that you are completely protected from all sides., no, that won't happen. You also need to take care of setting up your computer for safe operation by disabling unused services. In addition to security, this procedure can increase the speed of your computer, since each service is a program that takes up part of the system resources. (By the way, I already wrote about how to speed up the speed of a computer).

For example, in Windows, by default, it is enabled fax service, but few people have been using faxes for a long time, this is the last century, but still, for almost all users this service works every second and consumes, albeit insignificantly, computer resources. True, if you consider that I have about a dozen such services, together they already create a significant load on the computer. And security is very poor because of them.

As an example, I’ll give another service, only not so harmless, it’s called "Remote Registry", with its help, a virus that gets onto your computer can remotely change your system registry, in other words, the attacker will receive the key to all doors. (We’ll talk about how to disable such services below.) It’s surprising why such services are enabled by default in Windows and why antivirus programs themselves do not disable such services, because for ordinary users the remote registry service is unnecessary. Those who may need it themselves know how to turn it on, if anything, but for ordinary users they have only made it a burden.
How to disable unnecessary and dangerous services?
1) To disable unnecessary and, especially, dangerous services in Windows 7, you need to go to the “management” section. To do this, press the button "windows", then find in the right column "computer" and click on it with the right mouse button. In the menu that opens, click on "Control".

* In Windows 8, this is done in a similar way, but only through the “Computer” shortcut on the desktop.

2) The program opened before us "computer control". Here we are interested in the last section "Services and Applications", having opened the subsection, go to "Services".

3) This is what the list of all services on our computer actually looks like. For convenience, you can expand the window to full screen, and also go to "standard" mode.

4) The list of services that can be safely disabled will be in the next paragraph; now I will show you how to disable and remove unnecessary services from autostart. We will disable some services completely, and some will switch to manual mode, see. Let's start with a service that is already familiar to us - “Remote Registry”.

We double-click with the left mouse button on the service that we want to disable; in this example, I disable the “Remote Registry” service. This window opens. Here we should translate the position "Startup type" on "Disabled". After that, click on the button just below "Stop". That's all, the service is disabled and removed from automatic startup.

Attention!: Before we move on to the next point, I want to remind you once again that you should never disable all services in a row, without most of all these services, windows cannot function normally, so before disabling, be sure to check the name in the header window, what service you are disabling, and also, strictly adhere to the following list!
List of services in Windows 7 that should be disabled
List of services in windows 7, which in most cases are unnecessary and only represent an opportunity for insidious malware to do evil on your computer!:

Remote registry- We definitely turn it off!

- manually.

Computer browser— Translate manually if you do not have a local network.

Secondary login— disable or switch to manual.

Automatic remote access connection manager— Disable or manually

Distributed Transaction Coordinator— Disable

NetBIOS Support Module- Disable

Setting up a remote desktop server— Disable

Windows Image Upload (WIA) service— If you have a scanner or digital camera connected to your computer, then we don’t touch anything, if not, then we turn it off.

Bluetooth support— If you don’t use bluetooth, turn it off.

- turn off

- We also turn it off

Smartcard- turn off

Fax— if we don’t use it, we also turn it off.
List of services in Windows 8 that should be disabled
Windows 7 is sorted out, now for those who have version 8. The services here will be approximately the same. I already talked about how to enter the “Management” section, as well as how to disable services.

ktmrm for distributed transaction coordinator- manually.

Computer browser- If you do not have a local network, then switch to manual mode.

Windows Biometric Service— If you don’t use a fingerprint or retinal scan, etc. to log into the system, then disable it.

Secondary login- disable or switch to manual.

Print Manager— If you do not use the printer, then turn it off

Smartcard removal policy— If you don’t use them or don’t even know what they are, then turn them off.

Windows Defender Service— If you already have another antivirus installed, then disable it.

Bluetooth support- If you do not use bluetooth, then turn it off.

Windows Remote Control Service- We turn it off, since no one except you should control it.

Remote Desktop Service- Turn it off.

Smartcard- turn off

Fax- if we don’t use it, we also turn it off.

Remote registry- By default, this service is disabled in Windows 8, but, just in case, check that it is turned off.
Well, that’s all, after the steps taken, the security of the computer has increased, since most malicious programs use these services, without them the viruses will be helpless. However, this is not the final setup for optimal computer protection.

The procedure described in this article will not work correctly without further security optimization. There are a few more touches that we'll look at in the next article, so don't miss out.

In an effort to provide for all possible uses of Windows, developers have equipped it with many services, some of which are needed only by a small number of users. For others, these components are a burden, a waste of RAM and computer resources. You will find information about which services can be disabled without harming the system, as well as instructions on how to enable and disable components in our article.

How to open service (component) management in Windows 7

Via search bar

Click the “Start” button, then type in the search bar: services.msc, press “Enter”.

Using the search bar

As a result, the “Services” window opens with a list, description and current state of services.

Detailed list of installed services

Editing the list of components using this window is very convenient, since each service is provided with a description that allows you to understand its tasks and assess the need.

In order to see the description, just use the mouse to select the line of interest in the list.

Via "Control Panel"

The same result can be achieved using the Control Panel. First we open it.

Open the “Control Panel”

In the “All Controls” window, select “Administration”.

Select "Administration"

After the “Administration” window appears on the screen, look for the “Services” line in its main part.

Find “Services” in the main window

By double-clicking on it with the left mouse button, we open the desired window with the same name.

From the command line

You can also access the list of components we need by using the command line. We call it by simultaneously pressing the Win keys (usually the Windows branded flag is displayed on it) and R. After the “Run” window appears on the screen, type the msconfig command in the input line.

We gain access to “System Configuration”

Select the “OK” on-screen button and get access to the “System Configuration” window, in which we find the “Services” tab.

Open the “Services” tab

What components can you safely remove?

When choosing applications that you can do without, you need to act consciously, that is, do not touch those services whose purpose or need is not very clear. It is better to leave something useless in memory than to delete something necessary, jeopardizing system stability and data security. If in doubt, you should look for additional information about the component and then make a decision.

