To make Windows Server 2008 as fast as possible you also need to do some Windows Services fine-tuning. Below is a table with a list of all services on a clean Windows Server 2008 Enterprise machine. This list is quite the same as the list of services in other editions of Windows Server 2008. If you have any additions/corrections to this list, please leave a Comment with a description why you can tweak the service and when you might need it.
To edit the Startup Type of services do the following:
1. Open the Start menu, click Run, enter services.msc and click OK.
2. Right click the Service name and choose Properties.
3. Choose the value you want from the Startup type dropdown and click OK to save the setting.
| ServiceName | Default Startup Type | Safe Startup Type | Tweaked Startup Type | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application Experience | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic (Delayed Start) | |
| Application Information | Manual | - | - | |
| Application Layer Gateway Service | Manual | - | - | |
| Application Management | Manual | - | - | |
| Background Intelligent Transfer Service | Automatic (Delayed Start) | - | - | |
| Base Filtering Engine | Automatic | - | - | |
| Certificate Propagation | Manual | Manual | Disabled | This service is only needed when you use Smart Cards. |
| CNG Key Isolation | Manual | - | - | |
| COM+ Event System | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic (Delayed Start) | |
| COM+ System Application | Manual | - | - | |
| Computer Browser | Disabled | - | - | Set it to Automatic if you want to view what other computers there are in your network. The service is not needed to browse them. |
| Cryptographic Services | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic | Needed for checking for signed drivers. |
| DCOM Server Process Launcher | Automatic | - | - | This service is needed for almost every other service so leave it. |
| Desktop Window Manager Session Manager | Automatic | Automatic | Disabled | Heavy backgroundservice that is needed for the Aero interface. If you use Aero, leave it on. |
| DHCP Client | Automatic | - | - | Can only be disabled if you configured a static ipaddress. |
| Diagnostic Policy Service | Automatic | Manual | Disabled | Enables problem detection, troubleshooting, and resolution for Windows components. Can forewarn disk failure based on SMART report. |
| Diagnostic Service Host | Manual | Manual | Disabled | Diagnostic tools that attempt to detect problems in memory, disk and files. |
| Diagnostic System Host | Manual | Manual | Disabled | Diagnostic tools that attempt to detect problems in memory, disk and files. |
| Distributed Link Tracking Client | Automatic | Disabled | Disabled | Keeps track of file locations across the network. |
| Distributed Transaction Coordinator | Automatic (Delayed Start) | Manual | Disabled | Is used by Microsoft SQL Server and IIS. |
| DNS Client | Automatic | - | - | |
| Extensible Authentication Protocol | Manual | - | - | |
| Function Discovery Provider Host | Manual | - | - | |
| Function Discovery Resource Publication | Manual | Manual | Disabled | Publishes your computer resources over the network. |
| Group Policy Client | Automatic | - | - | |
| Health Key and Certificate Management | Manual | - | - | |
| Human Interface Device Access | Manual | - | - | |
| IKE and AuthIP IPsec Keying Modules | Automatic | Automatic | Manual | Internet Key Exchange is used for some VPN software. |
| Interactive Services Detection | Manual | - | - | |
| Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) | Disabled | - | - | |
| IP Helper | Automatic | Manual | Disabled | Only needed if you need IPV6 support. Probably not needed. |
| IPsec Policy Agent | Automatic | - | - | |
| KtmRm for Distributed Transaction Coordinator | Automatic (Delayed Start) | Manual | Disabled | |
| Link-Layer Topology Discovery Mapper | Manual | - | - | |
| Microsoft .NET Framework NGEN v2.0.50727_X86 | Manual | - | - | |
| Microsoft Fibre Channel Platform Registration Service | Manual | - | - | |
| Microsoft iSCSI Initiator Service | Manual | - | - | |
| Microsoft Software Shadow Copy Provider | Manual | - | - | |
| Multimedia Class Scheduler | Manual | - | - | |
