Even though Windows 7 is much more responsive than its predecessor, Vista, its default settings are far from optimal. However, when speeding up the work of the “seven”, it is necessary to take into account that some changes made to its settings lead to a deterioration in the functionality and appearance of the system. Your task is to choose a configuration that will provide you with the optimal balance between performance, functionality and appearance. Next, we will look at several ways to speed up the operation of a number of Windows 7 systems, as well as a number of its utilities.
Windows 7: system boot optimization
It is known that the greatest irritation for the user is the long loading of the operating system. Despite the fact that the "seven" is optimized by the developers in such a way that it loads 10-20 seconds faster than Vista, users always strive to make it even faster. Multi-core processors allow you to speed up system loading even more, for which you need to perform a number of settings. Open the msconfig utility by typing its name in the Start menu bar. In the window that opens, we need the Download tab, where we need to click on the Advanced options button. Check the box next to Number of processors and select the maximum number of your cores from the drop-down menu. After you click OK to save the settings, reboot the system, and you will see how much faster Windows 7 boots. Windows. Therefore, opening the msconfig utility again, let's go to its other Startup tab. Many Windows applications are registered in the system startup without the user noticing. When there are too many such programs, downloading begins to slow down significantly. Therefore, carefully analyze the list of applications presented in the startup tab and uncheck all programs that you do not need. Ideally, you should leave a checkmark next to the name of your antivirus only. In the same way, you can speed up the loading of Windows by disabling all unnecessary services that slow down not only startup, but also operation. We will look at disabling them below.Optimizing services in Windows 7
Throughout the Windows OS family there are many services designed to interact with internal hardware, drivers and some system options. Many third-party programs also add their own services to the system. Working in the background, many services significantly reduce system performance without improving its functionality at all. Moreover, a number of Windows 7 services are detrimental to the overall security of the system. Such services, first of all, include the default Remote Registry, which allows an attacker to make any changes to the system. There are two ways to open the service management utility: go to Control Panel – Administrative Tools – Services or enter services.msc into the Start menu bar. After launching this application, a window will open in front of you with a list of all services. To disable a particular service, you need to left-click on it, after which a window will open. Click the Stop button to stop the service and change the startup type to Disabled to prevent it from being enabled again the next time you start the system. After that, click Apply and OK, the service will no longer interfere with your computer. When working with the list of services, you should be especially careful, since disabling the desired process can lead to a partial loss of system functionality: certain equipment or applications may stop working. If you have made changes to the properties of several dozen services at the same time, find the required service, required for the operation of a particular program, will not be easy. Below we provide a list of services that can be disabled on almost any computer, be it a single machine or part of a local network.- The remote registry allows remote users to make changes to the system registry. For security reasons, this service should be disabled.
- Offline Files is responsible for implementing the Offline Files API. Not needed by the vast majority of users. Turn it off.
- The Tablet PC Input Service is required for pen and similar input devices to work on tablets. Turn it off.
- The Windows Error Logging Service is responsible for logging system errors. If, when problems arise with your PC, you are in the habit of analyzing log entries to identify the causes of errors, leave the service startup type at Auto. If you are almost never interested in what is recorded in the system log, you can disable the service.
- IPsec key modules for key exchange... - provides IKE key management and authenticated IP functionality. Turn it off.
- Client for tracking changed connections. The service monitors file associations within the NTFS system. Once disabled, your computer will run faster.
- Windows Search is necessary to index files on your computer to enable search functionality. If you do not use the system's built-in search, you can disable the service.
- Parental Control. This service was introduced into Windows 7 from the Vista version and is needed only for compatibility with it. Turn it off.
- IPSec Policy Agent. Almost never used on a home PC. Turn it off.
- KtmRm for distributed transaction coordinator. If you read the description of the service, it becomes clear that it is not recommended to start it unless you are sure that you need it. Turn it off.
- IP Ancillary Service. Not used on a home computer. Turn it off.
- Print Manager. If you do not use the printer, disable this service. If you print documents occasionally, try setting the startup to Manual. If printing does not work in this case, change the startup type to Auto. Whether your printer will work or not with the Manual startup type depends only on its drivers.
- A secondary login is required to run processes as a different user. Disabled for security reasons.
- Fax. We disable it if you do not send or receive faxes.
- Windows Defender protects against spyware. You can disable it if you plan to install an alternative security system on your system.
- Windows Firewall. Can be disabled if you have installed a third-party firewall on your system.
- Smart Card Removal Policy. If you don't use smart cards, you don't need the service.