List of services that can be turned off

Remote registry. Allows other users to edit the registry. It is advisable to remove this component for greater security of your computer.
Fax machine. The ability to receive fax messages is very rarely used these days. If we do not plan to use the computer as a fax, turn it off.
Windows Error Logging Service. Generates a log of non-standard situations - errors, freezes or application crashes. Turn it off.
Client for tracking changed connections. Registers the transfer of NTFS files. Doesn't bring any benefit to the average user.
Windows Search. Speeds up built-in search by processing user queries and indexing files. It is useful when intensively searching for information on a computer; in other cases it is almost useless.
Parental control. Feel free to remove it, this is a plug inserted into the system for compatibility with Vista.
IP Ancillary Service. Useless on a home computer.
Print Manager. The service manages printing. If the printer is not connected, delete it.
Secondary login. Allows you to run applications using a different account. It's better to turn it off for security reasons.
Tablet PC input service. Useful only if your computer has handwriting input or an electronic pen is connected.
Windows Defender. Don't touch it unless you have a good third-party antivirus installed. If a specialized program is responsible for protection, then you can safely remove it.
Windows Firewall. Similar to Windows Defender.
Smart card. The service is needed if access control devices using smart cards are used. As a rule, it is useless on home computers; disable it.
SSDP detection. Component for detecting devices operating under the SSDP protocol, including household appliances with appropriate capabilities. The protocol is one of the security vulnerabilities of the system, so if it is not necessary, it is better to disable the service for security reasons.
Adaptive brightness control. Needed to change the brightness of the screen depending on the ambient light level. Useful only if there is a light sensor, for example, in a laptop. In other cases, we disable it as useless.
Computer browser. A network service that is unnecessary when operating a single computer.
Access to HID devices. Provides operation of input devices connected via USB ports: mouse, scanner, webcam, and so on. If no external devices are used, you can turn them off.
Basic TPM services. The component also refers to security systems that use hardware components. It makes sense to leave it only if you use control devices based on TMP or BitLocker chips.
IPsec key modules for Internet key exchange and authenticated IP protocol. The service is not needed by the vast majority of users. Used to provide additional high security when exchanging data. Turn it off.
Server. A network service that can be disabled for a non-networked computer.
Offline files. A network component that allows you to work with files stored on the server offline. It is useless for a single computer, disable it.
IPSec Policy Agent. Also a service used to optimize the performance of a computer on a network. Let's remove it.
KtmRm for distributed transaction coordinator. Used to distribute transactions across the network. If there is no network, the service is not needed.
Bluetooth support service. Only needed if the appropriate adapter is used. If it is not there or is not used, disable it.
NetBIOS support module. Also a network service, useless to work in the absence of a local network.
Windows Image Upload (WIA) service. Used to support the operation of digital cameras and scanners. If such devices are not used, you can disable them.

Removing unnecessary components

Having decided which service should be deleted, in the “Services” window we already know, double-click on it. A small window appears on the side with the currently active parameters of the selected application.

Change the parameters of the selected service

In the drop-down list of the “Startup type” option, select “Disabled”, then stop its operation in the current session by pressing the “Stop” and “OK” on-screen buttons. We repeat the same steps sequentially for all applications that are decided to be removed from RAM.

Changes are made slightly differently when using the Services tab of the System Configuration window. Having selected the application that should be removed, uncheck the box to the left of its name, after which the “Apply” on-screen button becomes active.

Remove the checkbox to delete the service

After clicking “Apply”, additional information will appear in the window - the shutdown date.

All that remains is to click “OK” and select the option for when to apply the changes made in the “System Settings” window that appears. “Exit without reboot” will delay them until the next work session, “Reboot” will immediately restart the system with new parameters.

Reboot now or later

Video: Disable unnecessary services to improve performance

Which services are best not to touch?

Windows Audio. Audio device management service. When disabled, no executable program will be able to “cast a voice.”
Windows Driver Foundation. Responsible for the operation of drivers, a very necessary component.
Multimedia Class Scheduler. Also a necessary service for multimedia tasks (for example, audio components).
Plug and Play. Performs a very useful function of correctly connecting devices to the computer.
An optimization service that monitors program usage activity and loads them into RAM in advance for faster launch if necessary. Significantly increases work speed.
Task Scheduler. In Windows 7 it makes a big difference, to the point of not being able to switch the keyboard layout when the service is disabled.
Remote procedure call (RPC). An important component of Wihdows that ensures the stable operation of many other services. Disabling is prohibited by the system.
Desktop Window Manager Session Manager. Responsible for the operation of the proprietary Aero interface.
Themes. Also a necessary service for the Aero interface.
Windows Installer. A component for installing new applications that ensures their correct installation.

How to add a service

As a rule, the standard set of Windows 7 components is enough for the user. But at the same time, it is possible to add applications based on your needs.

To do this, open the “Control Panel”, then in the list of parameters that opens, find the active element “Programs and Features”.

Select “Programs and Features”

A window will appear in which we are interested in the “Turn Windows components on or off” tab on the left.

On the left, select “Turn Windows features on or off”

By clicking on it, we open the “Windows Components” window.

We look for the desired service in the list

All that remains is to find the service we are interested in in the list and put a mark in the box to the left of it. The same can be done immediately for all other components that you decide to add. After finishing editing, click “OK”.

What if the list is empty or unavailable?

If “Turn components on or off” does not turn on or shows an empty list, first of all you need to find the cause of what is happening, and then eliminate it.

Reason 1: Change of value in the registry

Press the Win+R combination, then type regedit in the input area of the Run window.

Getting access to the registry editor

In the “Registry Editor” window, using the tree expanded on the left, go to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE - SYSTEM - CurrentControlSet - Control - Windows tab. On the right side of the window we find CSDReleaseType.

Examining the CSDReleaseType string

In the “Value” column opposite this parameter there should be 0. If this is not the case, then you need to change it to 0, click “OK” and reboot.

Reason 2: lack of administrator rights

The changes you make require administrator rights. Therefore, the cause of the problem may be logging in from an account that does not have such permissions.

In this case, you should log into Windows again as an administrator or obtain the appropriate rights for your account.

Reason 3: Damaged or missing necessary files

For some reason, the computer may not have the necessary components for our task, stored in the C:\Windows\Servicing\Packages folder. In this case, you will have to restore them using the System Update Readiness Tool for Windows 7.

