Editor's Note: This information was originally created and belongs to Black Viper (Dead link, obviously)

Editor's Note: This information was originally created and belongs to Black Viper (Dead link, obviously). We have reproduced it, in large part until the original website returns, if ever. There were a lot of pages, so if you dig far enough reading it here, you will eventually hit dead links from older pages we do not have. The original scripts are also available for download.

Do not use msconfig to disable services. Type in the Run box "services.msc" instead!
Before disabling ANY service, check out the information listed about each service by clicking on the name.
Only disable a few services at a time to avoid changing "50" settings and trying to figure out "what broke it."
Still unsure? Put your setting to "manual" or the listing under "Safe." Manual allows Windows XP to start the service when it needs to (or when ever it feels like it,) but not at boot up. NOTE: Depending on your configuration, not all services will start when required while in Manual mode. If you find you need a service, place it in Auto.
After adjusting your service settings, reboot your computer.
If you do not have some of these services listed, don't panic! If your computer manufacture "pre-installed" your XP, they choose not to have certain services installed for you.

Notes

Disabling all of the "unneeded services" frees up 12-70MB of RAM, depending on system.

Display Name ~ Is how it is displayed in the Services Control Panel
Service Name ~ Is what the service is called, usually the "short" name
Process Name ~ Name of the Process running in the background (displayed in Task Manager by hitting Ctrl+Alt+Del)
Dependencies ~ What other services this service needs to run
Need it? ~ From what I have concluded by trial and error and also the services that I have found pointless.
MINE ~ My configuration & recommended to start. Cross between Gaming (Power User) & Safe configuration.
DEFAULT Pro ~ What Microsoft thinks should be running on Windows XP Professional.
"SAFE" Configuration ~ This is the configuration that 95% of the people will be able to use with little side effects. It will also minimizes the amount of "errors" that is reported in the Event Viewer. This does NOT guarantee it will work for you, but if you are scared, this configuration should be a good starting point.
Internet Gateway Configuration ~ Setup to allow multiple computers on a network to share one internet connection access point using Microsoft's "Internet Connection Sharing and Personal Firewall" software. If you do not have this type of setup, compare the differences between "SAFE" and "GAMING" to find a middle ground that works for your system.
Gaming Configuration ~ The power user setup. DO NOT JUMP RIGHT TO THIS CONFIGURATION. This setup is a system that connects through a network to the internet, provides file and print sharing resources and gaming enjoyment. Some things MAY not function with this setup. No passwords are saved. It is not intended for a computer with analog modems or some DSL/cable connections. Try "Internet Gateway" Configuration first.

Windows XP Professional Services Configurations
Display Name	Service Name	Process Name	Dependencies	Need it? (Vital, Yes, Maybe, No, Not Installed, Never)	MINE	DEFAULT Pro	"SAFE"	Internet Gateway	Gaming
Alerter	Alerter	services.exe	Workstation	No.	Disabled	Manual	Disabled	Disabled	Disabled
Application Layer Gateway Service	ALG	alg.exe	None	Maybe.	Disabled	Manual	Manual	Auto	Disabled
Application Management	AppMgmt	svchost.exe	None	Yes.	Manual	Manual	Manual	Manual	Manual
Auto Updates	wuauserv	svchost.exe	None	Maybe.	Disabled	Auto	Auto	Auto	Disabled
Background Intelligent Transfer Service	BITS	svchost.exe	Remote Procedure Call (RPC), Workstation	No.	Disabled	Manual	Disabled	Disabled	Disabled
ClipBook	ClipSrv	clipsrv.exe	Network DDE	No.	Disabled	Manual	Disabled	Disabled	Disabled
COM+ Event System	EventSystem	svchost.exe	Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	No.	Disabled	Manual	Manual	Disabled	Disabled
COM+ System Application	COMSysApp	dllhost.exe	Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	No.	Disabled	Manual	Manual	Disabled	Disabled
Computer Browser	Browser	svchost.exe	Server, Workstation	Maybe.	Disabled	Auto	Manual	Auto	Disabled
Cryptographic Services	CryptSvc	svchost.exe	Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	Maybe.	Manual	Auto	Auto	Auto	Disabled

Display Name	Service Name	Process Name	Dependencies	Need it? (Vital, Yes, Maybe, No, Not Installed, Never)	MINE	DEFAULT Pro	"SAFE"	Internet Gateway	Gaming
DHCP Client	Dhcp	svchost.exe	AFD Networking Support Environment, NetBios over TCP/IP, TCP/IP Protocol Driver	Maybe.	Auto	Auto	Auto	Disabled	Auto
Distributed Link Tracking Client	TrkWks	svchost.exe	Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	No.	Disabled	Auto	Manual	Disabled	Disabled
Distributed Transaction Coordinator	MSDTC	msdtc.exe	Remote Procedure Call (RPC), Security Accounts Manager	No.	Disabled	Manual	Manual	Disabled	Disabled
DNS Client	Dnscache	svchost.exe	TCP/IP Protocol Driver	No.	Disabled	Auto	Auto	Disabled	Disabled
Error Reporting Service	ERSvc	svchost.exe	Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	Never.	Disabled	Auto	Disabled	Disabled	Disabled
Event Log	Eventlog	services.exe	None	Yes.	Auto	Auto	Auto	Auto	Auto
Fast User Switching Compatibility	FastUserSwitching Compatibility	svchost.exe	Terminal Services	No.	Manual	Manual	Manual	Disabled	Disabled
Fax Service	FAX	fxssvc.exe	Plug and Play, Print Spooler, Remote Procedure Call (RPC), Telephony	Not Installed.	Not Installed	Not Installed	Not Installed	Not Installed	Not Installed
FTP Publishing Service		inetinfo.exe	IIS Admin	Not Installed.	Not Available	Not Installed	Not Installed	Not Installed	Not Installed

