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What Processes are Necessary for Windows XP?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the minimum-processes-required dept.

Brickwall asks: "I studied electrical engineering in university (30 years ago, mind!), so I'm not completely stupid about computers. However, I have searched and searched, and been unable to find an answer to this question: if you start up Windows XP from scratch, what processes should be running? I have some P2P software running, so I know I'll have to shut that down, plus my spyware protection, anti-virus software, etc. But what should be left running? Is this documented somewhere that I've been unable to find?"

5 of 120 comments (clear)

  1. Black Viper's list by rdwald · · Score: 5, Informative

    The original site has been offline for a few years, but this copy of the Black Viper Windows XP Services List should come in very handy.

  2. Very few are neccessary by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    For example, if I kill this "System" process, nothing bad will happ

  3. Do not kill the following processes.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    1. Windows Genurine Advantage
    2. Windows Activation Trojan
    3. Automatic Updates with added value checking
    4. Minesweeper
    5. SaveBargins.exe
    6. Vista Notification Bonus

  4. Useless Services by Xian007 · · Score: 5, Informative

    This is a pretty handy site.. I just ran across it a couple days ago and was about to look through it at home today and disable most of the services listed.

    Useless XP SP2 Services: http://www.techtree.com/techtree/jsp/article.jsp?a rticle_id=70112&cat_id=584

    (Quick way to get to list: Start->Run->services.msc)

  5. Re:It's simple. by Jherico · · Score: 5, Insightful

    That's an excellent way to completely screw up your machine by disabling services that might be needed later for things like printing. If you shut down the spooler and then 3 weeks later need to print something you can spend a long time trying to figure out why printing doesn't work.

    --

    Jherico

    What can the average user can do to ensure his security? "Nothing, you're screwed"