You can download the application from the website www.microsoft.com, but you need to take into account the bit capacity of the installed system.

32-bit: https://www.microsoft.com/ru-RU/download/details.aspx?id=3132
64-bit: https://www.microsoft.com/ru-RU/download/details.aspx?id=20858

You can check the bitness of the system installed on your computer using the “Control Panel”, in which select the “System” tab.

In our case, system type: 32-bit operating system

After the desired file (with the msu extension) is selected and downloaded from the developer’s website, it should be launched, after closing other applications. Usually the installation lasts no more than 15 minutes, after which we close the active window and restart the computer.

To check whether the problem was fixed automatically, open the list of components again. If nothing has changed, the list is still empty, we begin to correct errors manually.

To do this, find the file C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CheckSUR.log on the disk and open it in the editor.

Studying lines with (f)

Errors found in automatic mode are listed under the Checking Package Manifests and Cataloges line. They all have (f) in the first column, but after the corrected ones an additional line appears with the value (fix). Most likely, our problem is related to the remaining ones that do not have such a line.

Now you need to manually remove the damaged keys. To do this, write down the error address starting with \Packages, then use Win+R and the regedit command to go to the already familiar Registry Editor.

Next, you need to go to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ComponentBasedServicing\Packages tab and find the key we recorded, and then delete it. If everything is done correctly, the problem should be fixed.

Specialized applications that disable unnecessary Windows 7 services

There are special programs that will help you quickly remove unnecessary services. For example, the free Smart app.

The application also allows you to choose one of four ready-made configurations:

Safe Tweaks. The most secure, suitable for most users.
Moderate Tweaks. Increases performance by optionally disabling multimedia services.
Advances Tweaks. It leaves only services that are vital for the system, and disables the rest. Recommended for experienced users.
Custom. A similar configuration intended for specialists. Equipped with a manual service configuration mode.

You should definitely create a restore point. To do this, just check the “Create Restore Point Before Applying Changes” checkbox at the bottom of the program window.

Better be careful

To launch the selected changes, you must click the “Apply” screen button, and then confirm your choice again.

Unloading RAM from unused applications will give noticeable results almost immediately. The necessary programs will work faster, the load on the processor will decrease, and the laptop battery will drain more slowly. It’s worth spending a little time on optimization, so that you can return it with interest by speeding up your computer.

On computers with limited computing resources and a small amount of RAM, you can resort to another way to optimize Windows - this is to disable rarely used and unnecessary operating system services.

Settings for Windows 7 and Vista

During development Windows 8.1 was carried out on a large scale. For this reason, there is simply no point in disabling services to reduce memory consumption in the new OS. Before moving on to the description of the method, it is worth noting that the performance benefit from disabling services will be minimal and is completely invisible in systems with a large amount of fast RAM (from 2 GB and above). However, this operation can be considered relevant for owners of outdated computers and low-power laptops equipped with slow hard drives and a small amount of RAM.

As much more effective ways to free up RAM and speed up system performance, we recommend the following articles: and and file junk from the system.

Disabling services in Windows 7

Disabling rarely used services in Windows 7 and Vista will free up additional RAM for your system, allowing other applications and services to run faster and more smoothly, and reducing the system's need to access virtual memory.

On the Internet you can find a lot of advice on disabling almost all system services, however, this approach is often unjustified, because many services are disabled by default and can be started manually if necessary. Forcibly disabling such services may lead to problems in the future. For this reason, our list of disabled services is much shorter than usual.

The fastest way to open the Services program is to enter its name in the Start menu search bar. And select the “Services” link in the search results. To ensure maximum stability of the system and applications, we strongly recommend using the “Manual” option when disabling services. This will allow them to be launched in the future when the need arises.

Before you start disabling services, you can create a system restore point (Control Panel > System > System Protection > Create), in case of unexpected complications, although they are extremely unlikely.

Open Start menu » Control Panel »

Change the view mode from Categories to Small Icons if the default setting is to view Control Panel items by category.

Find the "Administration" icon"

Select "Services" »

Services management interface in Windows 7

To disable the selected service double-click on its name with the left mouse button. The service control panel will open. In the “Startup Type” drop-down menu, select “Manual” and click on the “Stop” button. Save the changes by clicking on “OK”

It is absolutely safe to disable the following services:

Print Spooler if there is no printer connected to the computer.
Service entry Tablet PC
Remote Desktop Service (TermService)
Computer Browser
Support IP Service
Remote registry
Terminal Services if you do not use connections to remote computers.
(only if you are not using the Ready Boost feature)
(if you are using a third-party defragmentation program)

Not all of the services listed above are available in Windows 7; some of them are present only in Windows Vista.

Please note that disabling other services may cause the operating system to become unstable. Do not disable services that are started manually - they are already disabled. We do not recommend disabling the Windows Update service! Be extremely careful and careful when handling this tool!

To fully unlock the system's full potential, we recommend that you read other useful articles about tuning Windows for maximum performance.

You can disable unnecessary services in Windows in the “Start” menu - “Control Panel” - “Administrative Tools” - “Service Components” - “Local Services”. An easier option: press Win+R (Start->Run), enter services.msc in the window and press Enter to go to the services window.

If for some reason the standard capabilities of Windows and the service manager are not enough, you can use the free Easy Service Optimizer program from the developer Sordum. It displays all names, descriptions of services and other necessary data from the system and allows you to accurately search for services and change their status.

Why disable services?

Windows starts a large number of services at system startup in the belief that the user may need them. Unused services consume resources and slow down your computer. Disabling unnecessary services can improve performance and relieve CPU and memory load.

It is important to note that for all modern computers, disabling Windows services in order to improve performance and performance does not make sense. Noticeable efficiency can only be seen on older computers (with 2GB of RAM or less). At the same time, a “noticeable” increase in performance means a reduction in the load on the processor by several percent, as well as freeing up a hundred or two megabytes of RAM.

Before disabling the service, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with its functionality. Windows cannot work without many components, so it is important not to disable unnecessary ones in the pursuit of performance. You should remember about other ways to speed up your PC: cleaning the registry, deleting system files and cache, using CCleaner.