- Microsoft iSCSI Initiator Service. If you do not use iSCSI devices, you can set the service startup type to Manual.
- SSDP discovery is required for devices that use the SSDP protocol. Can be disabled.
- Adaptive brightness control is only necessary for owners of PCs with a built-in light sensor for automatic adjustment monitor brightness.
- A computer browser is required to discover working machines on the local network. A single computer does not need the service. Turn it off.
- Server. The service is required only for computers used for file or printer sharing. Turn it off.
- Bluetooth support service. Disable it if you don't have Bluetooth.
Reducing shutdown time: Windows 7 optimization
The system shutdown time can also be reduced, but this can only be done using a somewhat barbaric method - reducing the time that is given to the process to complete running programs. If the system does not have time to complete their work, they will be stopped forcibly. Open the registry again and find the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE -> System -> CurrentControlSet -> Control branch there. Find the WaitToKillServiceTimeout parameter there and change its value from 12000 to 2000.ReadyBoost function
Windows 7 has an option to use flash drives in addition to RAM for data caching. This allows you to speed up data read and write operations and also increases system performance. To use the ReadyBoost option, you must have USB drives or flash cards connected to the PC using a card reader. Insert the drive into the USB port of your computer and in the Autorun window, select Speed up the system using Windows ReadyBoost. Specify the space limit available for use. To save the settings, click the Apply and OK buttons. After this, the ReadyBoost.sfcache file will be created on the USB drive. Under no circumstances remove the flash drive from the computer!Optimizing your hard drive in Windows 7
This function is valid in the Windows family of systems, starting with version XP, it is also available in the “seven”, however, if in XP this option was enabled by default, in Windows you must enable it yourself. Right-click on the My Computer icon and open Device Manager. Find Disk devices in the list, right-click on the HDD name and select Properties. A window will appear where we need the Policy tab. Check the box next to “Disable buffer clearing...”. Here in the Device Manager we find the IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers branch in the list, where in the properties of all ATA channels in the Additional parameters tab, check the box next to the Enable DMA item.Speed up copying and moving files
One of the new options in Windows 7 is remote differential compression, which is designed to calculate the differences between two objects, which reduces the amount of data transferred, but requires more calculation time. You can disable this option in the Windows Components utility. Find the Programs and Features icon in Control Panel and open Turn Windows features on or off from the list on the left. Uncheck the box next to Remote differential compression.Disabling driver signature verification
This setting will significantly reduce the time required to install drivers. Use the Start menu to find the gpedit.msc utility. Then, in User Configuration, go to Administrative Templates -> System -> Driver Installation. Click Digital signature of device drivers and in the window that opens, select Disable, click Apply and OK.Speed up thumbnail viewing
To increase the speed of viewing thumbnails, make the necessary settings in the registry. Open the HKEY_CURRENT_USER -> Control Panel -> Mouse branch. Change the MouseHoverTime setting to 100 or lower.Speed up the Start menu
When you open the Start menu, the system spends some time identifying and highlighting recently installed programs. If you do not need this option, you can disable it, reducing the time it takes to open the menu. Right-click on the Start button and select Properties from the menu that appears. In the Menu tab, click the Configure button. In the window that appears with a list of settings, uncheck the “Highlight recently installed programs” item. There is a short pause before the Start menu opens, which can be reduced by changing the corresponding registry setting. To do this, first launch the registry by entering the word regedit in the Start menu bar and pressing Enter. In the registry editor that opens, find the HKEY_CURRENT_USER -> Control Panel -> Desktop key and change the value of the MenuShowDelay key from 400 to 50. After this, the pause when opening the menu will be noticeably shortened.Disable unnecessary visual effects
If your computer has a not very powerful graphics card or uses a graphics solution built into the motherboard for graphics, Aero visual effects may cause a noticeable performance hit. Owners of inexpensive laptops, primarily intended for office work, face this problem especially often. In the Control Panel, click on the System icon and in the window that opens, select Advanced system settings. A window will appear in front of you where you should go to the Advanced tab. Click the Settings button under Performance. A window will open with a list of special effects, many of which significantly affect system performance. You have to configure the system to ensure the optimal balance between appearance and performance. On weaker computers, you can disable all effects by selecting “Ensure the best performance.” By making the “Special Effects” item active, you can independently choose which effects you need. Most users prefer not to disable the “Smooth out irregularities in screen fonts” option.The operating system from Microsoft is designed in such a way that it has many more services than the average user needs. They hang in the background and uselessly load your PC or laptop. This is especially noticeable on not the most powerful machines when you are trying to run one of your favorite games. But this state of affairs does not suit us, let's figure out which services can be disabled in Windows 7 for better performance.
