Performance maximization

'Ello, I use msconfig to stop any start up programs and services that I don't need to max the performance of my laptop, I don't like pointless things running that do nothing for me. The start up list is easy, the services are not so easy. Heres a list of all the stuff running on my services, Any ideas on what I can safely disable?
The ones with a star are running service, the rest are stopped but not disabled completely like I have done with iTunes stuff:

Application experience
Application Layer Gateway Service
Application Identity
Windows Audio Endpoint Builder *
Windows Audio *
ActiveX Installer
BitLocker Drive Encryption Service
Bass Filtering Engine *
Background Intelligent Transfer Service *
Computer Browser *
Certificate Propogation
ConfigFree WiMAX Service *
COM+ System Application
ConfigFree Gadget Service *
ConfigFree Service *
Cryptographic Services *
Disk Defragmenter *
DHCP Client *
DNS Client *
Wired AutConfig
Dagnostic Policy Service *
Extensible Authentication Protocol *
Encrypting File System *
Windows Event Log *
COM+ Event System *
Function Discovery Provider Host *
Function Discovery Resource Publication *
Windows Font Cache Service
Windows Presentation Foundation Font Cache 3.0.0.0
Group Policy Client *
Human Interface Device Access
Health Key and Certificate Management
HomeGroup Listener *
HomeGroup Provider *
hpqcxs08 *
HP CUE DeviceDiscovery Service *
InstallDriver Table Manager
Windows CardSpace
IKE and AuthIP IPsec Keying Modules *
PnP-X IP Bus Enumerator
IP Helper *
CNG Key Isolation *
KtmRm for Distribued Transaction Coordinator
Server *
Workstation *
Link-Layer Topology Discovery Mapper
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper *
Multimedia Class Scheduler *
Distributed Transaction Coordinator
Microsoft iSCSI Initiator Service
Windows Installer
Network Access Protection Agent
Net Driver HPZ12 *
Netlogon
Network Connections *
Network List Service *
Network Location Awareness *
Network Store Interface Service *
Microsoft Office Diagnostics Service
Office Source Engine
Peer Networking Identity Manager *
Peer Networking Grouping *
Program Compatability Assistant Service *
Performance Counter DLL Host
Performance Logs and Alerts
Pml Driver HPZ12 *
PNRP Machine Name Publication Service
Peer Name Resolution Protocol *
IPsec Policy Agent
Power *
Protected Storage
Quality Windows Audio Video Experience
Remote Access Auto Connection Manager
Remote Access Connection Manager
Remote Registry
RPC Endpoint Mapper *
Remote Procedure Call (RPC) Locator
Security Accounts Manager *
Smart Card
Task Scheduler *
Smart Card Removal Policy
Windows Backup
Secondary Logon
System Event Notification Service *
Remote Desktop Configuration
Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)
Shell Hardware Detection *
SNMP Trap
Print Spooler *
SPP Notification Service
SSDP Discovery *
Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol Service
Windows Image Aqusition (WIA) *
Microsoft Software Shadow Copy Provider
Superfetch *
Tablet PC Input Service
Telephony
TPM Base Services
Remote Desktop Services
Themes *
Thread Ordering Server
Distributed Link Tracking Client *
Windows Modules Installer
Interactive Services Detection
UPnP Device Host
Desktop Window Manager Session Manager *
Credential Manager
Virtual Disk
Volume Shadow Copy
Windows Time
Windows Activation Technologies Service
Block Level Backup Engine Service
Windows Biometric Service
Windows Connect Now - Config Registrar
Windows Color System
Diagnostic Service Host *
Diagnostic System Host
WebClent
Windows Event Collector
Problem Reports and Solutions Control Panel Support
Windows Error Reporting Service
WinHTTP Web Proxy Auto-Discovery Service
Windows Management Instrumentation *
Windows Remote Management (WS-Management)
WLAN AutoConfig *
WMI Performance Adapter
Portable Device Enumerator Service
Security Center*
Windows Search *
Windows Update *
Windows Driver Foundation - User-mode Driver Framework *
WWAN AutoConfig


Also, Do any of these look suspicious to you? like they shouldn't be there. I am aware what some of them are and what they do but alot of them I have no idea what they are for!

Thank you in advance kind people

You aren't going to like my answer...but in all honesty...disabling a ton of Windows services really doesn't lead to much of a performance increase whatsoever. And in fact, I've found that when I start disabling enough stuff that my computer actually gets slower rather than faster.

You might want to drop a PM to madtownidiot as I know that he is a supporter of disabling services and such. He might be able to give you some ideas of the changes that he made.

Aha, perfect. Cheers guys. I do everything on a regular basis to keep my system spic & span.
Avast system scans
Registry clean
Hard drive clean
Defragment
Start up list checks and stop pointless programmes (also have WinPatrol doing that)

Im doing as much as I can to get the most out of my system

I have a Pentium SU2700 ULV 1.3GHz single Core, 3GB DDR3, I need all the performance I can get!

Ill leave them all alone.

Thanks again.

Here you go: "Registry clean" - another completely useless execise in 7 that only gets you in trouble, sooner or later.

