Windows services, also referred to as system services, are programs, processes, and tools that run in the background to support Windows operating systems. Services can be enabled or disabled to improve system performance, prevent unnecessary usage of resources, and customize user experience. However, disabling certain services can have a significant impact on the computer, possibly rendering it unusable. Therefore, it is important to understand what each service does before disabling or enabling it.
The easiest way to enable or disable Windows services is via the services app. Services are organized into categories such as Network, Plug and Play, Print and Document, Remote Procedure Call, and System Event Notification. To access the services app, open the Control Panel and select Administrative Tools. Once there, double-click on the Services icon.
In the services window, scroll through the list of services to locate the one you want to enable or disable. To view more details about a particular service, right-click on the service name and select Properties. This will bring up a separate window with a general information tab, which will provide a brief description of the service and allow you to change the startup type. The available startup types are Automatic, Manual, and Disabled.
Automatic means the service will automatically start when the computer boots up; Manual means the service can be started manually when needed; and Disabled means the service will not run at all. After selecting the preferred startup type, click the Apply button at the bottom of the window. To confirm the changes, restart the computer.
Another way to enable or disable Windows services is through the command line. To do this, open a command prompt from the Start menu and type the “sc” command followed by one of the available parameters. For instance, to start a service called “Service1”, type “sc start Service1”. To stop a service, type “sc stop Service1”. Other available parameters include “config” for configuring startup type and “query” for displaying service configuration.
Finally, if you are comfortable with the Windows Registry, you can also use it to enable or disable Windows services. To do this, open the Registry Editor (regedit.exe) and navigate to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services folder. Here, you will find a list of all the services installed on the computer. To enable or disable a service, double-click on it and look for the “Start” parameter. Here you can enter “2” to enable the service, “3” to disable the service, and “4” to configure the startup type.
It is important to note that any changes made to the Windows Services can cause instability or render the computer unusable if done incorrectly. Therefore, always make sure to create a backup of the registry before making any changes. Additionally, it is recommended to thoroughly research each service before enabling or disabling them.