| Netlogon | Manual | Manual | Disabled | If you are using a Domain Controller, leave this service. Otherwise you can disable it. |
| Network Access Protection Agent | Manual | - | - | |
| Network Connections | Manual | - | - | |
| Network List Service | Automatic | - | - | |
| Network Location Awareness | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic (Delayed Start) | |
| Network Store Interface Service | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic (Delayed Start) | |
| Offline Files | Disabled | - | - | |
| Performance Logs & Alerts | Manual | Manual | Disabled | Performance logging. You probably don't use/need it. |
| Plug and Play | Automatic | - | - | |
| PnP-X IP Bus Enumerator | Disabled | - | - | |
| Portable Device Enumerator Service | Manual | - | - | |
| Print Spooler | Automatic | - | - | |
| Problem Reports and Solutions Control Panel Support | Manual | - | - | |
| Protected Storage | Manual | - | - | |
| Remote Access Auto Connection Manager | Manual | - | - | |
| Remote Access Connection Manager | Manual | - | - | |
| Remote Procedure Call (RPC) | Automatic | - | - | |
| Remote Procedure Call (RPC) Locator | Manual | - | - | |
| Remote Registry | Automatic | Manual | Disabled | Is needed if you want to access the computers registry from an other computer, but it might also be needed for local applications. |
| Resultant Set of Policy Provider | Manual | - | - | |
| Routing and Remote Access | Disabled | - | - | |
| Secondary Logon | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic (Delayed Start) | |
| Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol Service | Manual | - | - | |
| Security Accounts Manager | Automatic | - | - | |
| Server | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic (Delayed Start) | |
| Shell Hardware Detection | Automatic | - | - | |
| SL UI Notification Service | Manual | - | - | |
| Smart Card | Manual | Manual | Disabled | This service is only needed when you use Smart Cards. |
| Smart Card Removal Policy | Manual | Manual | Disabled | This service is only needed when you use Smart Cards. |
| SNMP Trap | Manual | - | - | |
| Software Licensing | Automatic | - | - | |
| Special Administration Console Helper | Manual | - | - | |
| SSDP Discovery | Disabled | - | - | |
| Superfetch | Disabled | - | - | |
| System Event Notification Service | Automatic | - | - | |
| Task Scheduler | Automatic | - | - | |
| TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper | Automatic | - | - | |
| Telephony | Manual | Manual | Manual | Needed for dialup and VPN connections. |
| Terminal Services | Automatic | Manual | Disabled | Allows users to log in to this computer. Not required to make outward connections with Remote Desktop. |
| Terminal Services Configuration | Manual | - | - | |
| Terminal Services UserMode Port Redirector | Manual | - | - | |
| Themes | Disabled | - | - | Needed if you use Themes. |
| Thread Ordering Server | Manual | - | - | |
| TPM Base Services | Automatic (Delayed Start) | - | - | |
| UPnP Device Host | Disabled | - | - | |
| User Profile Service | Automatic | - | - | |
| Virtual Disk | Manual | - | - | |
| Volume Shadow Copy | Manual | - | - | |
| Windows Audio | Manual | - | - | |
| Windows Audio Endpoint Builder | Manual | - | - | |
| Windows Color System | Manual | - | - | |
| Windows Driver Foundation - User-mode Driver Framework | Manual | - | - | |
| Windows Error Reporting Service | Automatic | - | - | |
| Windows Event Collector | Manual | - | - | |
| Windows Event Log | Automatic | - | - | |
| Windows Firewall | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic | |
| Windows Installer | Manual | - | - | |
| Windows Management Instrumentation | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic (Delayed Start) | |
| Windows Modules Installer | Manual | - | - | |
| Windows Remote Management (WS-Management) | Automatic (Delayed Start) | - | - | |
| Windows Time | Automatic | - | - | |
| Windows Update | Automatic (Delayed Start) | - | - | |
| WinHTTP Web Proxy Auto-Discovery Service | Manual | - | - | |
| Wired AutoConfig | Manual | - | - | |
| WMI Performance Adapter | Manual | - | - | |
| Workstation | Automatic | - | - |
Tags Server 2008 Workstation
August 26th, 2008 at 22:41
[...] Read the original here: Fine-Tuning Services [...]
