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108 August 2009

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Mark Wilson trims the fat from Windows Services for a faster and leaner PC

When it comes to improving the performance of Windows, there are a number of techniques which should help to reduce

demand on the processor and generally speed up your PC. Programs that start automatically with Windows are the most well-known culprits leading to longer boot times, unnecessary memory use and a general reduction in performance; while these are fairly easily to manage, if you want to fully gain control of your rig, you’re going to have to delve a little deeper.

Whether you’re working with Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7, there are likely to be a number of services which are simply not needed and by disabling them, or at least taking control of them, you can help to speed up your PC.

While the bulk of this feature will focus on regaining control of services, we’ll also take a look at some of the other irritating aspect of Windows and reveal what steps can be taken to tame them. By working through the advice that follows, you can ensure that only programs and services that are essential to the smooth running of Windows are executed, thereby maximising performance for more important applications. It may not be immediately obvious just how many programs

are running on your computer at any given time - you may think that there are only a few, but the chances are that there are several more lurking in the background. To get an idea, right-click an empty section of the Taskbar and select the Task Manager option from the menu that appears. Move to the Processes tab to view a list of everything that currently running; the Services tab displays even more. Add together everything contained in both of these lists, and it’s little wonder that Windows can seem sluggish at times. Spend a little time ensuring that only essential services and programs are running, and you can reap the benefi ts of a faster, more stable machine. Read on to fi nd out how to wrestle back control of Windows.

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Left Answering a few simple questions is all that is required to optimise Vista’s services.

Above Use the System Confi guration utility to test whether startup programs can be disabled

Services can be viewed in much the same way as software you may choose to install - some are useful and serve a purpose, while others are not applicable and are a waste of time and resources. Just as unnecessary software would be disabled or uninstalled by most people, the same attitude should be adopted towards Services. But before getting started, it is important to understand a little more about these Services.

The fi rst thing to do when it comes to optimising Services is to take a look at the services that exist and see which are currently enabled. All versions of Windows include a tool, which can be used to manage services and this can be accessed by pressing [Windows] and [R] simultaneously, typing ‘services.msc’ and then pressing [Enter]. The window that is displays lists all of the services that are currently installed; select one to view a description.

While the description shown at this point can sometimes help to identify the purposes of a service, they are often written in such impenetrable and obtuse language that it makes them mostly diffi cult to decipher. However, using the information in this article you should be able to determine which are needed and which you can safely live without. In addition to the Description column and pane, it’s worth taking note of two other columns. The Status column indicates whether a particular service has been activated or not, while the Startup Type column shows whether a service has been confi gured to start automatically when Windows boots up, whether it starts only when it’s needed or whether the service is completely disabled.

Before making any changes to service settings, it is important to have an appropriate backup in place just in case something goes awry. For details of the steps you can take, have a look at ‘Services safeguards’ on page 111. With these precautions out of the way, it’s time to start working with Services.

Trimming the fatFor the average home user, there are a number of services that can be disabled. Start with the Distributed

Link Tracking Client. This maintains links between fi les and shortcuts on large networks and is not required in a home networking environment. Double-click the entry for this item in the Services list and click the ‘Stop’ button in the centre of the dialog to terminate it. To prevent it from running in future, select ‘Disable’ from the ‘Startup Type’ drop down menu and then hit [OK]. The same technique can be used to change the default behaviour of a number of activities,

although some are best switched to manual mode, rather than being disabled altogether. IP Helper, for instance, is only relevant to networks which make use of the latest internet protocol, IPv6 protocol and as the vast majority of us are still using IPv4, this can be safely deactivated. Remote Registry allows for registry editing from another computer. Aside from being a security concern, it’s also unnecessary and can be disabled without any worries. Unless you use a special smart card to access your computer, the Smart Card service is also not really needed, and the same goes for Smart Card Removal Policy. Other likely candidates to disable include Tablet PC Input Service, Windows Search and WebClient, but check to ensure that you genuinely don’t need them.

