Erm...
Mainly by removing those processes and services which are heavily memory intensive but doing this without compromising the basic functionality of the operating system. Or where this proves impossible to achieve, replacing them with viable non resource eating freeware alternatives. The problem with setting the Services in Vista which enable some of its more bloated processes to Disabled is that so many of them are dependent upon each other and disabling the wrong one first creates a domino effect, so you have to go about this in a certain order.
Atm I'm working on a Vmware configuration to run Vista as a guest os and no longer have the original Vista install so I'm referring to notes I made at the time on how to achieve this, I think that all the configurations in some way indirectly helped to remove processes so even though some of them may seem unnecessary at the start they are relevant when it comes to turning off integrated Vista programs so bear with me, also, in some cases, ways of making configurations using Vista’s GUI may have become more apparent (why didn’t M$ tell all from the start?):
Configure the Desktop resolution
Windows will set this to the max that your graphics adapter will handle - which is fine for watching high definition TV. Apart from the punishment your system's hardware is taking, all the way down the chain to the PSU, without the aid of a magnifying glass you will find it difficult to see the icons in the Quick Launch bar and Notification Area so in the Welcome Window that appears when Vista first starts click the "Display Settings" entry and set it to something that you'll be able to work with comfortably. Maxing out installed memory on a graphics card for the sake of desktop eye candy is not a smart thing to do, staring blankly at the screen waiting for the thumbnails to render in a folder full of your holiday snaps isn’t much fun either!
Configure the Start Menu
One of the most useful functions in Windows, the "Run" command box has been moved off of the Start menu by default in Windows Vista. To access it, you can press WinKey+R on your keyboard, or you can use the Search field at the bottom the Start menu; it can be used as a run command (sometimes), although not so much a command, more like a tentative request! Or, last but not least, you could just put the Run command back on the Start menu where it has lived for years:
Right click the Start button and select "Properties" In the "Taskbar and Start Menu Properties" dialog, click the "Customize" button scroll down the list and check the box next to the "Run command" entry and OK. (You'll probably be needing this)
Whilst in "Taskbar and Start Menu Properties" you might also consider unchecking any entries which mention "Search" because after discovering what Windows Search does with regard to system resources you might decide that you won't be needing that particular function after all!
Note: Disabling/Removing the Vista "Windows Search" does not prevent you from searching the system for files or folders, what you will see if you right click on a location in Explorer and choose "Search" is a yellow notification bar at the top of the Explorer window telling you that:
"Your searches might be slow because the index is not running"
Not half as slow as your PC will become if it is!
Personally I'd rather not have the index constantly updating in the background whilst I'm trying to be productive on my PC and my hard drive activity light constantly flickering when I’m not. But it is a personal choice.
Remove unrequired Windows Programs
This is where you get to choose which of the “all singing, all dancing” bundled Windows software stays and which goes.
Control Panel / Programs and Features last entry on the left panel Turn Windows features on or off:
Uncheck any that you don't need, be honest here because sooner or later in Vista any one of these can potentially turn into a resource hog :
Games: I don't like windows games much so for the purposes of slimming down my system I unchecked all except Chess Titans, Mah-jong Titans, Solitaire and Spider Solitaire
Remote Differential Compression (compares and updates network files) – how “vast” is your home network?
Tablet PC Optional Components (support for pointing devices designed to resemble a pen) do you use one?
Windows DFS Replication Service (synchronises files across networks) - great for PDAs – not much use if you haven’t got one.
Windows Meeting Place (WTF is that still even doing in Windows!)
Reboot
Configure the UAC (User Account Control – one of the security features new in Windows Vista)
Users and administrators who log on with highly privileged accounts for their typical day-to-day activities leave their systems vulnerable to Trojan horses and viruses. UAC or Limited User Accounts (LUA) as it's also known, is a new security feature in Vista that protects the system by restricting the system to limited privileges even if you're logged on to an account with Administrative credentials. When you attempt to run a feature that requires administrative credentials, the system prompts you for your password (or prompts you to log on using a different account).