All processes that are in operating system, are divided into 3 main groups:
- those that should never be touched (otherwise the system’s performance will be impaired);
- services that can be disabled (depending on the needs of a particular user);
- processes that are most often not needed at all.
After a brief introduction, we move directly to disabling unnecessary functions. And which of them you don’t need specifically, you can understand from the list below.
Disabling unnecessary things
So, let's start disabling unnecessary components. In order to do this, you must start the service manager.
Access methods
The easiest way to open the service manager is using the first method. But you have the right to choose how to do it yourself. We will simply describe each method.
Via task manager
First, let's use the functionality of the task manager. Follow our step-by-step instructions:
- Right-click anywhere on the taskbar and select the item marked with a number from the context menu
- Switch to the tab marked with a number
“1” and click the button located in the lower right part of the task manager.
After this, the dispatcher itself will start.
Let's move on to another way to access system processes.
Using the Run utility
The Service Manager in Windows 7 x 32/x 64 Bit can be configured through a universal tool called “Run”. In order to do this, follow our thought:
Press the “Win” + “R” buttons simultaneously. In the window that opens, enter the command: “services .msc” and press “Enter”.
After this, the toolkit we need will immediately open and be available for editing.
Via the Start menu
You can launch the application we need in Windows 7 of any version (including the maximum version) using the standard “Start” menu. To do this, open the latter and enter the name of the object we are looking for in the search bar. Next, click on the item that appears in the search results.
In Control Panel
The last option we will touch on is launching the services client through the control panel.
- Open “Start” and in the right half of the menu, click the link marked with a red marker.
- In the search bar of the control panel, type the word “Administration”. Then click on the item marked “2”.
- Select Services. After which the required tool will launch.
A large number of options for launching the service manager are needed so that you can achieve your goal on any Windows versions 7 and different system bits.
We use third-party software
There are programs to disable unnecessary services in Windows 7. They replace the standard functionality. Let's look at one of the most convenient utilities. The application is called Easy service optimizer, you can download it at official website .
Let's look at how to work with the program:
- First you need to download Easy service optimizer. Then unpack the archive and run the file marked in the screenshot. The program does not require installation and will open immediately.
- In order to perform any actions on the selected object, you need to right-click on it and select the desired item from the context menu.
- Also from here we can get to the Windows 7 system utility. To do this, open the menu indicated by the number
“1” and click on the desired item in the context menu.
Naturally, if necessary, any of the system services can be re-enabled.
Disabling unnecessary things
So, you know how to get into the service manager on Windows 7, it’s time to explain how to disable them. In order to deactivate any service you need to open it. This can be done through the context menu (right click on the name) or simply by double-clicking LMB.
In a small window you can set the startup type (to disable, select “Disabled”) and stop it. The button marked “2” will help you with this.
Attention. In some cases, you may need to restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
What can be disabled
Before we talk about services that can be disabled in Windows 10, we want to remind you of one important thing: Never disable processes whose purpose you do not know! In this case, your operating system can be seriously damaged, and sometimes even personal data can be lost. Be sure to read the description. There are also hints in the dispatcher itself.
Responsible for searching files on the PC. You can disable it only as a last resort if you are using third-party solutions to search for data in the OS.
The process needed to create backup copies of the operating system in case of recovery after failures.
Computer browser
Responsible for connecting the PC to home network or other cars. If you are not going to do this, feel free to disable the “Computer Browser”.
Secondary login
Used to operate multiple accounts in Windows 7. If you have only one account. The local service can be disabled.
Print Manager
Everything here is clear from the name. If you don’t have a printer and don’t print at all, we’ll remove this service.
NetBIOS support module over TCP/IP
Required for sharing files and printers. Again, if you are not connected to the network, it will run in vain and hence you can disable the process.
Home Group Provider
Network again, this time working with a home group. Not connected to the network. Then turn it off.
Server
Local network. If you don't need it. Feel free to turn it off and slightly reduce the load on your PC or laptop.
Tools needed to work with touch screens and other similar gadgets. Naturally, if there are none in the system, the interactive function can and even should be disabled.
Portable Device Enumerator Service
A feature to synchronize files between Windows Media Library and other devices. It is unlikely that anyone will need this service.
Windows Media Center Scheduler
A completely unnecessary application and service that should be disabled.
Bluetooth support
Everything is very clear here. There is a PC configuration that includes a wireless adapter, and you are using it, then you cannot disable the process.
BitLocker Drive Encryption
This toolkit is needed to encrypt disks in Windows 7. If you do not use the latter, we will remove the service.
