Windows 7 sharing: required services

Hi guys,

I followed black viper's tweaked guide for Win 7 Ultimate. Everything works, but (when optimised) I can't use network sharing. The symptoms are that

- My Computer isn't visible on the network (even in network on My Computer!)
- Network error msg when trying to connect to any other network computer.

I've restored my default service profile, using a handy BackupServices batch I found online

Code:

TITLE Services Start State Backup Script by My Digital Life
@echo off
@echo ========================================================================
@echo Windows Services Start State Backup Script (C) 2008 My Digital Life 2008
@echo ========================================================================
@echo.
@echo This script will backup all services with current state of Startup Type
@echo.
pause

REM Get current date and time
for /f "tokens=1, 2, 3, 4 delims=-/. " %%j in ('Date /T') do set FILENAME=Services_%%j_%%k_%%l_%%m
for /f "tokens=1, 2 delims=: " %%j in ('TIME /T') do set FILENAME=%FILENAME%_%%j_%%k.bat

REM Get all service name
sc query type= service state= all| findstr /r /C:"SERVICE_NAME:" >tmpsrv.txt
echo Saving Service Start State In %FILENAME% ...

REM save service start state into batch file 
echo @echo Restore The Service Start State Saved At %TIME% %DATE% >"%FILENAME%" 
echo @pause >>"%FILENAME%"

for /f "tokens=2 delims=:" %%j in (tmpsrv.txt) do @( sc qc %%j |findstr  START_TYPE >tmpstype.txt &&  for /f "tokens=4 delims=:_ " %%s in (tmpstype.txt) do @echo sc config  %%j start= %%s >>"%FILENAME%")
echo @pause >>"%FILENAME%"

del tmpsrv.txt
del tmpstype.txt

echo Services Start State Saved in %FILENAME%.
pause

This generates a batch file that will (attempt to) set all services to the state at the time of the 'snapshot'.

So when I run defaultservices.bat, all services (installed at that time) are set to automated|delayed|manual|disabled|whatever...

I modified (rem) 3 entries that generated an error (access denied on task scheduler, rpcendpointmapper, and rpc

Which service is required for network sharing?

Here's my (manual) log of changes

Win7 30GB - Optimised.

********************************************** Removed (wINDOWS Features)
IE9
Media Center
Fax and scan
tablet components
GADGET PLATFORM
XPS SERVICES/VIEWER

********************************************** svcs: disabled
AxInstSV (ACTIVEX iNSTALL)
ALG (if no ics)
BITS
BDESVC (bitlocker)
bthserv
PeerDistSvc (branchcache, for corp remote)
CertPropSvc (cert. for smartcards)
VaultSvc (cred. mgr)
TrkWks (dltc)
hkmsvc (NET! x509 key / cert mgmt svc, aka health key)
IKEEXT (NET! vpn)
iphlpsvc !!!!!!!
PolicyAgent
lltdsvc
MSiSCSI
Netlogon !!!
napagent
NvNetworkService
Stereo Service
NvStreamSvc
CscService (offline files)
WPCSvc (parents)
p2psvc
PNRPsvc
p2pimsvc
PNRPAutoReg
IPBusEnum (vnet bus connector, daemon?)
...
HomeGroupProvider
HomeGroupListener
fdPHost (homegroup)
hidserv (human interface)
W32Time
wuauserv
WinHttpAutoProxySvc

wired...
dot3svc
WwanSvc
Wlansvc

Thanks

I did a test, and noticed that, if I ran tweaked.bat, but didn't reboot, functionality was not impacted.

It turns out that, although the batch files generated by backupServices do set the startup type of each service, they don't necessarily change the state. If a service is started and is disabled, it's not stopped... until reboot.

So, is one of these the culprit?


Thanks

I stopped each one by one, restarted explorer, and discovered the inverse - my computer is the only computer showing on the network (until I search for other computers, ie \\asussed works)

Setting a services startup type does not effect it's current running state. This is by design.

You are not the first member of this forum to run into trouble following Black Vipers guides. This is all a lot of work for virtually no gain. Unless you are desperately short on memory the savings in disabling services will be insignificant. The savings in CPU time will be less than insignificant.

Incidentally, setting a service startup to Manual is NOT a safe alternative to disabling it. In this state the system or application can start the service. But don't assume that this will actually happen.

My advice would be to leave services on default configuration.

thanks for the advice. it's more to do with morbid curiosity, and super-turbo-charged OS's.

Given it seems so hard to diagnose and troubleshoot, I'm tempted to agree. IF the impact of applying a change were evident immediately... that'd be manageable. but with dozens of services it's hard to see what impacts what.

If you have a wireless LAN (wi-fi) you might need Wlansvc (I do). If you don't have lmhosts running, you can't navigate the network

without tcp/ip helper (lmhosts)


So the problem that prevented "network sharing" (accessing other shares on this windows 7 optimised build) seems to be resolved by running tcp/ip helper.. but the issue causing the absence of this computer (delhiboy) in network (fixed by accessing networkpath \\delhiboy) still remains... fixable by restoring default services and rebooting.

Microsoft Weird.

OK, so it seems that I forgot that MS Services are "special": some Manual services will not start, unless instructed to do so, ie

C:\Users\Jonny>sc start Wlansvc

SERVICE_NAME: Wlansvc
TYPE : 20 WIN32_SHARE_PROCESS
STATE : 2 START_PENDING
(NOT_STOPPABLE, NOT_PAUSABLE, IGNORES_SHUTDOWN)
WIN32_EXIT_CODE : 0 (0x0)
SERVICE_EXIT_CODE : 0 (0x0)
CHECKPOINT : 0x0
WAIT_HINT : 0x7d0
PID : 728
FLAGS :

I think I'll just set this one to Automatic.
Similarly, IP Helper (iphlpsvc) won't start unless instructed, but doesn't seem to be needed for my LAN NAS needs. Note Homegroup is not needed. Personally, I don't see the point (is there a 'best' re streaming? I can access media remotely using VLC as if the media are local, but the load time is sometimes a factor. I'm wondering if there's a best, be it Bonjour or WMP, perhaps VNC... or even Homegroup with QWAVE configured... Not sure how to benchmark these tasks. MediaMonkey Media Sharing is the only thing I think I want / need....

OK, so it seems that I forgot that MS Services are "special": some Manual services will not start, unless instructed to do so, ie

That is what I said in my previous post. That is the way Manual startup services work. Nowhere has it ever been documented by Microsoft that such a service will start automatically if needed and it is not reasonable to assume that it will. Something must explicitly start the service, either the system or an application, or the user. But except for services that are Manual startup by default this will usually not happen. If the service is Automatic startup by default just about anything that relies on it will simply assume it is running and quietly fail if it is not, making no attempt to start the service before doing so.

That is what manual startup means. Unfortunately there are guides all over the Internet that do not understand this and have led many unsuspecting users astray.

The problem with disabling services (or setting them to manual) is that there is no publicly available documentation that fully describes what each service does. Many do more than the available documentation describes.

When you start altering service startup you are in uncharted territory and you must expect that things may go wrong.

All issued now resolved. One of these may have been the culprit


I found it much easier to troubleshoot with the amazing Advanced Uninstaller Pro.

It takes a while to apply the change (as oppose to running a batch of sc config commands directly but it compares the changes between profiles - exactly what I needed.

IF your PC is OK when it's installed, it's like a safety net against inadvertent (and undesired) service changes, as there are several protected profiles, that can't be deleted

I think the problem might have been with the source (netbook, bad wifi adapter) all along.