Windows 7 - Services - Start or Disable

**Brink**

How to Start or Disable Services in Windows 7

Information

Services are a computer program or process that runs in the background and provides support to other programs in Windows 7. This will show you how to start or disable a Windows 7 service of your choice.

For more information on each service, see: Standard Windows 7 Services Svchost.exe

Note

If you want to cut down the overhead of what is running in the background and speed Windows 7 up some, then only disable the services you do not use. If you disable a service that you need or use, then it could actually lower your computer's performance. The Services apply to all users on the computer.

Tip

For a Windows 7 Services Advice Guide:

The Windows 7 RTM and SP1 Service Configurations by Black Viper site below will show you all of the default services and explain each service with different levels of recommendations for disabling the service or not. You will just need to know what you will or will not use on your computer.

Warning

It is highly recommended that you create a restore point before making changes to the services. This way if you make a mistake that cripples your computer, you can do a System Restore using the restore point to undo the changes.

If you disabled the wrong service and lost access to the computer, then try booting into Safe Mode from Advanced Boot Options to change the service back.

Here's How:

1. Open the Control Panel (All Items View).
A) Click on the Administrative Tools icon, and click on Services.

B) Go to step 3.

OR

2. Open the Start Menu.
A) In the search line, type services.msc and press Enter. (See screenshot below)

3. If prompted, click on Continue in the UAC prompt, or provide the administrator password to approve.

4. Right click on the service you want to disable or start and click on Properties. (See screenshot below)

5. To Disable a Service
NOTE: See the guide in the TIP box at the top of the tutorial to help decide.
A) Click on the Stop button and wait a sec for the service to stop. (See screenshots below step 7)

B) Next to Startup type, click on the drop down menu and select Disable. (See screenshots below step 7)

C) Click on the Apply button. (See screenshots below step 7)
NOTE: If the service will not stop and gives a error, then you will need to restart the computer to stop it after you set it to Disabled and clicked on OK.

D) Go to step 7.

6. To Start a Service
NOTE: See the guide in the TIP box at the top of the tutorial to help decide.
A) Next to Startup type, click on the drop down menu and select Automatic or Manual and click Apply. (See screenshots below step 7)

B) Click on the Start button. (See screenshots below step 7)
NOTE: If the Start option is grayed out and will not start, then you will need to restart the computer to start it after you set it to Automatic and clicked OK.

7. Click on OK. (See screenshots below)

8. Close the Services window.
NOTE: You may need to restart the computer for the changes to the services to take affect.

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

Pogi · 04-14-2009

So now that we know the "How", here is a good guide IMO as to the "What" services to manipulate. The guy goes by the handle Black Viper, and he has shared the fruits of his labors, we just can confirm further as to its applicability.

The link is Windows 7 Service Configurations by Black Viper.

As I mentioned before on another site, my RAM usage went down by 100 MB after the "Tweaks" provided. Perhaps -100 MB is a good mod or is it negligible who can say? But anyway my great THANKS to the author.

**Brink** · 04-14-2009

Thank you Pogi, but it was already included in the yellow TIP box at the top.

Thank you for sharing and confirming your results with Black Viper's suggestions though.

**LePoilu** · 04-14-2009

Quote:

NOTE: You may need to restart the computer for the changes to the services to take affect.

I never had to restart for that.

But Disabling directly a service can be dangerous. A good step is the set it to "Manual" and Stop it with the "Stop" Buttons. If something need this service it allways can be loaded... only if it's needed.

Since win2k I prefere set to manual than Disable, it's safer and do the same thing for most of them.
Only a few service (like Adobe "Bonjour" or "Googleupdater", or firewall if you allready have one other) can be salfy disabled

**Brink** · 04-14-2009

Hi LePoilu,

That note is usually just for those services that will not start for whatever reason normally though, but setting them to Automatic and restarting the computer allows them to start again.

**LePoilu** · 04-14-2009

Hi

Quote: Originally Posted by Brink

That note is usually just for those services that will not start for whatever reason normally though

Ok, I tought it was for a "good stop" of the services

Checking dependencies can sometimes explain why a service can not be stop or launch.

Pogi · 04-14-2009

Quote: Originally Posted by Brink

Thank you Pogi, but it was already included in the yellow TIP box at the top.

Thank you for sharing and confirming your results with Black Viper's suggestions though.

I stand corrected!

Quote: Originally Posted by LePoilu

I never had to restart for that.

But Disabling directly a service can be dangerous. A good step is the set it to "Manual" and Stop it with the "Stop" Buttons. If something need this service it allways can be loaded... only if it's needed.

I more than agree with this approach. Because now I cannot use the WiFi. Help!!!!

**Brink** · 04-14-2009

Always welcomed though guys.

**Romulinx2** · 04-14-2009

Thanks Shawn,
I had turned some of them off, but this info showed me even more.

**Brink** · 04-14-2009

You're welcome Romulinx.

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