One of the first new features in Windows Vista that you cannot fail to notice is the constant prompting from the UAC telling you that you require elevated “privs” to run a program, copy to or open a folder, it does become quite annoying to the point of being insulting to the experienced user. Microsoft does provide a simple method of turning in off: Control Panel / User Accounts / Turn User Account Control on or Off (found on at the bottom of the window listed under Make Changes to your User Account)
However, UAC can be useful in protecting you whilst online and this is how you configure it to do that:
If you want to keep User Account Control (UAC) on, for example to keep Protected Mode in IE running, but don't like the constant prompting from UAC you can keep it turned on and suppress the prompts using the reg entries below:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
; Switch UAC to quiet mode - keeps it on but suppresses prompts for admin
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]
"ConsentPromptBehaviorAdmin"=dword:00000000
"EnableLUA"=dword:00000001
; Switch UAC to quiet mode - keeps it on but suppresses prompts for user
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]
"ConsentPromptBehaviorUser"=dword:00000000
"EnableLUA"=dword:00000001
Note: The above can now be configured in a GUI with TweakUAC -
http://www.tweak-uac.com/download/
System Settings
Optimise Windows memory usage
With a resource hungry system it makes sense to optimise the Virtual Memory settings:
Control Panel / System / Advanced Tab / Performance / Settings button in the Performance Options window go Advanced Tab / Virtual Memory and click the Change button
Check the "Custom Size" radio button and in the "Initial size (MB)" field enter the "Recommended:" figure from the "Total paging file size for all drives" section below and enter the same figure in the "Maximum size (MB)" field. Click the "Set" button and "Apply, Ok"
Reboot
Windows Services
This isn’t a full Services configuration it only covers processes that will either help to make using Vista a more comfortable experience or substantially increase the availability of system resources. Also little is known at this time regarding the outcome of disabling some of the new services in Vista!
Start / Run
services.msc
Double click on an entry and in the window that opens change the "Startup type" (usually a choice of Automatic, Manual or Disabled and "Apply, OK"
Application Experience - (Default setting: Automatic)
Description: Processes application compatibility cache requests for applications as they are launched
Human Description: Instrumental in providing compatibility for older applications - there will probably always will be quite a few programs that Vista will class as "old" if you're using old programs don't upgrade to Vista - it's the brutal truth unfortunately.
Recommended Setting: Disabled
Note: Disabling this service does not remove the right click context menu “Run in compatibility mode” options surprisingly
Background Intelligent Transfer Service - (Default setting: Automatic)
Description: Transfers files in the background using idle network bandwidth. If the service is disabled, then any applications that depend on BITS, such as Windows Update or MSN Explorer, will be unable to automatically download programs and other information.
Human Description: Windows Update's little helper - it downloads stuff you don't want when it thinks you're not looking. Personally I've had some bad experiences in the past from allowing Windows to update automatically so I'd rather choose which updates to install. If you are also going to set the Windows Update Service to Disabled then do the same with this because the two go hand in glove.
Recommended Setting: Disabled
Base Filtering System - (Default setting: Automatic)
Description: The Base Filtering Engine (BFE) is a service that manages firewall and Internet Protocol security (IPsec) policies and implements user mode filtering. Stopping or disabling the BFE service will significantly reduce the security of the system. It will also result in unpredictable behaviour in IPsec management and firewall applications.
Human Description: Manages firewall filtering and enables Windows Firewall to run in secure mode. Disable ONLY if you have a third party firewall (PC Tools Firewall Plus does the job and it's free
http://www.pctools.com/firewall/). The IPsec Policy Agent and Windows Firewall also rely on this service so if you set this to Disabled then do the same with them but remember you DO need a firewall.
Recommended Setting: Disabled
Certificate Propagation - (Default setting: Manual)
Description: Propagates certificates from smart cards)
Human Description: Not relevant for average PC users
Recommended Setting: Disabled
Cryptographic Services - (Default setting: Automatic)
Description: Provides four management services: Catalog Database Service, which confirms the signatures of Windows files and allows new programs to be installed; Protected Root Service, which adds and removes Trusted Root Certification Authority certificates from this computer; Automatic Root Certificate Update Service, which retrieves root certificates from Windows Update and enable scenarios such as SSL; and Key Service, which helps enrol this computer for certificates. If this service is stopped, these management services will not function properly. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Human Description: Checks signed software and manages Root Certificates, etc. If you run Windows Update it automatically resets this to manual regardless of personal configuration. Windows uses it for checking for WHQL signed drivers. I've read somewhere that you can disable this service in Vista - my advice - Don't.