Remote Desktops
The process will only be needed for those who use remote access to a PC.
Smart card
Not at all required function, which definitely needs to be disabled.
Topics
When themes are deactivated, Windows will appear in classic look. The transparency of windows and other beautiful “buns” will disappear. Whether to disable them or not is up to everyone, but it is this process that uses PC resources the most.
That's all. We do not recommend disabling other services in Windows 7. Moreover, this will not give a strong increase in performance. Of course, there are other options, such as SSDP Discovery, Diagnostic Service Host, WWAN AutoConfig, Discovery Provider Host, Changed Link Tracking Client, or Windows Update. But turning them off depends on the needs of each of us.
There are also services that are installed along with some device. For example, wireless modules work thanks to AtherosSvc.
What you can't turn off
As we have already said, touching some processes in the system is strictly prohibited. By editing them, you jeopardize the safety of your personal data and system security. Below is a list of the most critical ones.
- Windows installer. An indispensable system tool that makes it possible to install new software on PC;
- ASLDR;
- RPC endpoint mapper;
- Offline Files Service;
- BranchCache. Responsible for optimizing network connections;
- Windows Audio. Responsible for sound reproduction;
- DEP. Part of the system that protects the OS from viruses;
- remote procedure call. A system that is tightly coupled with other OS components. That’s why you simply won’t be able to turn it off;
- Security-SPP;
- diagnostic system unit;
- Driver Foundation. Toolkit responsible for working with drivers;
- VaultSvc. Credential Manager;
- task scheduler. A very necessary function that cannot be abandoned;
- Plug and Play. Makes it possible to quickly and easily install new hardware into a computer;
- Superfetch. Speeds up your Windows 7. The service remembers the programs you launch most often and loads them into memory for quick launch.
Disabling unnecessary components, although slightly, speeds up the PC. This is especially pronounced on machines with 2 GB or less of installed RAM.
Let's sum it up
At this point, the question of which services in Windows 7 can be disabled to improve system performance can be considered exhausted. We explained how to open the necessary tools and what exactly can be disabled to optimize the PC. Now you can enjoy your favorite game, for example, CS GO, with greater comfort. If you still have questions, ask them in the comments. We will try to help everyone.
Video instructions
For greater clarity and completeness of the picture, we recorded a video for our users in which we showed the process of disabling unnecessary services in the Windows 7 operating system. We hope it will help you improve the performance of your computer or laptop.
4.5 / 5 ( 2 voices)
- Switch to the tab marked with a number
While the operating system is running, dozens of small programs called services are executed unnoticed by the user. They can be responsible for a variety of things: connecting to the network, switching languages, supporting Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, working with printers and faxes, etc. By default, all Windows services are activated to make working with your computer easier. However, they all consume some amount of system resources. This article provides a description of which services can be safely disabled in order to increase speed Windows operation.
Such optimization is especially important for low-power computers that suffer from lack of RAM.
Proper system configuration and disabling unnecessary services can significantly improve the performance of any PC.
By default, Windows includes even those processes that the average user may never need. These include fax support, registry management, and, for example, networking, provided that you currently only have one machine.
Setting up and disabling services
To work with services, Microsoft has developed an interface, which is accessed by default through the control panel:
Which ones can you turn off?
Here is a small list of objects that are active by default, which can be disabled without negative consequences for the functioning of Windows.
If you don't work with remote connections and desktops, here is a list of objects that you definitely won't need and that can be disabled:
- Remote registry.
- Remote desktops.
- Auxiliary IP.
- Remote registry (it is better to disable it even if you are working on the network).
- NetBios module.
- Browser for personal computers.
- Server.
- Home Group Provider.
The following block contains elements for the operation of certain devices that you may not be using at the moment:
- Fax setup.
- Print Manager.
- Bluetooth module.
- Input from a tablet PC.
- Smart cards.
And finally, services that provide access to services that simply are not needed by all Windows users.
- Themes (if you use classic).
- Windows Search (if you don't need Explorer search).
- Archiving.
- Secure storage.
- Bitlocker (disk encryption).
- Update Center (if you have disabled system updates and patches).
Safety
The purpose of these manipulations is to optimize the system. However, incorrect settings can lead to annoying consequences. It is better not to touch many services that are running by default, since without them the operating system will lose some functions that are important to you.