It is important to remember that a disabled service will start when the system is restarted if the autostart settings have not been changed. And if they have been changed, then the problem may appear when the service is required, but cannot start. Disabled services with autostart disabled will have to be started manually if necessary. This is a problem for most users because when problems arise months later, it is difficult to remember which services were disabled and what they were responsible for.

Disabling services in Services Manager

In all versions of Windows, there is a Windows Services Manager for working with services. It allows you to enable/disable services and set startup options. Although many services in Windows are barely used by regular users and can be disabled completely, it is strongly recommended not to do so.

To reduce the load on the system and increase performance/performance, for all unused services it is enough to set the “Manual” option in the autorun settings. In this case, the service will not be used by Windows and will not consume computer resources. In this case, the system will be able to start the service when it is really needed.

There are several ways to start Windows Services Manager:

Click “Start” - “Run”, enter services.msc and press Enter.
Type services.msc in the search bar in the Start menu.
Open “Start” - “Control Panel” - “Administrative Tools” - “Services”.

The services window displays all services present on the computer, including disabled ones. The startup type column should have the status “Manual” or “Automatic”. It is not advisable to place services in a completely disabled state.

New versions of the OS have other launch settings: delayed launch, trigger launch, and so on. It is not recommended to change these settings without understanding your actions. It is worth making sure that improving performance in this way is a truly effective measure to solve the problem with performance.

Windows 10

The new Windows 10 operating system has a huge number of services that the user can disable. Optimizing performance through such actions is doubtful. It is better to compare the difference in performance immediately after rebooting the computer - changes in the operation of services will take effect, and other running processes will not change the picture.

You can compare the difference in performance using the Task Manager or third-party utilities with similar functionality. You must first clear the system and/or registry of unnecessary files, remove all unnecessary programs from their autorun settings. Below is a list of services for Windows 10 and previous versions of the OS (Windows 8 (8.1), 7, Vista, XP), disabling which (putting them in manual mode) should not cause negative consequences for the operation of the system.

Diagnostic Tracking Service And Diagnostic Policy Service— System Diagnostic Tracking Service and Diagnostic Policy Service, respectively.
Downloaded Maps Manager— map manager for working with downloaded content. Can be disabled if you are not using the Maps application on your computer.
— disabling the client of changed connections is possible only if the computer is not connected to any of the networks.
Bluetooth support— if the Bluetooth module is not used.
Connected User Experiences and Telemetry— Telemetry and functionality for connected users.
Router service AllJoyn— the AllJoyn framework ensures the interaction of devices, users and applications via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
IP Helper— the service can be disabled if an IPv6 connection is not used.
Dmwappushservice— push message routing service. The service routes push messages over the WAP network and is not required by the vast majority of users. Disabling this service is one way to stop all sorts of data being collected from your Windows 10 device and sent to Microsoft.
Print Spooler— Print Spooler can be disabled if the computer is not connected to the printer or the printer is not in use.
- Program Compatibility Assistant service, which allows you to run old games and applications in compatibility mode. To be fair, this function is rarely required and for really old software.
Remote Registry- a remote registry, which can be disabled forever for the vast majority of users as unnecessary.
Security Center And Secondary Logon- “security center” and “secondary login”. Disabling both services should be safe for the system and not interfere with the user.
Touch Keyboard and Handwriting Panel Service— Touch keyboard and handwriting support service. You can disable it completely if such functionality is not used and is not planned.
Windows Image Acquisition- Windows image download service or WIA. Can be disabled if the system does not use a scanner.
BitLocker— disk encryption service.
Hyper-V- Hyper-V services can be disabled only if Hyper-V virtual machines are not used. The list of services is as follows: heartbeat service, data exchange service, guest shutdown service, time synchronization service, virtual machine session service, remote desktop virtualization service. There should be a Hyper-V prefix next to the service name - you can use the page search to find and disable all services.
Xbox Live Online Service— it makes sense to disable it if any of the Xbox consoles are missing.
Superfetch— can be disabled only if SSD drives are used.

Many articles also recommend disabling Windows Defender Service, Windows Search, Windows Error Reporting Service, and Internet Connection Sharing (ICS). This is not recommended for a number of reasons, especially with the latter service - it is used to distribute Wi-Fi from a laptop and similar popular features.

Windows 8/8.1

Windows 8/8.1 has fewer services that can be safely disabled without harming the system. The list contains rarely used services, disabling which will not affect the performance of the system. You should always check to see if a specific functionality is used on a specific computer.

Diagnostic Policy Service— the diagnostic policy service can be disabled on any computer without any problems, but sometimes errors like “The service could not start on this Windows computer” occur.
Computer Browser- Computer browsers. The service can be disabled if the computer is not connected to any network.
BranchCache— Technology for caching network traffic transmitted over WAN channels. Most users can turn off this service without any negative consequences.
Distributed Link Tracking Client— you can find a lot of advice on the Internet suggesting disabling the “Changed Relationship Tracking Client.” This will only happen without consequences for a computer that is not connected to the network, so it is still not recommended to turn it off.
Family Safety— the functionality can be completely disabled if you do not plan to use it.
Hyper-V- If Hyper-V virtual machines are not used, all associated services can be disabled. They all have Hyper-V in their name, so finding them won't be difficult. The exact set of services may differ on Windows 8/8.1, so searching by page/services is your best option.
IP Helper- IP Assisted Service may be disabled if the device is not using an IPv6 connection.
Windows Biometric Service- another component that you can do without in everyday work.
Program Compatibility Assistant Service- The Program Compatibility Assistant service is required to run older software in compatibility mode. If there is no such need, the constantly running “compatibility assistant” can be switched to manual mode.
Print Spooler- in Windows 8/8.1, the Print Manager is responsible for working with printers, so it can be disabled if they are absent.
— The portable device enumerator service can be disabled if external devices are not connected to the computer. The benefit of such an action is doubtful, since the consumption of PC resources from such functionality is minimal.
Remote Registry And Secondary Logon— Remote registry and Secondary login. Both components can be switched to manual mode when not in use.
Server— the service with the self-explanatory name “Server” can be turned off if the system is not used as a server.
- Windows error logging service, responsible for saving logs and sending error reports.
Windows Image Acquisition, WIA- The image download service is required by Windows 8/8.1 for the scanner to operate. If there is no scanner, WIA can be switched to manual mode or turned off.

