Disabling unnecessary services can improve system performance and overall system security, as the system’s attack surface is reduced. In this article, you’ll learn about 10 critical Windows XP services you shouldn’t disable.

  1. DNS Client: This service resolves and caches DNS names, allowing the system to communicate with canonical names rather than strictly by IP address. DNS is the reason that you can, in a Web browser, type http://www.pankajdangi.com rather than having to remember that http://127.0.0.1  is the site’s IP address.
  2. Network Connection: The Network Connections service is the element responsible for making sure that your computer can communicate with other computers and with the Internet.
  3. Plug and Play: The Plug and Play service (formerly known as the “Plug and Pray” service, due to its past unreliability), is kicked off whenever new hardware is added to the computer. This service detects the new hardware and attempts to automatically configure it for use with the computer. If you disable Plug and Play, your computer will be unstable and incapable of detecting hardware changes.
  4. Print Spooler: Just about every computer out there needs to print at some point. If you want your computer to be able to print, don’t plan on disabling the Print Spooler service. It manages all printing activities for your system.
  5. Remote Procedure Call (RPC): RPC allows processes to communicate with one another and across the network with each other. A ton of other critical services, including the Print Spooler and the Network Connections service, depend on the RPC service to function. Bad news. The system will not boot. Don’t disable this service.
  6. DHCP Client: Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is a critical service that makes the task of getting computers on the network nearly effortless. Before the days of DHCP, poor network administrators had to manually assign network addresses to every computer.
  7. Cryptographic Services: Every month, Microsoft provides new fixes and updates on what has become known as “Patch Tuesday” because the updates are released on the first Tuesday of the month. Why do I bring this up? Well, one service supported by Cryptographic Services happens to be Automatic Updates.
  8. Automatic Updates: Keeping your machine current with patches is pretty darn important, and that’s where Automatic Updates comes into play. When Automatic Updates is enabled, your computer stays current with new updates from Microsoft.
  9. Workstation: As is the case for many services, the Workstation service is responsible for handling connections to remote network resources. Specifically, this service provides network connections and communications capability for resources found using Microsoft Network services.
  10. Network Location Awareness (NLA): Your computer will not be able to fully connect to and use wireless networks. With today’s WiFi-everywhere culture, mobility has become a primary driver. The Network Location Awareness service is responsible for collecting and storing network configuration and location information and notifying applications when this information changes.