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Above Use the

at the services that exist and see which

Before making any changes to Link Tracking Client. This maintains

“Services can be viewed in much the same way as software – some are useful, while others are a waste of time”

PCF229.feature3 110 17/6/09 7:55:30 am

Services safeguardsServices safeguardsThere are a huge number of services to work with, no matter what version of Windows you have installed, and some of them are essential to the smooth running of the operating system. While many are optional, disabling others can lead to serious problems, so creating a backup is highly recommended. The easiest way to do this is to create a backup of Services via the Registry. Open the Registry Editor by clicking the Start button followed by ‘Run’ or press [Windows] + [R] simultaneously. Type ‘regedit’ and press [Enter], and click ‘Yes’ if a User Account Control dialog is displayed. The structure of the Registry is very similar to that of Windows Explorer, and you can navigate in the same way.

Navigate to ‘HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\

CurrentControlSet\Services’, right-click the ‘Services’ key in the left hand pane and select ‘Export’ from the menu that’s displayed. Enter a suitable name for the backup and click ‘Save’ to create a .reg fi le. Should anything go wrong, your original settings can be reinstated by simply double-clicking this fi le and merging the data it contains back into the Registry. In a worst case scenario, it may be necessary to start Windows in Safe Mode, but after a quick reboot, everything should be back to normal.

Another option is to take advantage of Windows’ System Restore feature. In Windows XP, click Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore, ensure that the ‘Create a restore point’ option is selected and click ‘Next’. After entering a suitable

name for the restore point, click ‘Create’. The process is slightly different in Vista and Windows 7. Click ‘Start’, right-click ‘Computer’ and select ‘Properties’. Click the ‘System protection’ link to the left of the screen and then click the ‘Create’ button at the bottom If required, System Restore can be used to rollback settings.

Below The Black Viper website is an excellent source of information about services for all versions of Windows

If you want further information about Services, a great source of information is the Black Viper website at www.blackviper.com. There you’ll fi nd services details for all versions of Windows, as well as registry fi les that can be used to quickly disable a large number of services for Vista in one fell swoop. This option should be used with caution as it is possible to make incorrect selections. Pay a visit to the Windows Vista Custom Services Registry File Tool page on Black Viper tinyurl.com/oejrry and click the link that corresponds with the version of Vista you have installed. Use the radio buttons to choose between ‘Automatic’, ‘Manual’ and ‘Disabled’ settings for each of the services that is listed and then click the ‘Create File’ button. Copy and paste the code that’s displayed into a new Notepad document, click File > Save As, make sure that ‘All Files’ is selected from the drop down menu and save the fi le with a suitable name, ensuring that the .reg extension is added. This fi le can then be double-clicked to merge the data it contains into the Registry. It also serves as a great Services backup tool, so the same tweaks can be quickly applied should Windows ever have to be reinstalled.

Tweaking toolsThis sort of manual tweaking is all well and good if you enjoy messing about, but it’s not for everyone. If you’re looking for a quick fi x, try using Vista Services Optimizer. This free program can be downloaded from Smart PC

Utilities here: tinyurl.com/r7m95a and can be used to edit service settings very easily.

It can be put to work in one of three ways: Launch the program and click the ‘Services Diagnostics’ button to the left of the window. By answering a few simply questions, Vista Services Optimizer will be able to provide advice about a number of services that can be disabled. This can be done using the tool built into Windows as described earlier, or by heading to the Manual TuneUp section of the program. The Manual section provides the second means of using the program, making it possible to quickly and easily enable and disable services as required. The advantage of this method over navigating Windows Services is that the descriptions of services are far easier to understand, so it’s much, much clear what each service does.

The fi nal option is to take advantage of Vista Services Optimizer’s Automatic TuneUp option. This is a quick and dirty route to Services optimisation which requires no knowledge of Services whatsoever. Simply use the selection boxes and radio button to indicate the type of computer you are using, the type of hardware that’s connected to your machine, and how the computer is going to be used. After clicking ‘Apply Changes’, any services which the tool deems as redundant will be automatically disabled.

But services are far from the end of the story; Windows has numerous other ways to waste resources.

Programs that run automatically at system startup may be useful, but as more and more software is installed over time it is likely that a number of virtually useless additions have been made. Prime examples include programs that automatically check for software updates.