I decided to write this article after starting a search for adequate materials about what services can be turned off in Windows 10 for faster operation operating system. On the Internet, as always, there are many different opinions. I studied them, summarized them and tried to draw general conclusions. I will not advise which services can definitely be disabled. Much in this matter depends on the individual parameters of the computer, the needs and tastes of users. Personally, on my weak netbook with Windows 10, I disabled all the services listed below - otherwise it remained an insane slowdown (I wrote more about all the measures taken to overclock my netbook in the article Optimizing and speeding up Windows 10 on a weak computer). On a desktop computer, I preferred not to touch anything and leave all settings at default. You must decide for yourself whether it is worth completely disabling some services that are running by default.
Some recommend creating a system restore point before experimenting with disabling services. Personally, I didn't do this. If only because it is not difficult for me, if suddenly it is needed, clean install Windows 10.
In general, without extreme necessity It's better not to disable any services in Windows 10 . This, in my opinion, can be done only when there are problems with low computer performance and you really need to overclock it at least a little.
Let me briefly remind you how to get to these same Services: click with the RIGHT mouse button on the menu Start, select the item “ Computer management", in the column on the left, double-click to open the item " Services and applications", then " Services" The service is disabled after double-clicking on it: in the item in the window that opens, select “ Startup type: Disabled».
On my insanely weak netbook, I turned off the following services quite painlessly:
- NVIDIA Stereoscopic 3D Driver Service- this service is intended for NVidia video cards (you may not have it if you use a different video card). If you do not use 3D stereo images, then this service can be turned off.
- Windows Search- with the help of this service in Windows 10 and earlier versions starting from “seven”, a search works across the contents of the computer. It is represented by the ability to find the necessary files, folders and programs through a magnifying glass in the Control Panel, and is also implemented as a search bar in any folder. In fact, indexing the contents of your computer can waste quite a lot of valuable resources, so if this functionality is not critical for you and you want to speed up your operating system, try disabling this search service.
- Offline files- a service that allows you to work autonomously with files available on the internal (local) network. As I understand it, you can safely disable it if the computer is not connected to any other network other than the Internet.
- Windows Biometric Service- used for processing and storing biometric data. In my opinion, everything is clear here: if we don’t use fingerprint login or other biometric methods, we can easily turn it off.
- Computer browser- used to create a list of computers on the network and provide it to programs upon request. Again, this service is only needed on the local network.
- Windows Firewall- protects your computer from unauthorized access from the Internet. If you have another firewall installed (for example, Comodo), feel free to disable it. In other cases, it’s better not to touch it.
- IP Ancillary Service- supports IPv6 network protocol. It is not needed very often, but it is necessary to look specifically at each case individually. If after turning it off the Internet continues to work normally, then you do not need it.
- Secondary login- provides login to Windows from multiple accounts. If there is only one, then you can safely turn it off.
- Grouping of network participants- organizes multi-user interaction in a peer-to-peer network. Simply put, it is needed if you have a local network or home group. Turn it off if there is none.
- Print Manager- a service that allows you to queue print jobs and provides interaction with the printer. If there are no printers, you can disable it.
- Connection Manager remote access - when this service is removed, the browser will not attempt to connect to the Internet when working with pages with updating elements. As I understand it, it is better not to disable .
- Network Member Identity Manager- used to identify local network participants. Turn it off if you don't use HomeGroup.
- Performance Logs and Alerts- this service, as the name suggests, collects data on computer performance. You can turn it off.
- CNG Key Isolation- needed for cryptographic processes, helps to safely store the user’s private keys from running processes. I’m still figuring out what it is and what it’s eaten with.
- Routing and remote access- provides routing for organizations in local and global networks. If there is no local network, turn it off.
- IPsec Key Modules- for Internet key exchange and IP protocol with authentication. As I understand it, you can turn it off painlessly.
- Setting up a Remote Desktop Server- Responsible for setting up and maintaining Remote Desktop Services and Remote Access sessions. If there is no local network, turn it off.
- SSDP detection- enables detection of UPnP devices on the home network. The necessity of this house is questioned by many experts. Better turn it off.
- Smart Card Removal Policy- if you do not use them (smart cards), turn them off.
- Software Shadow Copy Provider (Microsoft)- can be turned off if you do not plan to use the system restore function.
- Homegroup Listener- if you don't use homegroup, it's better to turn it off.
- Work folders- used to synchronize folders on various devices. Thanks to this, they can be used on any computer where this service is enabled. You can turn it off.
- Windows Event Collector- allows you to collect events from other computers. Turn it off.
- Server- if the function of accessing shared files and printers is not used, then this service can be disabled.
- Xbox Live Online Service- provides access to Xbox Live services. If you don't know what it is, turn it off.
- Network login- Provides end-to-end authentication. Not needed at home.