August 26th, 2008 at 22:54
great, this is new isn’t it
will try it and give a feedback
thanks a lot…greetZ IceDevil
Admin: That’s right, just added it yesterday.
August 27th, 2008 at 8:56
here my list
[Services]
AELOOKUPSVC = Automatic (Delayed Start)
CRYPTSVC = Automatic (Delayed Start)
DPS = Automatic (Delayed Start)
EVENTSYSTEM = Automatic (Delayed Start)
IKEEXT = Manual
LANMANSERVER = Automatic (Delayed Start)
MPSSVC = Manual
NLASVC = Automatic (Delayed Start)
NSI = Automatic (Delayed Start)
QWAVE = Automatic (Delayed Start)
REMOTEREGISTRY = Manual
SECLOGON = Automatic (Delayed Start)
SLUINOTIFY = Disabled
TERMSERVICE = Automatic (Delayed Start)
THEMES = Automatic
TRKWKS = Automatic (Delayed Start)
WINMGMT = Automatic (Delayed Start)
WUAUSERV = Disabled
changing it to Automatic (Delayed Start) maybe boost the startup
August 28th, 2008 at 19:30
[...] news by admin This entry is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the [...]
August 29th, 2008 at 7:44
Telephony is required for software VPN connections.
Admin: Thanks for your reply; changed the ‘Tweaked Startup Type’ into ‘Manual’ because quite a lot people will use VPN.
September 5th, 2008 at 8:49
You’ve written that the Remote Registry service is only used for “Is only needed if you want to access the computers registry from an other computer.”. I’ve experienced that certain programs won’t install (or maybe even run, can’t remember) unless this service is running. Probably some bad programming, but it was a pain in the *ss to troubleshoot! So be aware if you disable this service.
September 6th, 2008 at 4:06
Remote registry is reguired for some corporate antivirus (trend at least)
September 11th, 2008 at 16:32
IKE and AuthIP IPsec Keying Modules not needed as far as i know
September 15th, 2008 at 21:59
Remote Registry is needed for sure by some .net programs when the are using remoting and maybe with wcf.
September 24th, 2008 at 19:56
if i disabled Distributed Transaction Coordinator
i need KtmRm for Distributed Transaction Coordinator ?
Arris: Updated the table.
November 2nd, 2008 at 7:04
[...] public links >> autodiscovery Fine-Tuning Services Saved by heartslessqueen on Sat 01-11-2008 Zend Framework 1.6 Release Candidate ist da Saved by [...]
November 19th, 2008 at 17:48
Anyway to automate these tunings ?
November 21st, 2008 at 12:53
with vlite 1.2 u could
or look for reg in speedyvista website
GL
November 29th, 2008 at 23:53
Once I tried to disable almost half of default services onWin2008.
The boot time was not shorter by even a single second.
Are you sure there is any speed gain by disabling the above services ?
Did anyone measure the gains ?
Regards,
David
Arris: Some people say it’s useless, others say it speeds up your system. Personally I do it to clean up the list of running services a bit and to possibly gain some performance improvement.
December 15th, 2008 at 7:37
I’d say enable Diagnostic Policy Service as it can forewarn disk failure based on SMART report.
Arris: Thanks for your comment; updated the description.
December 18th, 2008 at 21:53
my windows firewall will not let me delay start
Arris: Thanks for your comment, you are right so I updated the table!
December 26th, 2008 at 15:25
Following this list made my computer’s boot time extend to about 5-10 minutes from a normal ~30 seconds. I didn’t bother to divide and conquer as I was considering to figure out the culprit service but Cryptographic Services sounds like it may have been the issue. Delaying the start of this probably presented a problem on my Dell laptop. I have since reverted the changes and it is back to normal.
Can I also add that there is not really much point to this. The gains are minimal, the fact that most people tech savvy enough to tinker here would know about sleep/hibernate, the fact that these services use very little resources during a user’s session, and the fact that it can easily cause problems as what happened to me.
The only services you should be tinkering with are things like the Windows Firewall if you use a 3rd party one and others that are more “features” than “services” such as Indexing.