Program cullingOne of the easiest ways to check what is running at startup is to open up the All Program section of the Start menu and look in the Startup group. Any shortcut that is listed here relates to a program which is confi gured to start automatically with Windows. If there’s anything here which you feel you can live without, simply right-click the shortcut and select ‘Delete’ from the context menu that‘s displayed. However, even after unwanted programs have been removed from the Startup group, it is likely that there are

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can be used to rollback settings.

Whether via the Registry or System Restore, it is important to backup Services settings before

making changes

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Viruses as servicesViruses as servicesIn recent years, computer users have become more aware of the need to keep an eye on what is running on their computer and are now more savvy about checking for startup programs. But despite this, the number of virus infections continues to increase each year and this can be partly blamed on the worrying number of people who still do not have antivirus software installed. But even if antivirus and antispyware software is installed, this is not enough to protect against all instances of malicious software.

One sneaky way in which some malware attempts to avoid detection is to install itself as a fake system service; even the more vigilant computer user is unlikely to question something that appears in this list, or at least that is the hope of the original

hacker. Taking things even further, malicious services can be hidden from view (often referred to as a rootkit) which makes them even more diffi cult to detect manually.

While there are a number of free antivirus program available, such as AVG from free.avg.com, many do not offer protection against rootkits. There are a couple of options here. The fi rst is to invest in a paid-for antivirus tool which included rootkit scanning – such as the full version of AVG Antivirus – while the second is to turn to a free, dedicated rootkit detector. One such tool can be found in the form of GMER at www.gmer.net.

The program may look a little basic, however, it does do a thorough job of tracking down any traces of rootkit activity by searching for suspicious

fi les, changes to Registry and the presence of hidden programs running in the background. Alternatively, you may be interested in trying out F-Secure’s Backlight, which is available as part of the company’s online security scanner. Download it from here: tinyurl.com/cwnvne.

Above Use Vista Services Optimizer to quickly determine which services are not needed by your computer.

still a number of hidden autorun programs enabled. There are various ways to access them, but by far the easiest method is to make use of the Registry directly.

Launch the Registry Editor using the method outlined earlier, expand the keys displayed in the left-hand pane and navigate to ‘HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run’. In the right-hand pane you should see a number of programs listed and all of these will run automatically when the current user logs in. This is not all that starts with Windows and if you navigate to ‘HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run’, you’ll fi nd a list of programs which will start automatically for all user accounts.

Delving into the RegSome of these programs can be easily identifi ed by the name that appears in the fi rst column, but this is not always the case. The information listed in the Data column provides details about the location of the program which the entry refers to, and the names included in this path can further aid identifi cation. In addition to program update checkers, here you are also likely to fi nd entries that relate to antivirus software as well as tools relating to graphics cards and other third-party tools. While it may be tempting to jump in and simply delete everything, it is likely that at least some of the entries should be left well

alone. Antivirus software, for example, is essential while other entries may relate to features of particular programs you use frequently.

Another way to control startup programs is to make use of the System Confi guration Utility. This can be launched from the Run box by typing ‘msconfi g’ and pressing [Enter]. Although it is not a good idea to disable services from here, the Startup tab can be used to control startup items. After unticking the box next to any programs you feel you can live without, click ‘OK’ and restart Windows. At the next boot, a message will be displayed indicating that Startup items have been changed, but Windows can be used as normal. If there are any undesirable side-effects stemming from disabling a particular item, System Confi guration can be used to re-enable items with a few clicks, although programs that don’t cause any problems can then be

fully disabled via the Registry as described above.

Scheduled tasks can also serve to slow down your computer. Open the Task Scheduler from the Start menu to view a list of all the programs which are confi gured to run on a regular basis, such as defragmentation tools, virus scans and so on, and delete anything which is not needed. While some scheduled tasks are useful, many can be manually launched when required, and by disabling the tasks themselves, you can regain control over how your computer is used. This means that gaming can continue without fear of slowdown or interruption from processor-hogging activities.