- Tablet PC input service- Enables pen and handwriting input on tablets. Turn it off on regular computers.
- Geographic Location Service- tracks computer coordinates. You can turn it off.
- Sensor Data Service- processes and stores information received from sensors installed on a PC.
- Sensor Service- manages sensors on a PC. Don't understand what we're talking about? Turn it off.
- Windows Image Upload (WIA) service- can be turned off if you do not plan to connect a scanner or camera to the computer.
- Client License Service- Ensures the Windows 10 Store works properly. Disable it if you don't use it.
- AllJoyn Router Service- as far as I understand, you can turn it off, but I won’t give a guarantee.
- Microsoft Windows SMS Router Service- forwards messages according to pre-created rules. I'm figuring it out.
- Net.Tcp Port Sharing Service- provides the ability to share TCP ports using the Net.Tcp protocol. If the computer is not used as a server, then you can safely turn it off.
- Portable Device Enumerator Service- is responsible for the ability to synchronize and automatically play files from portable devices. Rarely used, can be turned off.
- Bluetooth support- everything is obvious here. If you don't use it, turn it off.
- Program Compatibility Assistant Service- Monitors programs for compatibility problems. Such situations (incompatibility) arise quite rarely and even when they do occur, this service is rarely able to help. Let's turn it off.
- Windows Error Logging Service- in case of any failures, sends error data to Microsoft so that the company can fix it. It's quite possible to turn it off.
- BitLocker Drive Encryption Service- makes it possible to encrypt disks. This function is used very rarely by home users. You can turn it off if you don’t understand why it’s needed at all, or you just don’t use it.
- Smart card- provides access to smart card readers. If there are none, you need to turn it off.
- Volume Shadow Copy- creating a backup copy of the contents of your hard drive (for example, previous versions of text files). If you do not plan to use recovery of deleted files, turn it off. This is also worth doing because the service consumes a lot of valuable resources and also performs recovery very slowly.
- Remote registry- used to change registry settings by a remote user. On your home computer you should turn it off.
- Application Identity- Helps AppLocker identify blocked applications. You can disable it if AppLocker is not used or you don’t even know what kind of beast it is.
- Diagnostic system unit- just turn off this unnecessary thing.
- Diagnostic Service Node- similar to the previous paragraph.
- Fax- Responsible for the operation of the fax machine. If you don't have it, feel free to turn it off.
- Performance counter library host- I still haven’t figured it out. Many people write that you can turn it off painlessly.
- Security Center is a service that monitors changes to Windows 10 settings and security settings. In particular, it monitors antivirus software and firewall. If they are disabled or do not work correctly, this center gives the user a corresponding message. You can also turn it off.
- Windows Update- well, everything is clear here without comment: the service is responsible for updating the Windows 10 operating system. Whether to disable it or not is up to everyone to decide for themselves.
You can also turn off all services associated with hardware visualization Hyper-V- they are designed to work on virtual machines and are needed by a few. Wherever you see Hyper-V mentioned in the service name, you can disable it.
Some services in the operating room Windows system 10 appear when the user installs various programs. Many of them may also be unnecessary. But here everything is again very individual.
Trying to provide for everything possible options using Windows, the developers have equipped it with many services, some of which are needed only by a small number of users. For others, these components are a burden, a waste of RAM and computer resources. You will find information about which services can be disabled without harming the system, as well as instructions on how to enable and disable components in our article.
How to open service (component) management in Windows 7
Via search bar
Click the “Start” button, then type in the search bar: services.msc, press “Enter”.
Using the search bar
As a result, the “Services” window opens with a list, description and current state of services.
Detailed list of installed services
Editing the list of components using this window is very convenient, since each service is provided with a description that allows you to understand its tasks and assess the need.
In order to see the description, just use the mouse to select the line of interest in the list.
Via "Control Panel"
The same result can be achieved using the Control Panel. First we open it.
Open the “Control Panel”
In the “All Controls” window, select “Administration”.
Select "Administration"
After the “Administration” window appears on the screen, look for the “Services” line in its main part.
Find “Services” in the main window
By double-clicking on it with the left mouse button, we open the desired window with the same name.
From the command line
You can also access the list of components we need by using the command line. We call it by simultaneously pressing the Win keys (usually the Windows branded flag is displayed on it) and R. After the “Run” window appears on the screen, type the msconfig command in the input line.
We gain access to “System Configuration”
Select the “OK” on-screen button and get access to the “System Configuration” window, in which we find the “Services” tab.
Open the “Services” tab
What components can you safely remove?
