Why is the "Remote Desktop Services" service on?


  1. Posts : 20
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
       #1

    Why is the "Remote Desktop Services" service on?


    Remote Desktop Services service description:

    "Allows users to connect interactively to a remote computer. Remote Desktop and Remote Desktop Session Host Server depend on this service. To prevent remote use of this computer, clear the checkboxes on the Remote tab of the System properties control panel item."

    The service Startup Type on my computer is "Manual" and the Status is "Started".

    What I would like to know is why. Under the "Remote" tab of system properties, I already had made certain to have Remote Assistance unchecked, so my computer should not be available for remote use.

    Is the reason this service is started because my computer is connecting to the internet, thus to some server of which I do have some permissions of functional manipulation, like, for instance, starting this topic, or searching a search engine, downloading a file, etcetera?

    Having read the Wikipedia entry on the service, as well as much of the Microsoft Technet overview, I might have thought the service was on in case I needed to run a RemoteApp that was located on some other server on the internet that used a Windows Server OS or some other OS with similar functional capability, or possibly that it was on so that my computer could check for updates from Microsoft for the OS or possibly updates for various third party applications on a Windows OS operated server, but, I have all of the auto-update functionality of my third party apps disabled, as best I can tell. Regardless, if what I have said above was a main reason for the service to be on, I would think it should have a Startup Type of Automatic.


    Having looked at blackviper.com, he doesn't have any additional information on the service, and all the services that must be functioning for this service to function are services that are automatically started and should not be turned off typically. That said, of the services he has listed that require this service to run, one, Media Center Extender Service, is a service I have disabled--its default--as I have no need for it in the foreseeable future, and the other, Remote Desktop Services UserMode Port Redirector, I don't even appear to have. Now, by its description, I don't have use for it, but I do wonder why I don't have it.


    Anyway, I am in over my head as far as understanding the nature, use, and reason this service might be on. I don't want to just turn it off, as I imagine the service has a legitimate reason to be on--I try to protect my computer well, and have not yet had a scan that showed any malware on my computer since I built it over a month and a half ago so I don't assume it is on illegitimately. As well, I don't make a habit of screwing with services until I fully understand their purpose.

    So, I would like to know why it is on, or at least legitimate reasons why it would be on, or if there is good reason to be concerned that it is on.

    Edit--Assuming it serves some general purpose when connected to the internet, I suppose it might have a Startup Type of "Manual" because you would not need it started if you had your network interface solution disabled or disconnected.
    Last edited by KantversusHume; 07 Feb 2010 at 00:51. Reason: adding to content
      My Computer


  2. aem
    Posts : 2,698
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64Bit
       #2

    Is the startup type is set to manual which i think is the default setting, it should not have been started upon restarting of your machine. This service does not have any relation to the machine accessing the net, nor allow other machine to RDP to it.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 20
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Hmm, well that is disconcerting, that it is starting without any obviously logical reason to do so. On the other hand, it is nice to hear that the service does not provide a way for other machines to establish an interface with my computer.

    Well, I suppose what is next is to disable that service, considering it doesn't seem to serve any obvious purpose that I would need according to blackviper.com, and shouldn't be starting anyway. Hopefully I will turn it off and the reason it was starting in the first place will become quickly obvious.

    Thank you for your help.
      My Computer


  4. aem
    Posts : 2,698
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64Bit
       #4

    I would stop the service, and restart the machine an see what the status is after reboot. If it proofs that the service has started, even when it is set to manual start, then somethig has started, not Windows.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 20
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #5

    For posterity's sake, in case anyone else ever has my particular situation, I now know why the service is starting. If you use the AMD Fusion Utility for Desktops, it has a service that loads your performance profiles, the defaults it comes with and the custom profiles you create, at startup. That service, "AMD Fusion Utility Service", is dependent upon the "Remote Desktop Services" service.


    Edit--I didn't realize you had already replied again. Very fast! I decided to disable the service first to see if it might have any third party service dependencies, and it did. The service above. Thank you again very much for your help.
      My Computer


  6. aem
    Posts : 2,698
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64Bit
       #6

    No problems lol. It's good of you to observe these things...you never know what can eventuate had you not.
      My Computer


 

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