Recommended Setting: Automatic
Desktop Window Manager Session Manager - (Default setting: Automatic)
Description: Provides Desktop Window Manager startup and maintenance services
Human Description: This is the main eye candy generator for Aero desktop enhancements. True it is one of the heaviest resource eating background services and the reason why the CPU will constantly be in use in Vista but the operating system would just be a slower version of XP without its desktop. If you disable this service it'll be either because you seriously need to free up system resources or you would much rather be using Windows 2000, because that is what the desktop will look like without it.
Recommended Setting: Automatic
Diagnostic Policy Service - (Default setting: Automatic)
Description: The Diagnostic Policy Service enables problem detection, troubleshooting and resolution for Windows components. If this service is stopped, diagnostics will no longer function. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Human Description: It's hard to say this but what this service really does is continue Vista's beta test program. It sends the results in reports back to Redmond so they can get it right in the next service pack or two and it's going to use up resources doing it. Shouldn't they have got it right before the RTM?
Recommended Setting: Disabled
Diagnostic Service Host - (Default setting: Manual) (see Diagnostic Policy Service)
Recommended Setting: Disabled
Diagnostic System Host - (Default setting: Manual) (see Diagnostic Policy Service)
Recommended Setting: Disabled
Distributed Link Tracking Client - (Default setting: Automatic)
Description: Maintains links between NTFS files within a computer or across computers in a network.
Human Description: Used for databases that rely on networked files for updating, in Vista it's most active when Windows Search is running. If you don't share files that lots of people work on you can safely disable it.
Recommended Setting: Disabled
Distributed Transaction Coordinator - (Default setting: Manual) (see Distributed Link Tracking Client)
Recommended Setting: Disabled
IKE and AuthIP IPsec Keying Modules - (Default setting: Automatic)
Description: The IKEEXT service hosts the Internet Key Exchange (IKE) and Authenticated Internet Protocol (AuthIP) keying modules. These keying modules are used for authentication and key exchange in Internet Protocol security (IPsec). Stopping or disabling the IKEEXT service will disable IKE and AuthIP key exchange with peer computers. IPsec is typically configured to use IKE or AuthIP; therefore, stopping or disabling the IKEEXT service might result in an IPsec failure and might compromise the security of the system. It is strongly recommended that you have the IKEEXT service running.
Human Description: A lot of words to tell you that this service is required by corporate networks for VPN security but isn't usually much use to the average home user, unless of course you are into creating an extensive VPN of your own.
Recommended Setting: Disabled
IP Helper - (Default setting: Automatic)
Description: Provides automatic IPv6 connectivity over an IPv4 network. If this service is stopped, the machine will only have IPv6 connectivity if it is connected to a native IPv6 network.
Human Description: It provides support for IPV6 and will be very useful when that gets running and if you know of any locations that are using IPV6 then leave this alone. Why does Microsoft feel this service needs to be permanently Windows resident anyway?
Recommended Setting: Disabled
IPsec Policy Agent - (Default setting: Automatic)
Description: (see Base Filtering System)
Internet Protocol security (IPsec) supports network-level peer authentication, data origin authentication, data integrity, data confidentiality (encryption), and replay protection. This service enforces IPsec policies created through the IP Security Policies snap-in or the command-line tool "netsh ipsec". If you stop this service, you may experience network connectivity issues if your policy requires that connections use IPsec. Also, remote management of Windows Firewall is not available when this service is stopped.
Note: There is a very slight chance that this service is required by your Internet Service Provider but a very small percentage use it.
Recommended Setting: Manual
Multimedia Class Scheduler - (Default setting: Automatic)
Description: Enables relative prioritization of work based on system-wide task priorities. This is intended mainly for multimedia applications. If this service is stopped, individual tasks resort to their default priority.
Human Description: Allocates relative CPU/Memory usage to Multimedia applications as required avoiding, for example, choppy video playback due to low system-wide resources. Disable it and play a test video – it worked normally for me.