Services Windows Search(system search function) and Security Center(Security Center) is not recommended to be disabled. The functionality of the former is required regularly, and the Security Center performs really important protective functions, especially if an antivirus is not installed on the computer.

Windows 7

In Windows 7, there are more than a dozen services that can be safely disabled (switched to manual mode) in order to optimize and increase performance. Below is a list of services that are safe to disable, with notes that will help you decide on the autostart method you choose.

Distributed Link Tracking Client And Computer Browser- The Client for tracking changed connections and the Browser by the computer can be switched to manual mode if the computer is not connected to any network.
Desktop Window Manager Session Manager- Desktop Window Manager Session Manager. A service with such a complex name is needed only to ensure the functioning of Aero themes. If Aero themes are not used, the component can be launched manually.
Diagnostic Policy Service— diagnostic service (diagnostic policy service).
Remote Registry— It is recommended to disable the remote registry on all versions of Windows if its functionality is not used. In addition to a slight reduction in load, disabling the registry often has a positive effect on security.
Print Spooler— print manager, required for the printer to work.
IP Helper- IP auxiliary service for IPv6 connectivity.
Server— if the PC is not connected to the local network and is not used as a server.
Offline Files— a service that caches data and allows you to continue working with documents from the public domain (network) when you disconnect from the server and go offline. Disabling this service should not interfere with the average user's experience.
Portable Device Enumerator Service— the portable device enumerator service is used on server versions of Windows to work with remote devices.
Tablet PC Input Service— Tablet PC input service.
Themes— the “Themes” service can be disabled if themes are not used (standard Windows 7 design is applied).
Windows Error Reporting Service- a service that logs errors and sends reports about them to Microsoft.
Windows Media Center Service Launcher— the component is responsible for launching Windows Media Center.
BitLocker— the BitLocker disk encryption service is definitely not needed by those who don’t even know what it is.
Bluetooth— Bluetooth support service if there is no Bluetooth module on the computer or it is not used.

Programs that are installed on a Win7 computer by a user can also install and run their own services. Examples of such programs include desktop software or antivirus software. The user should decide whether to disable such services independently. As a standard, it is not recommended to turn off the search function Windows Search, security services and firewall.

If you want to further optimize system performance, you should pay attention to the next section about Windows Vista. This list of services is more complete, and the functionality and names are almost identical to Windows 7.

Windows Vista

Little has been written about Windows Vista in recent years, since this version of the OS is used relatively rarely. Here is the most complete list of Windows Vista services, a brief description of their functionality and recommended autorun settings.

Vista has plenty of unused components that you can safely disable (or set to manual) for optimization and performance reasons. If the service is not listed below, then its startup type should be set to " Automatically«.

Services whose startup settings can be set to manually:

Microsoft .NET Framework NGEN v2.0.50727- one of the most important frameworks necessary for Windows to work. You can’t turn it off completely - you can set the start to “ manually«.
Windows CardSpace— a component for working with digital IDs.
Quality Windows Audio Video Experience is a service for high-quality audio and video streaming.
Windows Driver Foundation - User-mode Driver Framework— a framework for managing driver host processes.
Network Access Protection Agent— the agent functionality is necessary for network access protection (NAP) on client computers; it is practically not used by ordinary users.
WMI Performance Adapter— the service works only when the Performance Data Helper component is activated.
Windows Backup- ensures the operation of Windows archiving and recovery, used when creating restore points - backup copies of the system state.
Windows Firewall— Microsoft’s protection system can be completely turned off or switched to manual launch mode on computers running Windows Vista. However, this should be done only if the computer has protection that is similar in capabilities or better (paid antiviruses, etc.). Otherwise, disabling the built-in firewall is strongly discouraged.
Grouping of network participants— a number of group services necessary for the functioning of peer-to-peer networks.
Automatic Remote Access Connection Manager— the dispatcher is needed to automatically create a connection to a remote network. It is used when any software accesses the remote DNS by address or NetBIOS name.
Network Member Identity Manager— allows you to identify users within a peer-to-peer network.
Performance Logs and Alerts— the service collects scheduled performance data and alerts from local and remote PCs, then the information is logged or a notification is displayed. Disabling the service will result in no performance information being collected or logged. Also, all services that directly depend on this or use the received data will not start.
Windows Presentation Foundation 3.0.0.0 font cache— an application for optimizing work with fonts by caching them. You can disable it, but it will reduce the performance of Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) applications.
Configuring Terminal Services— configuration of terminals (TSCS) and remote access, support for ongoing sessions.
SSDP detection- necessary to connect and interact with devices and programs that use the SSDP discovery protocol.
Windows Instant Connections— when the service is stopped, the Windows Immediate Connection Configuration Recorder, which issues network identities for subscribers, stops working.

In addition to those indicated, in the mode manually The following services can be transferred to Windows Vista:

Reports on problems and their solutions (support for the functionality of an element in the Control Panel).
Basic TPM services.
Extensible Authentication Protocol EAP.
Software Shadow Copy Provider (Microsoft).
PNRP protocol.
DFS replication.
Stream ordering server.
Windows Event Collector.
Network connections.
COM+ system application.
WLAN auto-configuration service.
Windows Image Upload (WIA) service.
Microsoft iSCSI Initiator Service.
Block-level archiving module service.
User Profile Service ( manually- if the user is on a computer one, otherwise - automatically).
Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service.
Software Licensing Notification Service.
Themes (if standard design is used).
Telephony.
Link layer topologist.
Volume shadow copy.
Diagnostic service node.
Diagnostic system unit.
Universal PNP device node.
Windows Modules Installer.
Windows Installer.
Windows Color System (WCS) - Disabling it may cause some colors to appear incorrectly on the screen.
Function Discovery Provider Host - discovery function provider host.