When choosing applications that you can do without, you need to act consciously, that is, do not touch those services whose purpose or need is not very clear. It is better to leave something useless in memory than to delete something necessary, jeopardizing system stability and data security. If in doubt, you should look for additional information about the component and then make a decision.
List of services that can be turned off
- Remote registry. Allows other users to edit the registry. It is advisable to remove this component for greater security of your computer.
- Fax. The ability to receive fax messages is very rarely used these days. If we do not plan to use the computer as a fax, turn it off.
- Windows Error Logging Service. Forms a log non-standard situations- errors, freezes or application crashes. Turn it off.
- Client for tracking changed connections. Registers the transfer of NTFS files. Doesn't bring any benefit to the average user.
- Windows Search. Speeds up built-in search by processing user queries and indexing files. It is useful when intensively searching for information on a computer; in other cases it is almost useless.
- Parental controls. Feel free to remove it, this is a plug inserted into the system for compatibility with Vista.
- IP Ancillary Service. Useless on a home computer.
- Print Manager. The service manages printing. If the printer is not connected, delete it.
- Secondary login. Allows you to run applications using a different account. It's better to turn it off for security reasons.
- Tablet PC input service. Useful only if your computer has handwriting input or an electronic pen is connected.
- Windows Defender. Don't touch it unless you have a good third-party antivirus installed. If a specialized program is responsible for protection, then you can safely remove it.
- Windows Firewall. Similar to Windows Defender.
- Smart card. The service is needed if access control devices using smart cards are used. As a rule, it is useless on home computers; disable it.
- SSDP detection. Component for detecting devices operating under the SSDP protocol, including household appliances with appropriate capabilities. The protocol is one of the security vulnerabilities of the system, so if it is not necessary, it is better to disable the service for security reasons.
- Adaptive brightness control. Needed to change the brightness of the screen depending on the ambient light level. Useful only if there is a light sensor, for example in a laptop. In other cases, we disable it as useless.
- Computer browser. A network service that is unnecessary when operating a single computer.
- Access to HID devices. Provides operation of input devices connected via USB ports: mouse, scanner, webcam, and so on. If no external devices are used, you can turn them off.
- Basic TPM services. The component also refers to security systems that use hardware components. It makes sense to leave it only if you use control devices based on TMP or BitLocker chips.
- IPsec key modules for Internet key exchange and authenticated IP protocol. The service is not needed by the vast majority of users. Used to provide additional high protection when exchanging data. Turn it off.
- Server. A network service that can be disabled for a non-networked computer.
- Offline files. A network component that allows you to work with files stored on the server offline. It is useless for a single computer, disable it.
- IPSec Policy Agent. Also a service used to optimize the performance of a computer on a network. Let's remove it.
- KtmRm for distributed transaction coordinator. Used to distribute transactions across the network. If there is no network, the service is not needed.
- Bluetooth support service. Only needed if the appropriate adapter is used. If it is not there or is not used, disable it.
- NetBIOS support module. Also a network service, useless to work in the absence of a local network.
- Windows Image Upload (WIA) service. Used to support the operation of digital cameras and scanners. If such devices are not used, you can disable them.
Removing unnecessary components
Having decided which service should be deleted, in the “Services” window we already know, double-click on it. A small window appears on the side with the currently active parameters of the selected application.
Change the parameters of the selected service
In the drop-down list of the “Startup type” option, select “Disabled”, then stop its operation in the current session by pressing the “Stop” and “OK” on-screen buttons. We repeat the same steps sequentially for all applications that are decided to be removed from RAM.
Changes are made slightly differently when using the Services tab of the System Configuration window. Having selected the application that should be removed, uncheck the box to the left of its name, after which the “Apply” on-screen button becomes active.
Remove the checkbox to delete the service
After clicking “Apply”, the window will appear additional information- shutdown date.
All that remains is to click “OK” and select the option for when to apply the changes made in the “System Settings” window that appears. “Exit without reboot” will delay them until the next work session, “Reboot” will immediately restart the system with new parameters.
Reboot now or later
Video: Disable unnecessary services to improve performance
Which services are best not to touch?
- Windows Audio. Audio device management service. When disabled, no executable program will be able to “cast a voice.”
- Windows Driver Foundation. Responsible for the operation of drivers, a very necessary component.
- Multimedia Class Scheduler. Also a necessary service for multimedia tasks (for example, audio components).
- Plug and Play. Performs a very useful function of correctly connecting devices to the computer.
- An optimization service that monitors program usage activity and loads them into RAM in advance for faster launch if necessary. Significantly increases work speed.
