Turn Off Unnecessary Windows Services, Speed up PC

Windows is notorious for having useless features and CPU resource hogging programs/services enabled by default. Today’s post is about removing some of the useless services. Services are kind of like startup programs, they are usually not necessary, they slow down your computer, and they slow down the boot up process; however, some are useful so thats why I have made a list of ones to get rid of.0 To turn off services in windows you go to Start > Run > Type: 'services.msc' > Double Click on the service you want to alter and change the startup type to disabled or manual as directed in the list of unnecessary services below.

Unnecessary Windows Services
  • AdobeLM Service: Not all computers have this service, still it is useless, just disable it if you have it.
  • Alerter: Disable this one if you are not on a network because you don’t need to receive alerts.
  • Application Management: Set this to manual.
  • Automatic Updates: Disable it if you don’t require auto updating and patching of Windows.
  • ClipBook: Disable this if you are not on a network, since you don’t need to share anything.
  • Computer Browser: Disable this too if you are not on a network, as you don’t need to browse and monitor connected computers.
  • Cryptographic Services: Set this to manual if you are not sure you need it.
  • Distributed Transaction Service: Set this to manual.
  • DNS Client: Set this to manual if you are not on a network.
  • Error Reporting Service: Disable this useless service for reporting errors to Microsoft. After all, it doesn’t help you solve the problem.
  • Fast User Switching Compatibility: Disable it if you have only a single user on your computer, or if you do not use fast user switching feature much. That is, if you completely log-off and then allow other users to use your computer, then you do not need this. Note that this service is completely useless for low memory computers.
  • FTP Publishing: Disable this if you do not use FTP.
  • Help and Support: Set it to manual or turn it off if you do not use the help feature often.
  • HTTP SSL: Set it to manual.
  • Human Interface Device Access: Turn it off if you do not use hot-keys or remote systems on your computer; if you use them sometimes, it is better turn it to manual.
  • IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service: Set this to manual to save memory and time. Do not turn it to disabled if you have a CD writer or a DVD writer attached to your computer.
  • Indexing Service: Turn it off, it uses lots of CPU
  • InstallDriver Table Manager: Disable it.
  • IPSEC Services: Set this to manual.
  • Windows Messenger: Disable this if you are not on a network, it uses too much memory and it is a hog. Use Gaim instead.
  • MS Software Shadow Copy Provider: Set this to manual.
  • Net Logon: Disable if you are not on a network.
  • NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing: Disable this if you do not use Remote Desktop feature.
  • Network Provisioning Service: Disable this, it’s useless if you are not on a network.
  • NT LM Security Support Provider: Disable this, its useless too.
  • NVIDIA Display Driver Service: If you do not use the features of nVidia Desktop, this service must be disabled; it is a big hog of memory.
  • Office Source Engine: Disable it if you have a MS Office CD handy always, its helpful if your installation goes corrupt.
  • Portable Media Serial Number Service: Set it to manual if you connect portable media to your computer, otherwise disable it.
  • Print Spooler: Disable it if you don’t have a printer.
  • Protected Storage: Disable it if you don’t allow strangers to sit on your encrypted storage computer.
  • Remote Desktop Help Session Manager: Disable it if you don’t use Remote Desktop feature for help and support from Microsoft. You don’t get support from Microsoft usually anyways.
  • Remote Procedure Call Locator: Set it to manual.
  • Remote Registry: Serious security threat if turned on, disable it now!
  • Removable Storage: Disable it if you don’t use removable storage drives, else turn it manual.
  • Routing and Remote Access: Set it to manual.
  • Secondary Logon: Useless feature for most, disable it or turn it manual.
  • Security Accounts Manager: Disable it, it’s pretty useless, unless you use NTFS Encryption.
  • Security Center: Damn useless and irritating feature. Disable it as soon as you can!
  • Server: Set it to manual or disable it if you are not on network.
  • Smart Card: Disable it. Seriously who uses smart cards for their home computers?
  • SSDP Discovery Service: Disable it of not on network or don’t have UPnP devices on home networks.
  • TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper: Set it to manual if on network, otherwise disable it.
  • Telnet: Set it to manual if you use this feature, otherwise disable it, especially if you are home users.
  • Terminal Services: Since you aren’t using Remote Desktop etc… disable it for good.
  • Uninterrupted Power Supply: Disable it if you don’t have an UPS attached to the serial port of your computer.
  • Universal Plug and Play Device Host: Set it to manual.
  • User Privilege Service: Set it to manual.
  • Volume Shadow Copy: Disable it if you don’t backup using System Restore or Windows Backup. I recommend Ghost.
  • Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing (ICS): Disable this if you have another firewall such as Norton or Zone Alarm installed, otherwise let it remain ON for better security.
  • Windows Image Acquisition (WIA): If you don’t connect/use a camera/scanner with your computer, disable this service, else set it to manual.
  • Windows Media Connect: Disable this if you don’t use things such as an iPod etc… for your Windows Media Player.
  • Windows Media Connect (WMC) Helper: Disable this if you disabled the one above or if you don’t need help.
  • Windows Time: Disable if not on a synchronized network.
  • Wireless Zero Configuration: Disable if not on a wireless network.
  • WMI Performance Adapters: Disable it, useless service for basic usage.
  • Workstation: Disable if you aren’t on a network. Or simply, if you are a gamer, just shut this one.