You can actually disable all startups (except the AV program). They will be rolled in when needed.

As to the "impressive" list of services you have to understand that most of those run very rarely. So they do not really impact performance.

If you really want to give your system a boost, install a SSD.

whs said:

Here you go: "Registry clean" - another completely useless execise in 7 that only gets you in trouble, sooner or later.

You can actually disable all startups (except the AV program). They will be rolled in when needed.

As to the "impressive" list of services you have to understand that most of those run very rarely. So they do not really impact performance.

If you really want to give your system a boost, install a SSD.

Errrrrr, OK, as you may be aware by now dude, I only know the basics of computing, im a bit thick.
SSD is solid state drive isnt it? not that I know what one of those is. I don't think there is much education on computing here in britain, if you want to study it you have to do it in college or university to properly learn, I chose carpentry in college so everything I know ive had to learn as I go along.

Codie, you are in the right place to learn. When I was at university, 99% of the people did not even know how to spell "computer". But I managed to get into a workshop where we had to program a computer (Zuse 11) - that was in 1958. There is a beginning to everything.

Regarding the SSD, I suggest you read this thread - it will give you an idea: Show us your SSD performance

This is definitely the place to learn. Lots of people willing to give you good advice, but the final decision is going to rest with you. It also depends upon what your final goal is - productivity, bragging rights, etc.

For example, I let most programs start on their own and run as they want to. I have made no changes to the Windows 7 service list b/c IMO it is not needed at all. However, when I want to game, I like eye candy, as someone else mentioned - so I go and turn off all programs that are running that will not hep with my gaming experience at all - IMs, Display Fusion, etc. - and even disable running services (many of which do come back, so I have learned how to be picky and choosy).

TBH, for me the best bet would be to have M$ reinstate hardware profiles on my machine so I could disable all services and software related to optional hardware that I usually use but that I do not use during gaming - plus, having a customized startup in said profile, and I'd be good to go....

The age old discussion about service startup (and limiting them) goes back to Windows 2000 (and even before, perhaps) but my own empirical evidence suggests that Windows 7 runs better the less you mess with it in terms of services. Startup programs - well, that is for you to pick and choose, and again, it depends upon your final outcome. Perfect example - I leave Adobe_sl running b/c rather than using Adobe Reader I use Adobe Acrobat for PDFs - allows me a greater degree of freedom in terms of editing on the fly (unless they have been specifically locked from editing) as well as other functions, but when I game, I close that out right away as I know I won't use it.

Good luck on your search for what you want your computer to do.

one site that I used to use all the time with XP was Black Viper's - still a great resource for finding out info about services in general, and I see that he has updated the lists to accommodate Windows 7, now, too. This might be helpful to you if you are gung ho about altering your service startups.

Black Viper's Web Site

Words of advice:

Be sure to use a Virtual manager (VMWare server / VMware player / VBox) to install a default Win 7 (can be used for 30 days without a key, so that should be plenty of time to test) and play with the services in there - that way, if it becomes FUBARd you'll be able to recover easily. Don't play with this on your live Windows 7 install, one wrong move and you may render your system inoperable. I that is too daunting of a task, then at the very least, make a full backup of your current system image and install Windows 7 on a spare / second HD and play that way. Only when you are satisfied on the settings and the performance you may gain, should you take it to your live install.

caveat: Yes, I do know that you can perform this type of thing in a live setting with usually no detrimental effects if you follow instructions carefully, but for the novice user, I will NEVER recommend doing that. I can fix myself out of most jams b/c I have that experience - the novice user will not. hence my words of advice above.

I just want to get the best out of my somewhat poor processor. RAM is fine and im using 40% of it, I did get it to around 30% but it's increased to 40 and I don't know why. The processor is the problem though being a single core 1.3, 800Mhz BUS, 2MB level 2 cache, bit poor. I do understand that its a netbook with a ULV processor and I bought it to get the best of both worlds ie: ability to cope with some things laptops can aswell as being small, light and portable with max 9 hour battery (i usually get 6).
Don't care about bragging cus nobody in britain cares, well, nobody I know at least.
Tbh the processor doesn't peak much but it is a wee bit slow to be ready for me on boot, its not ready to use as normal straight away, if I load firefox as soon as it boots to desktop and show all tray icons and looks like its ready, it still takes a while for firfox to load the browser page.

Understand your dilemma. But there is not much more you can expect from such a light netbook. The avantages are run time on battery.

The fact that your RAM usage kreeps up during the day is normal. As you use more and more programs, stuff will stay in RAM. If it bothers you, a reboot will fix it. But I would not do that as long as it stays in the 30 to 60% range. All it does is reduce the RAM available for caching and ultimately lead to a bit more paging activity (which you can check in Resource Monitor > Memory tab > the graph on the right bottom).

If you are using Firefox, you are using a browser that does not skimp on resource usage. You would probably be better off with Google Chrome - it is also faster loading the webpages.
You have to distinguish between the time it takes to load the browser which depends on the power of your system and the time it takes to load a webpage which is dependent on the quality and speed of your internet connection.