To change settings, you must have administrator rights. The following services can be fully disable:

Fax— the name speaks for itself; can be turned off when not using fax.
Manage certificates and health key- Manages the X.509 certificate and manages keys for the Network Access Protection agent. Make sure that the technologies and programs you are using do not use an X.509 certificate.
Remote registry- makes it possible to change the registry on one PC from another using remote access.
Application management— working with programs installed through group policy: installation and removal, building lists.
Smart card- Required to control access to smart card readers.
Application Layer Gateway Service- Allows you to support third-party protocols when using Internet connection sharing.
WS-Management is a Windows remote control service that uses the WS-Management protocol in its work.
PNRP Computer Name Publishing Service
Windows Media Center Receiver Service— components for the receiver, allowing you to receive and view TV and FM broadcasts in the built-in Windows Media Center player.
Windows Media Center Scheduler Service— the scheduler is required to start and stop recording TV programs in Windows Media Center.
Net.Tcp Port Sharing Service- allows multiple users to share TCP ports using the Net.Tcp protocol.
Portable Device Enumerator Service- Applies Group Policy settings to removable storage devices and sets access rights for programs and files.
Windows Time Service— manages and synchronizes date and time on all computers, clients and servers on the network. You can turn it off, but there is hardly any point in doing so, since power consumption is minimal.
Windows Media Center Extender Service- allows the media console of the same name to find Windows Vista and connect to the computer.
Tablet PC input service— required for graphics tablets and pen input.
Basic Filtration Service (BFE)- BFE applies user mode filtering to manage IP security and firewall policies. If your computer does not have antivirus or alternative reliable security products, disabling basic filtering can significantly reduce the security of your computer. For a PC without an antivirus, the BFE status should be “Automatic”.
Parental control— if standard Windows parental control functions are not used.
Publishing feature discovery resources— publishes basic information about the computer and its functions. If resource publishing is disabled, other devices on the network will not be able to discover this computer.
Smart Card Removal Policy— makes it possible to change the settings of smart cards so that the desktop is blocked when the card is removed.
Terminal Services User Mode Port Redirector- if you are not using a remote desktop.
Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)- if Internet sharing and local services are not used.
Windows Media Center Service Launcher— launches the scheduler and receiver for the media center; you can disable it if the Media Center is not needed.
Access to HID devices— provides universal access to Human Interface Devices.

Even these lists are not exhaustive, since many programs are capable of creating services. You should carefully check the services that start automatically, remove outdated and unused programs from your computer, or disable autorun for them.

Windows XP

In Windows XP, you can turn off a relatively small number of services, since the functionality of the OS was not yet so bloated. Windows XP is morally and technically outdated, but continues to be used on weak machines, so additional optimization can be beneficial.

Alerter— sending notifications.
Distributed Link Tracking Client- The client for tracking changed connections may be disabled if the computer is not connected to the network.
Computer Browser- Computer browser should also be disabled only when working offline.
Internet Sharing (ICS)— Internet Connection Sharing, if you do not need Internet distribution.
Internet Firewall (ICF)— deactivating Internet Connection Firewall will reduce system protection; it should be switched to manual mode only if alternative protection (anti-virus software) is available.
Remote Registry— the remote registry can be disabled permanently.
Messenger/Messaging Service- built-in Windows messaging service.
Server— if the computer is not connected to the local network and is not a server.
Secondary Logon- secondary login if one computer with Windows XP is used by several users.
System Restore or “System Restore Service”, when disabled, it will not create recovery points from which data can be restored in case of corruption or viruses.
Wireless Zero Configuration— if the wireless communication module via Wi-Fi is not used.
NetBIOS support module over TCP/IP— the functionality of TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper has already been described above, you can disable it without fear.

Disabling a significant part of Windows functionality will significantly increase the performance of a weak computer. At the same time, you should remember about possible negative consequences: failures in the operation of programs and the system itself, loss of a significant part of the functions. Errors and bugs may appear, the causes of which will be difficult to determine.

Step-by-step instructions for improving performance and optimizing Windows 7

Optimizing the operation of Windows 7 is extremely relevant today and is available not only to professional engineers of specialized centers, but also to ordinary users.

Since the release of the operating system by Microsoft Windows 8, the popularity of her predecessor, Windows7, doesn't get smaller.

Prevalence of Windows versions as of March 2014 (according to http://www.netmarketshare.com/)

Windows 8/8.1 - 12.54%

Windows 7 - 50.55%

Windows7 proved to be the most successful and user-friendly version of the OS on the Windows platform, especially in comparison with its predecessor - Windows Vista.

Currently, the objectives set by software manufacturers and user expectations regarding system speed and performance have increased significantly.

The number of programs has also increased preinstalled by manufacturers on new laptops and personal computers, which often only take away the performance of the system. In addition, over time, a huge number of temporary and unnecessary files generated by programs and Internet browsers accumulate.

In connection with the above, an increasing number of companies are engaged in both the development specialized utilities to optimize the performance of Windows 7, and by creating multitasking programs that clean and configure the system, optimizing its operation based on the needs of a specific user, along with a set of other software (for example, all-in-one antivirus software, CCleaner, RegOptimazer and others).

But let’s not forget that all cleaning and optimization programs act superficially, without affecting the depths of the system. Thanks to simple steps, any user can safely and effectively optimize Windows 7 performance, without resorting to in-depth analysis and practical study of its work.

To optimize Windows7 performance, follow these steps:

1. Completely disabling UAC (User Account Control)

First of all, it is worth drawing your attention to the fact that this tool is one of the most important in the matter of system security and disabling it will inevitably reduce the overall level of its protection from external threats. However, many users have greater confidence in high-quality antivirus software.

In this article we offer you the ability to either completely disable UAC or change the protection level.

Before performing the suggested actions, you should log in with your account. Administrator.

1. Click the Start button
3. Go to User Accounts
4. Change User Account Control (UAC) settings
5. Select the required degree of protection by changing the position of the slider.
6. Click “OK”
7. Reboot the computer.

2. Setting the standby mode (“Sleep mode”)

In the default settings, using sleep mode is inconvenient: the computer wakes up at the slightest movement of the mouse.

To this to correct, you need to do the following:
1. Click the Start button
2. Open the Control Panel
3. Go to Device Manager
4. Open the “Mice and other pointing devices” tab
5. Find the “Power Management” tab

6. Uncheck the option “Allow the device to wake the computer from standby mode”
7. Click “OK”
In the future, for exit from standby mode, use the keyboard (by pressing any key).

