Services Configuration

Again, it's not always performance that I'm concerned about. I have no idea what this software or services do. Does it open me up to hacking?? Like synching services. I have no need for these. Everything is on my local computer so why would I need something like say Briefcase to run?? By tweaking my services I at least have piece of mind that I have some control over my computer. Im not saying these services, by default, should be disabled. It's much easier to disable the ones you don't want or need. Seem like now we're at the mercy of the operating system whether we like it or not.
I do have real time anti-virus software and anti-malware which I use only to scan with. I have yet to run into serious problem by the way I "polish" my system. If you all want to let unknown programs run, start and stop that's fine, but that's not acceptable to me.

JamesJ said:

Every time I turn around some windows service is starting and it slows me up at times.

You are mistaken if you think the services are slowing you down. It can't be said enough, but you should NOT be messing around with services.

The "disabling services" myth was debunked 7-8 years ago, and it's been revisisted and re-debunked each time a new Windows OS comes out. Windows 7, more so than any previous version, does not need to be tweaked to perform best. if you think your system is slow, spend your efforts on solving that issue, than chasing down services that you think are the cause.

I can't believe it still needs to be written, but there's a very good reason why BlackViper is called QuackViper on enthusiast forums.

If you read my last post it's not all performance. I have no idea what these services do. How do I know these services don't access the internet, contact other web sites or networks? As far as I'm concerned some services are nothing more than holes to allow hackers to slip through. Unless you can convicne me other wise I'll continue the tweak my services. As long as I know which ones I don't require, their out-a-here.

James

I'm not out to convince anyone, because that's been well established for years now. The community is well beyond that by now.

If you are concerned about services accessing the internet or hackers "slipping through" you need to turn your attention to routers and firewalls, not services. Leave them alone. There's no reason to "tweak" services, especially not in the name of security.

I'm not discouraging you from caring about security. But what you are doing it basically like changing the wallpaper in your living room in an attempt to keep thieves out. Those default services aren't going to make you less secure. Windows 7 wouldn't be getting the praise from the security community if it had holes by default.

I will admit, you've got me thinking a bit here. In fairness to you, it must make things a bit difficult to trouble-shoot a problem when one has tweaked services. At he very least it adds more that can account for the problems one might be having with his or her system. As and example, I clouldn't get the volume controls to work on my new multi-media keyboard. I messed around posting for about a week when I finnally called Microsoft. The first thing he told me to do was check the status of the Human Interface Device Access service. Sure enough it was disabled (which I disabled) and upon enabling it the keyboard volume controls started working fine.

But, should I be concerned with 3rd party software creating services? I tried a Google product and then uninstalled it but it left behind Update services even after the uninstall. Should I be concerned, that everytime I install a program, don't like it and uninstall it, about 3rd part software leaving behind enabled services??

James

Third party services can open up a whole new discussion. My comments above were about default Windows services that come as part of the OS. Messing with those won't yield performance or security, but can render your system unusable. That line of thinking doesn't pertain to third-party services. Those possibly could be disabled to shut off features of an app or suite. At worst, that app won't function properly, but your system will be fine. You can do far less damage. I remember an iTunes-related service...Bonjour maybe, that I would disable because it was running tasks in the background to search for other iTunes libraries on my company network. No reason for that.

However, this also leads the direction to the fact that if the app was removed, the service should have been removed as well. I have never used it, but people seem to love Revo Uninstaller to do some clean-up after uninstalling programs. In my opinion, if a service was left behind by an uninstalled app, and you were sure it wasn't part of anything still left behind...it should be safe to disable without any worries. But that would make me wonder what else that particular app left behind.

Barman58 said:

By all means be concerned with 3rd party Services and especially start-up entries, I, and I would imagine others who advise against tweaking Windows services, would definitely check after any install as to what changes have been made to the system and if these changes are needed.

Yes, absolutely, and I'm quoting this to reiterate my comment above. When I caution against tweaking or changing services at all....I was stictly speaking about Windows service. As in, the default ones that are part of Windows 7 and it's built-in applications. Anything installed by the user is subject to a different set of rules and treatment altogether.

I do have Revo Uninstaller but didn't use it to uninstall the Google product.
I use Acrobat reader and yes it has items that starts at startup and I believe it has services that it sneaks in.
You all have convinced me that it isn't worth it to disable Windows Services. It's one less thing I need to do if I do a clean install of Windows. Once or twice a year I like to do a clean install of Windows. No special reason why, probably just to do it.