List of Run Commands for Windows 7

I'm posting a list of Run Commands every PowerUser or Administrator should know in bold below. So if you know anymore new ones, Please Post them here hope this helps! 
 
Windows logo key + R

Administrative Tools

Administrative Tools = control admintools
Authorization Manager = azman.msc
Component Services = dcomcnfg
Certificate Manager = certmgr.msc
Direct X Troubleshooter = dxdiag
Display Languages = lpksetup
ODBC Data Source Administrator = odbcad32
File Signature Verification Tool = sigverif
Group Policy Editor = gpedit.msc
Add Hardware Wizard = hdwwiz.cpl
iSCSI Initiator = iscsicpl
Iexpress Wizard = iexpress
Local Security Settings = secpol.msc
Microsoft Support Diagnostic Tool = msdt
Microsoft Management Console = mmc
Print management = printmanagement.msc
Printer User Interface = printui
Problems Steps Recorder = psr
People Near Me = p2phost
Registry Editor = regedit or regedt32
Resoure Monitor = resmon
System Configuration Utility = msconfig
Resultant Set of Policy = rsop.msc
SQL Server Client Configuration = cliconfg
Task Manager = taskmgr
Trusted Platform Module = tpm.msc
TPM Security Hardware = TpmInit
Windows Remote Assistance = msra
Windows Share Folder Creation Wizard = shrpubw
Windows Standalong Update Manager = wusa
Windows System Security Tool = syskey
Windows Script Host Settings = wscript
Windows Version = winver
Windows Firewall with Advanced Security = wf.msc
Windows Memory Diagnostic = MdSched
Windows Malicious Removal Tool = mrt

Computer Management

Computer Management = compmgmt.msc or CompMgmtLauncher
Task Scheduler = control schedtasks
Event Viewer = eventvwr.msc
Shared Folders/MMC = fsmgmt.msc
Local Users and Groups = lusrmgr.msc
Performance Monitor = perfmon.msc
Device Manager = devmgmt.msc
Disk Management = diskmgmt.msc
Services = services.msc
Windows Management Infrastructure = wmimgmt.msc