3. Speed up the Start menu

One of the most commonly used controls in operating systems Windows is definitely the menu "Start", the functionality of which grows with each new OS version.
If you use a “non-classic” design mode, it is possible to significantly speed up the operation of this indispensable control.
So let's get started:
1. Right-click on the Start menu icon or on the panel tasks
2. In the context menu, select “Properties”
3. Open the “Start” tab
4. Click “Configure”
5. In the “Customize the Start Menu” window that opens, find the “Highlight recently installed programs” option and uncheck it
7. Click “OK”

4. Aero Visual Effects

Problems with Aero interface most often occur if the computer has a video card integrated into the motherboard or a weak video card is installed - problems are very likely to occur when using the Aero interface. Also difficulties with processing graphic elements Windows 7 low-cost laptops and netbooks are often tested.
However, it is possible to reduce the Aero interface's consumption of PC resources by without turning it off completely. By disabling some elements, you will relieve the computing power of your computer and video card, without losing much of the beauty of the Aero interface.
To do this you need to do the following:
1. Click the Start button
2. Open the Control Panel
3. Login to the System
4. Open Advanced system parameters
5. Go to the “Advanced” tab
6. Click the “Options” button in the “Performance” section

7. Disable the following parameters:
7.1 Animated controls and elements inside a window
7.2 Menu fades after calling a command
7.3 Casting shadows on desktop icons
7.4 Displaying window contents when dragging
7.5 Displaying shadows cast by windows
7.6 Displaying samples and filters in this folder
7.7 Displaying a transparent selection rectangle
7.8 Displaying a shadow under the mouse pointer
8. Click “Apply”.

You can disable some other options, but the effect will be more noticeable.
Attention! If after saving the changes the “transparent” Aero interface disappears, right-click on the desktop and select “Personalization” » “Window Color and Appearance” » Check the box next to “Enable transparency” and click “OK”.

5. Changing the Service Pack display

There are times when we are unable to completely install all elements of the game, or after installing it we see a notification about installed in Windows 7 Service Pack 2. In order to correct the situation, we need:

1. Press the Win+R keys simultaneously (or Start » Run)
2. In the “Run” window that opens, enter the command: “regedit” and click “OK”
3. The Registry Editor window will open.
4. Find the folder
"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Windows"
5. Change the “CSDVersion” value from “0” to “100” ( SP1). Click “OK” and exit the Registry Editor. If you set the parameter value “CSDVersion” = “300”, then the system will display that
Service Pack 3, and if the value “CSDVersion” is = “0”, then the system will display that the Service Pack is not installed
6. Reboot the computer.

6. Disabling services

Shutdown rarely used services will free up some of the computer's RAM, and will also allow the system to access virtual memory less frequently, which will result in faster system performance.
Although unforeseen complications as a result of service outages are unlikely, we nevertheless suggest that you create restore point, which, if necessary, will allow us to roll back the system to the required time (control panel » system » system protection » create). To ensure maximum stability of the system and applications, we recommend that you use the “Manual” option when disabling services.
For disabling services perform the following actions:
1. Click the Start button
2. Open the Control Panel
3. Select Administration

4. Select Services
To disable a service, double-click on its name with the left mouse button. The service control panel will open. In the “Startup Type” drop-down menu, select “Manual” and click on the “Stop” button. Save changes by clicking "OK"
Absolutely safe You can disable the following services:
Service entry Tablet PC
Support IP Service
Remote registry

Disabling other services can lead to unstable operation of the operating system and should only be done when absolutely confident is that you know what result it will lead to. Be extremely careful and careful when handling this tool.

7. ReadyBoost function

In the operating system Windows implemented the ability to use USB flash memory devices as additional to the resource's RAM for data caching, which speeds up the execution time of data read-write operations and increases system performance. Expensive RAM modules or the lack of free slots on the motherboard often do not allow you to physically increase the amount of memory.
Using USB drives or Flash cards as additional RAM using ReadyBoost technology makes it possible to virtually expand memory and increase computer performance. The system writes to the media memory data from the most frequently used programs, which can significantly reduce their launch time.
To activate ReadyBoost functions You need to do the following:
1. Insert the USB drive into the port.
2. In the Autorun window that appears, select “Speed up the system using Windows ReadyBoost”
3. Activate the “Use this device” option
4. By moving the slider, we set the limit of used space on the media
5. Save the changes by clicking on the OK button.
After performing these operations, the ReadyBoost.sfcache file will be automatically created on the flash card. Don't take it out flash drive from your computer!

8. Performance Tuning

When installing the operating system, the default power plan is “Balanced,” which reduces system performance and responsiveness.
In total, the Windows 7 operating system provides three main power plans:
Balanced (system performance when necessary and energy saving when inactive).
Energy saving (reduced system performance). This scheme helps mobile PC users make the most of a single battery charge. but for a desktop system it is not relevant.
With high performance (increases system performance and responsiveness).

Your computer may also have other energy saving settings configured by the PC or laptop manufacturer. In this case, we do not recommend changing their settings, because The manufacturer has already selected the most optimal values for all parameters.
To change the plan, do the following:
1. Click the Start button
2. Open the Control Panel
3. Go to Power Options
4. Choose a plan that meets the needs of our system and device.

9.Customizing the Taskbar and Superbar

Superbar Windows 7 has wide possibilities for personalization and customization for a specific user. To optimize the panel, follow these steps:
1. Place the mouse cursor on the taskbar and press the right mouse button. The taskbar context menu will open. Uncheck the “Lock the taskbar” checkbox.
2. Now move the cursor over the edge of the taskbar until it turns into double arrow. Click and hold the cursor with the left mouse button. Move the cursor up, the dotted line will show the location of the taskbar. Release the mouse button.
3. Now we fix the Panel again by checking the “Lock taskbar” item in the context menu. This is necessary for the normal display of tabs and panels. If this is not enough for you, the size of the taskbar can be increased to suit your needs up to half the screen. Ease of navigation It can also be improved by opening the taskbar's Properties context menu and changing the way the taskbar buttons are grouped from "Do not group" to "Always group, hiding labels."

10. Memory diagnostics

If your operating system is prone to failures and is unstable, we recommend diagnosing your RAM. This also applies to users who overclock system components.
Settings for OS Windows 7:
1. Open the Start menu
2. In the Search column, enter “Memory”
3. In the search box, select "Windows Memory Checker"
4. In the window that appears, select one of the options:

- Reboot and check (recommended)
— Run the scan the next time you turn on the computer
5. After restarting the computer, wait for the RAM test to complete. This process can be quite lengthy.
After the diagnostics are completed, the computer will automatically restart.
You will see the results of the scan when you log into the operating system.

