DRASTICALLY improve performance on winxp by disabling services Secure your computer by reducing your footprint/unneeded services running
BE AWARE that many applications depend on obscure services and services depend on other services -> trial and error and a few restarts...
A guide of what the services actually do (and keeping in mind what you need) http://www.optimizingpc.com/optimize/windowsservices.html
OFTEN DISABLED
alerter automatic updates clipbook
computer browser updates of cpus on the network to speed up network browsing
fast user switching compatibility (if you have multiple users on the same cpu
that need to quickly change...)
human interface device
imapi cd-burning com (to burn cd's using MS' built in...)
indexing (runs in "background" to track all files so
that if you use F3 search it's faster...)
infrared monitor (detects infrared devices...)
ipsec (used for corporate VPN's)
messenger
ms software shadow copy provider (for "shadow copy backups" of running apps)
netmeeting remote desktop sharing (for MS netmeeting to share a desktop)
network dde
network dde dsdm
portable media serial number (so MS can track your portable devices)
QoS RSVP
remote registry (corporate IT can control your computer)
routing and remote access (so your cpu can act as a router?)
smart card (required for smart card security readers)
ssdp discovery (auto-discover/broadcast universal PnP devices)
system restore (roll back after a driver install or problem)
tcp/ip netbios helper (corporate - resolve computer names with WINS)
telnet (telnet server for random people to hack you)
themes (silly colors on menus)
volume shadow copy (MS method of backing up files that are in use)
webclient (MS method of editing .html files)
windows firewall/internet connection (MS firewall + internet sharing...)
windows time (your computer asks MS for the time...)
wired autoconfig (corporate NIC level authentication for LAN)
wireless zero configuration (necessary if using windows wireless)
MANUAL (which means some other app may start them but they're off at boot)
distributed link tracking error reporting service