As well as gaming, there are other computing activities which should not be interrupted, such as watching fi lms. When playing a DVD or video fi lm, the lack of keyboard presses and mouse movements can lead Windows to believe that the computer is not being used and the screensaver may be displayed or the computer may even go into hibernation or sleep mode. One way to avoid this is to disable the screensaver altogether, but another option is to make use of Caffe1ne. This tiny program can be downloaded from tinyurl.com/o7pqty, and when it’s running it will automatically simulate the [Shift] key being pressed every minute or so. Just confi gure the program to autorun and enable it whenever it’s required, or opt to launch it manually before starting a fi lm. It is also a good idea to disable sleep mode,

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Above Use Vista

Launch the Registry Editor using the

alone. Antivirus software, for example,

here: tinyurl.com/cwnvnetinyurl.com/cwnvne.

The installation of virus software such as AVG Antivirus is essential to avoid the unwanted

infection of a rootkit

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Anatomy of a serviceAnatomy of a serviceWhen working with services, it is important that you do not just disable things at random. As well as having to remember that some services are likely to relate to features of Windows or applications that you use, it is also important to bear in mind that there are interdependencies between some services. While the description of one particular service may make it sound as though it is not needed, it’s possible that there are other vital services which rely on it being enabled. This is where it pays to look into services in a little more detail.

In the Services utility, double-click a service and move to the ‘Dependencies’ tab. The dialog that appears is divided into two sections, with the upper portion indicating which services and Windows components the currently

selected service is dependent on. The lower portion of the dialog lists the services and components which are dependent on the currently selected service being enabled. In many cases, the list of dependencies can be fairly lengthy, highlighting the complex nature of services.

One of the most used services is Remote Procedure Call. This particular service is so important that you should fi nd that it’s not possible to disable it. The service is essential to a large number of features, which make use of the internet or network, but there are numerous other dependencies to consider, including printing, scanning and a range of security features. While it is not easy to disable this service, it can be done, but the fact that this could result in an

unbootable system underlines the importance of understanding the function of a services before tinkering with its settings. If you are in any doubt about a particular service, take time to do a little research before deciding what to do with it.

Left Whatever version of Windows you’re using, the tool using for managing services looks very similar.

and this can be achieved through the Power Options Control Panel.

Playing with ProcessesWe have already mentioned that Windows’ Task Manager can be used to view a list of everything that is currently running on your computer. If you move to the Processes tab you are likely to fi nd that there are several instance of svchost.exe running. This is not really a program in its own right and should not be terminated as it an essential process. Svchost.exe is called into action whenever a service that is launched from a DLL (Dynamic Linked Library). By default, there is no way of knowing which service has caused the

appearance of a particular instance of svchost.exe, so it is best left alone until further investigations have been carried out.

One of the easiest ways to do a little detective work into this process is to install Process Explorer from TechNet tinyurl.com/38bfsq. Once the download is complete, extract the fi les and launch the program. Under the services.exe section you should see a series of entries for svchost.exe. Just hover your cursor over one of the names and the details of which service it’s associated with will be displayed. In the vast majority of cases, it is advisable to leave these processes running, but after determining their

reason for running they can be stopped by right-clicking an entry and selecting the ‘Kill Process’ option. Generally speaking, the best way to reduce the number of instances of svchost.exe which run, is to disable the service which is associated with it, providing it is not actually needed.

Many of the tweaks we have covered in this feature are examples of trying to tame features of Windows that Microsoft considers to be helpful. But the automation of tasks can also have a detrimental effect on performance, so it makes a great deal of sense to take a little time working out what’s essential and which programs and services you can live without. A little time spent streamlining the operation of your computer can really pay off, helping to ensure that Windows not only starts faster than it did before, but also performs better in general.

All of these performance gains can be achieved free of charge using either tools that are built into Windows or through freeware third-party tools, so there’s no need or reason to spend money on potentially expensive hardware upgrades. As with any form of tweaking, particularly bearing mind that editing the Registry is involved, backing up data is essential. Be certain that you have safeguarded any important personal documents just in case something goes wrong. Problems are unlikely, and the most that should be expected is a leaner, more stable operating system which you are now in complete control of. ¤

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deciding what to do with it.

Move to the Dependencies to fi nd out which services rely on each other and

which are standalone entities

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