here is an alphabetical list of 25 Windows XP services which most users
of a single non networked computer do not need and which can be
safely disabled. Click the Name column heading to sort your Services list
alphabetically so you can follow along more easily.

1. Alerter (no need for this one unless you are on network and need to send and
receive administrative alerts)

2. Clipbook (no need for this one unless you are on a network and do a lot of
copying and pasting to others on your network)

3. Computer Browser (only if you have a network you might want this one enabled
- it keeps track of the computers on the network)

4. Error Reporting Service (only enable this if you like those error reporting
boxes that pop up whenever you have some crash!)

5. Fast User Switching (if you like it enable it, if not, it's not needed)

6. Human Interface Access Devices (disable if you don't have devices such as
Internet keyboards with volume or play controls or scanners with hot key
functions)

7. Indexing Service (this one is a resource hog and tends to slow down system
performance).

8. Messenger (not the same as MSN messenger - this is the bad rep one used in
networking and allowing others to net send you messages or spam you at will)

9. Net Logon (not needed unless you are part of a Domain)

10. NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing ( security risk - it allows a remote
user with NetMeeting to access your computer)

11. Remote Desktop Help Session Manager ( security risk - disable this unless
you are a Remote Desktop user)

12. Remote Procedure Call Locator (wasn't sure about this one but after a year
of having it disabled, never caused a problem)

13. Remote Registry ( security risk - unless you want someone to be able to
edit your registry remotely, disable it)

14. Routing and Remote Access ( security risk - alllows lan and wan dial in
access to your computer)

15. Server (only if you are on a LAN, you may want this - for basic file and
print sharing services)

16. SSDP Discovery Service ( security risk - even Microsoft says this is a
security risk)

17. Telnet(security risk - should definitely be disabled unless you yourself
are using telnet)

18. Themes (if you are using the Windows classic interface - like in Windows 98
and 2000 - then you don't need this)

19. SSDP Discovery Service (security risk - it leaves Port 5000 open and
accessible!)

20. TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper (disable this for security reasons unless your
network is using the NetBios protocol)

21. Universal Plug and Play Device Host (security risk but note that some
multiplayer games using DirectX 7 and 8 may use this, but still a security risk)

22. Upload Manager ( not needed even if you do have a network - most use FTP
for file transfers)

23. Windows Time (optional - do you want Microsoft to run an always on
service to contact time servers to synchronize the clocks on your network?)

24. Wireless Zero Configuration (if you don't have a wireless network, why
have this running - you can always reenable it if you ever do get into Wireless)

25. WMI Performance Adapter (provides performance library information from WMI
HiPerf providers - not essential)