Recommended Setting: Disabled
Portable Device Enumerator Service (Enforces group policy for removable mass-storage devices. Enables applications such as Windows Media Player and Image Import Wizard to transfer and synchronize content using removable mass-storage devices.)
Human Description: Disable if you don't need to syncronize data with removable storage (such as mp3 players). This will not affect third party applications such as iTunes, only applications using this service, e.g. Windows Media Player). set this to Disabled
Program Compatibility Assistant Service - (Default setting: Automatic)
Description: Provides support for the Program Compatibility Assistant. If this service is stopped, the Program Compatibility Assistant will not function properly. If this service is disabled, any services that depend on it will fail to start.
Human Description: Also linked to the Application Experience service – helps provide back compatibility for older programs
Recommended Setting: Automatic
Note: Disabling this service does not remove the right click context menu “Run in compatibility mode” options – so the potential is there to set this to Disabled.
ReadyBoost - (Default setting: Automatic)
Description: Provides support for improving system performance using ReadyBoost.
Human Description: Enables a USB flash drive to be used as a memory top up – if you don’t already have at least 2gb of installed memory to run Ultimate with the Aero Desktop sticking a pen drive into a USB port isn’t going to help you and considering my purpose is to reduce Vista’s resorce usage it would be a bit lame if I didn’t advise disabling this service considering it’ll be running resident in windows if I don’t!
Security Center - (Default setting: Automatic)
This service monitors the status of Windows Update, Windows Firewall and virus protection software. It is always displayed in the system tray as to the status of these particular functions. If you do not want the Security Center to monitor these functions for you, disabling this service is not enough. After rebooting the system, this service will again be placed into Automatic and started. While the service is in the started state, go to: Start > Control Panel > Security > Security Center and select the link on the left hand side labeled "Change the way Security Center alerts me." In the resulting dialog box, Select "Don't notify me and don't display the icon.". After that step is complete, you may place the Security Center service in disabled and it will not start again or continue to be displayed in the system tray after a reboot. This does not, however, disable any of the three protections, it only disables Security Center.
Recommended Setting: Disabled
Superfetch - (Default setting: Automatic)
Description: Maintains and improves system performance over time.
Human Description: Ensures that "Desktop Experience" applications get priority over any which run in the background. It is intuitive and will over a period of time preload programs that you use most often into memory, in most cases needlessly depleting resources in the process. I can't think of a better reason for disabling this service.
Recommended Setting: Disabled
Tablet PC Input Service - (Default setting: Automatic)
Description: Enables Tablet PC pen and ink functionality
Human Description: Do you use a Tablet or, like me, is a mouse too much for you most of the time – why on earth does this service start automatically by default?
Recommended Setting: Disabled
Task Scheduler – (Default setting: Automatic)
Description: Enables a user to configure and schedule automated tasks on this computer. If this service is stopped, these tasks will not be run at their scheduled times. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Human Description: Task Scheduler uses a fair amount of resources and as such I normally disable this service. Any program I wish to run, such as an Anti-Virus scan I run when I want, not at 4.37am on a Friday morning. In Vista there is no user configuration for Task Scheduler in the sevices snap-in which tends to suggest that M$ has an undisclosed (and usually unsavoury) use for this service. So which process, if any is affected if the service is disabled? Well…
Windows Defender and Windows Updates
What is puzzling is why this service is required when Apply/Ok is clicked after unchecking “Allow Remote Assistance to this PC” in System Properties / Remote Tab? Not enough reason not to disable this resource sponge!
Recommended Setting: Disabled
This can be done with a registry edit:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Schedule]
"Start"=dword:00000004
Or to do it manually:
Run regedit and navigate to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Schedule
Right click the "Start" entry and select "Modify" then change the value from "2" to "4"
Done
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper – (Default setting: Automatic)
Provides support for the NetBIOS over TCP/IP (NetBT) service and NetBIOS name resolution for clients on the network, therefore enabling users to share files, print, and log on to the network. If this service is stopped, these functions might be unavailable. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
You would be lost without this if one of the devices on your network was running Windows 98 - if that doesn't apply to you then disable it
Terminal Services – (Default setting: Automatic)
Description: Allows users to connect interactively to a remote computer. Remote Desktop and Terminal Server depend on this service. To prevent remote use of this computer, clear the checkboxes on the Remote tab of the System properties control panel item.