Conrtol Panel

Control Panel = control
Action Center= wscui.cpl
Autoplay = control.exe /name Microsoft.autoplay
Backup and Restore = sdclt
Create a System Repair disc = recdisc
BDE Administrator = bdeadmin.cpl
Color Management = colorcpl
Credential Manager = control.exe /name Microsoft.CredentialManager
Credential Manager Stored User Names and Passwords = credwiz
Date and Time Properties = timedate.cpl
Default Programs = control.exe /name Microsoft.DefaultPrograms
Set Program Access and Computer Defaults = control appwiz.cpl,,3 or ComputerDefaults
Devices and Printers = control printers
Devices and Printers Add a Device = DevicePairingWizard
Display = dpiscaling
Screen Resolution = desk.cpl
Display Color Calibration = dccw
Cleartype Text Tuner = cttune
Folders Options = control folders
Fonts = control fonts
Getting Started = GettingStarted
HomeGroup = control.exe /name Microsoft.HomeGroup
Indexing Options = control.exe /name Microsoft.IndexingOptions
Internet Properties = inetcpl.cpl
Keyboard = control keyboard
Location and Other Sensors = control.exe /name Microsoft.LocationandOtherSensors
Location Notifications = LocationNotifications
Mouse = control mouse or main.cpl
Network and Sharing Center = control.exe /name Microsoft.NetworkandSharingCenter
Network Connections = control netconnections or ncpa.cpl
Notification Area Icons = control.exe /name Microsoft.NotificationAreaIcons
Parental Controls = control.exe /name Microsoft.ParentalControls
Performance Information = control.exe /name Microsoft.PerformanceInformationandTools
Personalization = control desktop
Windows Color and Appearance = control color
Phone and Modem Options = telephon.cpl
Power Configuration = powercfg.cpl
Programs and Features = appwiz.cpl or control appwiz.cpl
Optional Features Manager = optionalfeatures or control appwiz.cpl,,2
Recovery = control.exe /name Microsoft.Recovery
Regional and Language = intl.cpl
RemoteApp = control.exe /name Microsoft.RemoteAppandDesktopConnections
Sound = mmsys.cpl
Volume Mixer = sndvol
System Properties = sysdm.cpl or Windows logo key + Pause/Break
SP ComputerName Tab = SystemPropertiesComputerName
SP Hardware Tab = SystemPropertiesHardware
SP Advanced Tab = SystemPropertiesAdvanced
SP Performance = SystemPropertiesPerformance
SP Data Execution Prevention = SystemPropertiesDataExecutionPrevention
SP Protection Tab = SystemPropertiesProtection
SP Remote Tab = SystemPropertiesRemote
Windows Activation = slui
Windows Activation Phone Numbers = slui 4
Taskbar and Start Menu = control.exe /name Microsoft.TaskbarandStartMenu
Troubleshooting = control.exe /name Microsoft.Troubleshooting
User Accounts = control.exe /name Microsoft.UserAccounts
User Account Control Settings = UserAccountControlSettings
User Accounts Windows 2000/domain version = netplwiz or control userpasswords2
Encryption File System = rekeywiz
Windows Anytime Upgrade = WindowsAnytimeUpgradeui
Windows Anytime Upgrade Results = WindowsAnytimeUpgradeResults
Windows CardSpace = control.exe /name Microsoft.cardspace
Windows Firewall = firewall.cpl
WindowsSideshow = control.exe /name Microsoft.WindowsSideshow
Windows Update App Manager = wuapp

Accessories

Calculator = calc
Command Prompt = cmd
Connect to a Network Projector = NetProj
Presentation Settings = PresentationSettings
Connect to a Projector = displayswitch or Windows logo key + P
Notepad = notepad
Microsoft Paint = mspaint.exe
Remote Desktop Connection = mstsc
Run = Windows logo key + R
Snipping Tool = snippingtool
Sound Recorder = soundrecorder
Sticky Note = StikyNot
Sync Center = mobsync
Windows Mobility Center (Only on Laptops) = mblctr or Windows logo key + X
Windows Explorer = explorer or Windows logo key + E
Wordpad = write
Ease of Access Center = utilman or Windows logo key + U
Magnifier = magnify
Narrator = Narrator
On Screen Keyboard = osk
Private Character Editor = eudcedit
Character Map = charmap
Ditilizer Calibration Tool = tabcal
Disk Cleanup Utility = cleanmgr
Defragment User Interface = dfrgui
Internet Explorer = iexplore
Rating System = ticrf
Internet Explorer (No Add-ons) = iexplore -extoff
Internet Explorer (No Home) = iexplore about:blank
Phone Dialer = dialer
Printer Migration = PrintBrmUi
System Information = msinfo32
System Restore = rstrui
Windows Easy Transfer = migwiz
Windows Media Player = wmplayer
Windows Media Player DVD Player = dvdplay
Windows Fax and Scan Cover Page Editor = fxscover
Windows Fax and Scan = wfs
Windows Image Acquisition = wiaacmgr
Windows PowerShell ISE = powershell_ise
Windows PowerShell = powershell
XPS Viewer = xpsrchvw

Open Documents folder = documents
Open Pictures folder = pictures
Open Music folder = music
Open Videos folder = videos
Open Downloads folder = downloads
Open Favorites folder = favorites
Open Recent folder = recent
Logs out of Windows = logoff
Locks User Account = Windows logo Key + L

So if you know anymore new ones, Please Post them here hope this helps!  :)