11. Defragment hard drives

Built-in The disk defragmentation program organizes fragmented information for more efficient and faster system operation.
The disk defragmentation program runs according to a specified schedule, but you can also start fragmentation manually.
To run the built-in disk defragmenter, you must perform the following steps:
1. Click the Start button
2. Select Computer
3. Select drive C
4. By clicking the right mouse button, call up the context menu and select "Properties"
5. Open the “Service” tab

6. Select a section "Run defragmentation". You can also run a disk analysis, after which the system will make a recommendation whether there is a need to defragment the selected disk and indicate the percentage of fragmentation.
Depending on the size of your hard drive and how fragmented your files are, defragmentation may take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours. During defragmentation, work with the PC can not be interrupted, however, the system may slow down significantly.

12. Startup control

Many programs installed on a PC are automatically registered in the startup of your computer, even when there is no urgent need for it.
Being constantly in RAM, they significantly reduce system performance.
Ideally, the startup list should contain no more than two or three programs that you urgently need. As a rule, this is an antivirus and an email client.
The easiest way to clear the startup list is to use a free program CCleaner, open the Tools section, then click on Startup and manually set the launch parameters for the programs you need.

Don't delete from the list of Windows system programs. They can be distinguished by their location in the \system32 folder.

13. Cleaning and defragmenting the registry

System registry is a database for storing information about the computer configuration, operating system settings and program settings to which the system
accesses hundreds of times per second during system boot and operation. A cluttered and fragmented registry can seriously slow down your computer.
When installing and uninstalling various programs, various “garbage” may remain in the registry: program settings, links to shortcuts, incorrect file extensions, and much more.
Over time, a large number of such erroneous registry settings can significantly slow down the operating system, leading to crashes and various problems, interfering with the normal functioning of the OS.

To optimize the registry Let's do the following:
1. Open the CCleaner program and go to the “Registry” menu
2. Click on the “Search for problems” button
3. After completing the search, click on “Fix”
4. The program will offer to save backup copies of the changes made; if you are not sure, save
5. In the window that appears, click “Correct marked” and confirm your choice.
Perform this operation once every two to three weeks.

Windows 7 Registry subject to fragmentation, which causes the system to gradually slow down. System defragmenters do not work with registry files, so for these purposes you will need to install a specialized program.
One of the best solutions for defragmenting the registry is the utility Auslogics Registry Defrag.

14. Disabling the autorun function from removable media and CD drives.

Disabling autorun is not only speed up work with external storage media, but also will protect protect you from a number of viruses entering your computer.
Launch Notepad (in the Start menu, in the Search line, enter the word “Notepad”).
After launching the Notepad program, copy the following text there:

"HonorAutoRunSetting"=dword:00000001
"NoDriveTypeAutoRun"=dword:000000ff
3. Next, select the menu item “File” - “Save As”.
4. Select the file type “All files”
5. Specify the file name and extension for it “*.reg”
6. Close the Notepad program.

7. Run the newly created file and agree to make changes.
If the autorun function is still present, do the following:
1. Open Notepad
2. After launching Notepad, copy the following text there:
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

"AutoRun"=dword:0000001

"allocatecdromes"="0"

"NoDriveTypeAutoRun"=dword:00000091

"NoSaveSettings"=dword:00000000
3. Next, select the menu item “File” - “Save As”.
4. Select the file type "All files"
5. Specify the file name and extension for it “*.reg”
6. Then exit the Notepad program.
7. Run the newly created file and agree to make changes
8. Restart the Computer and check for autorun on the media.
Attention, this method will disable autorun for you from all storage media:
Flash and portable drives;
CD, DVD, BD discs;
Network drives;
Local disks.

15. Move the recycle bin from the desktop to the taskbar

If you feel like it fully free your desktop from icons, then you can do this. After all, in Windows 7 not only is it possible remove the Recycle Bin from the desktop, but even pin it to the taskbar.
1. Right-click on an empty space on the Desktop.
2. In the context menu, select Create - Shortcut.

3. In the Object location field, insert:
%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe shell:RecycleBinFolder

4. Click Next.
5. In the window that opens, in the Shortcut name field, enter Trash and click Finish.
6. A shortcut has appeared on the Desktop (to make sure it is the Recycle Bin, double-click it), but it looks like an Explorer shortcut, not Baskets. To fix this, right-click on it and select Properties, then click the button Change icon.
7. In the Search for icons in the following file field, enter:
%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll
and press Enter.

8. From the proposed collection of Windows 7 icons, select the Recycle Bin icon and click OK twice.
9. Now our Recycle Bin icon looks authentic. Drag it with the right or left mouse button somewhere on the taskbar.
10. Right-click on the desktop, select Personalization, then Change desktop icons and uncheck the Recycle Bin.

16. What to do if your hard drive partition disappears after installing Windows 7

Let's assume that your computer's hard drive contains two partitions (C and D) and after installing another OS on the second partition, the first partition disappeared. In reality, the section remained where it was, but Windows 7 did not assign a letter to it. Therefore, we do not have access to the data stored on this disk.

To assign a drive letter, go to Control Panel -> Administration -> Computer Management.

In the left menu, select Storage Devices -> Disk Management. This displays information about all drives connected to the computer, including logical drives (partitions), drives, and removable drives. Our lost partition is located here - it is displayed in the list and has neither a letter nor a volume label, but is recognized by the system as a hard drive.

1. Right-click on it and in the menu that appears, select Change drive letter or drive path.
2. In the window that opens, click the Add button.
3. In the window that opens, in the Assign a drive letter line, all free letters are presented in the form of a drop-down list; we can assign any of them to our “unidentified” partition.
4. Select a letter and press the OK button.

As you can see, setting up and optimizing the operation of Windows 7 with the proper approach is not a difficult and quick way to both improve the process of using your computer and increase its performance and speed.

Important!

If, after optimizing Windows operation, you have not achieved the desired result, or your actions have led to disruption of the system, USService specialists will help you.