Human Description: Windows Media Center Extender Service and Infra Red devices use it too, if you don’t control your PC from the other side of the room or if you don’t need to access your desktop remotely and wouldn’t want anyone else to either then disable it.
Recommended Setting: Disabled
UPnP Device Host – (Default setting: Automatic)
Description: Allows UPnP devices to be hosted on this computer. If this service is stopped, any hosted UPnP devices will stop functioning and no additional hosted devices can be added. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Human Description: UPnP support. Plug and Play devices over your network. Let your computer get notified that your toast is ready! It was introduced for XP, but as far as I have heard, it has not caught on yet.
Recommended Setting: Disabled
User Profile Service – (Default setting: Automatic)
Default Description: This service is responsible for loading and unloading user profiles. If this service is stopped or disabled, users will no longer be able to successfully logon or logoff, applications may have problems getting to users' data, and components registered to receive profile event notifications will not receive them. leave as Automatic
WebClient - (Default setting: Automatic)
Description: Enables Windows-based programs to create, access, and modify Internet-based files. If this service is stopped, these functions will not be available. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Human Description: This service is used for things like web folder and WEB DAV. If you are like me and don't use these services, then disable them. I have not found a reason to have this service running. For security reasons, I recommend for this service to be disabled. If some MS products, such as MSN Explorer, Media Player, NetMeeting or Messenger fail to provide a particular function, try to enable this service to see if it is "required" for your configuration. Developers using WebDAV may also need this for connectivity. set this to Disabled
Windows Defender - I'm a great believer in using third party software when it comes to Anti-virus/spyware scanners for the simple reason that the manufacturers will be concentrating solely on that task and making their product the best on the market, "horses for courses" as they say. If you have already disabled Windows Defender by choosing "Do not scan files" in its Control Panel applet and you use an alternative like SpyBot Search & Destroy then set this service to disabled
Windows Firewall (see Base Filtering System) You DO need a Firewall - try PC Tools Firewall Plus does the job in Vista and it's free /http://www.pctools.com/firewall/ then disable this service set this to Disabled
Windows Error Reporting Service - Send/Don't Send a report to Microsoft every time you click the wrong button two or three times? Disable this service and you won't get that dialogue box anymore. set this to Disabled
Windows Management Instrumentation - - Fundamental to Windows function most software installers will fail without this!
Windows Media Center Service Launcher (Starts Windows Media Center Scheduler and Windows Media Center Receiver services at startup if TV is enabled within Windows Media Center.) - If you like and use Windows Media Center leave this set to Automatic, if you use an alternative with a much smaller resource footprint and no media restrictions (Windows Media Player Classic works well) set this to Disabled
Windows Search - If you have a system which has more than enough CPU/Memory resources to spare and you don't mind watching the drive activity indicator light constatly flickering when your PC is just idling - leave this set to Automatic. Without doubt Windows Search is the most resource hungry feature in Vista, outstripping by far even the "Desktop Experience". It doesn't seem to perform much better than XP's "Dog Search" either, despite the extensive file indeces it produces! Set this to Disabled
Windows Driver Foundation - User-mode Driver Framework a polished up version of the nasty wfdmgr which appeared in task manager after installing Windows Media Player 10 in Windows XP set this to Disabled
Windows Time Are you into time syncronisation between the devices on your network or is life to short? set this to Disabled
Windows Update - My Personal choice is to not allow automatic updates until I know what exactly is being improved/changed and its relevance to my personal set up. If you've got this far through these suggested Windows Services settings you will have realised that a great many of the functions in Vista are not and will probably never be applicable to the way you personally use your PC. Microsoft just include them in case they are required and Windows Update does the same, it attempts to improve the things that you will probably never encounter or indeed use. Check updates carefully before installing them - Google search them using their “KB” identity to see if others have experienced problems after installing them. The safest way to update Windows is to wait for a Service Pack! set this to Disabled
Some of the above may attract "You can't do that" comments but that's basically what I did and it still worked Ok! I think there's some more on a backup disk somewhere too...
Some of it might even still be relevant/useful lol