- Task Scheduler. In Windows 7 it has great value, up to the impossibility of switching the keyboard layout when the service is disabled.
- Remote procedure call (RPC). An important component of Wihdows that ensures the stable operation of many other services. Disabling is prohibited by the system.
- Desktop Window Manager Session Manager. Responsible for the operation of the proprietary Aero interface.
- Topics. Also a necessary service for the Aero interface.
- Windows Installer. A component for installing new applications that ensures their correct installation.
How to add a service
As a rule, the standard set of Windows 7 components is enough for the user. But at the same time, it is possible to add applications based on your needs.
To do this, open the “Control Panel”, then in the list of parameters that opens, find the active element “Programs and Features”.
Select “Programs and Features”
A window will appear in which we are interested in the “Turn Windows components on or off” tab on the left.
On the left, select “Turn Windows features on or off”
By clicking on it, we open the “Windows Components” window.
We look for the desired service in the list
All that remains is to find the service we are interested in in the list and put a mark in the box to the left of it. The same can be done immediately for all other components that you decide to add. After finishing editing, click “OK”.
What if the list is empty or unavailable?
If “Turn components on or off” does not turn on or shows an empty list, first of all you need to find the cause of what is happening, and then eliminate it.
Reason 1: Change of value in the registry
Press the Win+R combination, then type regedit in the input area of the Run window.
Getting access to the registry editor
In the “Registry Editor” window, using the tree expanded on the left, go to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE - SYSTEM - CurrentControlSet - Control - Windows tab. On the right side of the window we find CSDReleaseType.
Examining the CSDReleaseType string
In the “Value” column opposite this parameter there should be 0. If this is not the case, then you need to change it to 0, click “OK” and reboot.
Reason 2: lack of administrator rights
The changes you make require administrator rights. Therefore, the cause of the problem may be logging in with account which does not have such powers.
In this case, you should log into Windows again as an administrator or obtain the appropriate rights for your account.
Reason 3: Damaged or missing necessary files
For some reason, the computer may not have the necessary components for our task, stored in the C:\Windows\Servicing\Packages folder. In this case, you will have to restore them using the System Update Readiness Tool for Windows 7.
You can download the application from the website www.microsoft.com, but you need to take into account the bit capacity of the installed system.
- 32-bit: https://www.microsoft.com/ru-RU/download/details.aspx?id=3132
- 64-bit: https://www.microsoft.com/ru-RU/download/details.aspx?id=20858
You can check the bitness of the system installed on your computer using the “Control Panel”, in which select the “System” tab.
We are looking for the “System” tab
In the main part of the window that opens, the parameter we need is indicated in “System type”.
In our case, system type: 32-bit operating system
After the desired file (with the msu extension) is selected and downloaded from the developer’s website, it should be launched, after closing other applications. Usually the installation lasts no more than 15 minutes, after which we close the active window and restart the computer.
To check whether the problem was fixed automatically, open the list of components again. If nothing has changed, the list is still empty, we begin to correct errors manually.
To do this, find the file C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CheckSUR.log on the disk and open it in the editor.
Studying lines with (f)
Errors found in automatic mode are listed under the Checking Package Manifests and Cataloges line. They all have (f) in the first column, but after the corrected ones an additional line appears with the value (fix). Most likely, our problem is related to the remaining ones that do not have such a line.
Now you need to manually remove the damaged keys. To do this, write down the error address starting with \Packages, then use Win+R and the regedit command to go to the already familiar Registry Editor.
Next, you need to go to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ComponentBasedServicing\Packages tab and find the key we recorded, and then delete it. If everything is done correctly, the problem should be fixed.
Specialized applications that disable unnecessary Windows 7 services
There are special programs that will help you remove it faster. unnecessary services. For example, free application Smart.
The application also allows you to choose one of four ready-made configurations:
- Safe Tweaks. The most secure, suitable for most users.
- Moderate Tweaks. Increases performance by optionally disabling multimedia services.
- Advances Tweaks. It leaves only services that are vital for the system, and disables the rest. Recommended for experienced users.
- Custom. A similar configuration intended for specialists. Equipped with a manual service configuration mode.
You should definitely create a restore point. To do this, just check the “Create Restore Point Before Applying Changes” checkbox at the bottom of the program window.
Better be careful
To launch the selected changes, you must click the “Apply” screen button, and then confirm your choice again.
Unloading RAM from unused applications will give noticeable results almost immediately. The necessary programs will work faster, the load on the processor will decrease, and the laptop battery will drain more slowly. It’s worth spending a little time on optimization, so that you can return it with interest by speeding up your computer.