Below are a list of windows services that we reccomend you change to the manual setting. If you do not know how to do that, refer to our tweak on disabling windows services by clicking http://www.tweakxp.com/article37057.aspx.
Routing and Remote Access
Alerter
Application Layer Gateway Service** (only if firewll is not used)
Application Management
Background Intelligent Transfer Service
ClipBook
COM+ System Application
Distributed Link Tracking Client
Distributed Transaction Coordinator
Help and Support
IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service** (only if do you not use the cd-rw xp record suport)
IPSEC Services
Logical Disk Manager Administrative Service
MS Software Shadow Copy Provider
Net Logon
NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing
Network DDE
Network DDE DSDM
Network Location Awareness (NLA)
NT LM Security Support Provider
Performance Logs and Alerts
Portable Media Serial Number
QoS RSVP
Remote Desktop Help Session Manager
Remote Procedure Call (RPC) Locator
Remote Registry
Removable Storage
Server
Smart Card
Smart Card Helper
SSDP Discovery Service
System Restore Service
Telnet
Themes
Uninterruptible Power Supply
Universal Plug and Play Device Host
Volume Shadow Copy
Windows Image Acquisition (WIA)
Windows Installer
Windows Management Instrumentation Driver Extensions
Wireless Zero Configuration
WMI Performance Adapter
Fast User Switching Compatibility ** (only if fast user shiching is not used or the machine have one user only)
Protected Storage
Windows Time
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper
Task Scheduler
Secondary Logon
Print Spooler ** (only if the pc do not have or use a printer)
Indexing Service
Error Reporting Service
Computer Browser
Internet Connection Firewall (ICF) / Internet Connection Sharing
Originally posted by dhrf
Contrary to popular belief, disabling services wil do very little for performance. With rare exceptions services spend almost all of their time in a wait state and require zero CPU time. Thus, impact on performance will be nil. Disabling services, or setting them to manual will appear to free up considerable memory, but this is only a cosmetic improvement, performance will not be improved. Windows will release ths memory if it is needed for other purposes.
Disabling services may cost you essential functionality. Do not rely on the descriptions provided in the services applet as they are incomplete.
Setting a service to Manual is NOT a safe alternative to disabling it. Such a service CAN be started if necessary, but don't expect that either Windows or an application will do this. With few exceptions they will not.
Task Scheduler service must be set to Automatic for optimum performance.
In Windows 2000 and earlier this service was simply a convenience, but in XP and later it is also used by the system. If not active, the Prefetch function will be crippled (but not disabled), over time leading to performance degradation that can become severe. Some system maintenance tasks will also not take place. These run only during idle time and will not impact performance.
Larry Miller
Microsoft MCSA
And I have used most of these to reduce memory footprint, and they do work. Just shows you how worthless paper Microsoft Certs are given Larry's answer above. I;ve found most MCSx's to be useless, until they get some actual job experience -- and they are dangerous when you have to maintain a real environment like Unix server, where there is mainly the command line, and brain power, not a gimped out MS crutch gui.