Display Name	Service Name	Process Name	Dependencies	Need it? (Vital, Yes, Maybe, No, Not Installed, Never)	MINE	DEFAULT Pro	"SAFE"	Internet Gateway	Gaming
Help and Support	helpsvc	svchost,exe	Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	No.	Disabled	Auto	Disabled	Disabled	Disabled
Human Interface Device Access	HidServ	svchost,exe	Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	No.	Auto	Disabled	Disabled	Disabled	Disabled
IIS Admin	IISADMIN	inetinfo.exe	Remote Procedure Call (RPC), Security Accounts Manager	Not Installed.	Not Available	Not Installed	Not Installed	Not Installed	Not Installed
IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service	ImapiService	imapi.exe	None	Maybe.	Disabled	Manual	Auto	Disabled	Disabled
Indexing Service	cisvc	cisvc.exe	Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	Never.	Disabled	Manual	Disabled	Disabled	Disabled
Internet Connection Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing	SharedAccess	svchost.exe	Application Layer Gateway Service, Network Connections, Network Location Awareness, Remote Access Connection Manager	Maybe.	Disabled	Auto	Auto	Auto	Disabled
IPSEC Services	PolicyAgent	lsass,exe	IPSEC driver, Remote Procedure Call (RPC), TCP/IP Protocol Driver	No.	Disabled	Auto	Disabled	Disabled	Disabled
Logical Disk Manager	dmserver	svchost.exe	Plug and Play, Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	Maybe.	Disabled	Auto	Manual	Disabled	Disabled
Logical Disk Manager Administrative Service	dmadmin	dmadmin.exe	Logical Disk Manager, Plug and Play, Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	Maybe.	Disabled	Manual	Manual	Disabled	Disabled
Message Queuing		mqsvc.exe	Distributed Transaction Coordinator, Message Queuing access control, NT LM Security Support Provider, Reliable Multicast Protocol driver, Remote Procedure Call (RPC), Server	Not Installed.	Not Available	Not Installed	Not Installed	Not Installed	Not Installed

Display Name	Service Name	Process Name	Dependencies	Need it? (Vital, Yes, Maybe, No, Not Installed, Never)	MINE	DEFAULT Pro	"SAFE"	Internet Gateway	Gaming
Message Queuing Triggers		mqtgsvc.exe	Message Queuing	Not Installed.	Not Available	Not Installed	Not Installed	Not Installed	Not Installed
Messenger	Messenger	services.exe	NetBIOS Interface, Plug and Play, Remote Procedure Call (RPC), Workstation	No.	Disabled	Auto	Disabled	Disabled	Disabled
MS Software Shadow Copy Provider	SwPrv	dllhost.exe	Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	No.	Disabled	Manual	Manual	Disabled	Disabled
Net Login	Netlogon	lsass.exe	Workstation	No.	Disabled	Auto	Disabled	Disabled	Disabled
NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing	mnmsrvc	mnmsrvc.exe	None	Never.	Manual	Manual	Disabled	Disabled	Disabled
Network Connections	Netman	svchost.exe	Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	Vital.	Manual	Manual	Auto	Auto	Manual
Network DDE	NetDDE	netdde.exe	Network DDE DSDM	No.	Disabled	Manual	Disabled	Disabled	Disabled
Network DDE DSDM	NetDDE dsdm	netdde.exe	AFD Networking Support Enviroment, TCP/IP Protocol Driver	No.	Disabled	Manual	Disabled	Disabled	Disabled
Network Location Awareness (NLA)	Nla	svchost.exe	None	Maybe.	Disabled	Manual	Manual	Auto	Disabled
NT LM Security Support Provider	NtLmSsp	lsass.exe	None	No.	Disabled	Manual	Disabled	Disabled	Disabled

Display Name	Service Name	Process Name	Dependencies	Need it? (Vital, Yes, Maybe, No, Not Installed, Never)	MINE	DEFAULT Pro	"SAFE"	Internet Gateway	Gaming
Performance Logs and Alerts	SysmonLog	smlogsvc.exe	None	Never.	Disabled	Manual	Disabled	Disabled	Disabled
Plug and Play	PlugPlay	services.exe	None	Vital.	Auto	Auto	Auto	Auto	Auto
Portable Media Serial Number	WmdmPmSp	svchost.exe	None	Never.	Manual	Auto	Disabled	Disabled	Disabled
Print Spooler	Spooler	spoolsv.exe	Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	Maybe.	Auto	Auto	Auto	Auto	Auto
Protected Storage	ProtectedStorage	lsass.exe	Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	No.	Auto	Auto	Auto	Auto	Disabled
QoS RSVP	RSVP	rsvp.exe	AFD Networking Support Environment, Remote Procedure Call (RPC), TCP/IP Protocol Driver	No	Disabled	Manual	Disabled	Disabled	Disabled
Remote Access Auto Connection Manager	RasAuto	svchost.exe	Remote Access Connection Manager, Telephony	Maybe.	Manual	Manual	Manual	Auto	Disabled
Remote Access Connection Manager	RasMan	svchost.exe	Telephony	Maybe.	Manual	Manual	Manual	Auto	Disabled
Remote Desktop Help Session Manager	RDSessMgr	sessmgr.exe	Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	No.	Disabled	Manual	Disabled	Disabled	Disabled
Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	RpcSs	svchost.exe	None (but everything depends on IT!)	Vital.	Auto	Auto	Auto	Auto	Auto

Display Name	Service Name	Process Name	Dependencies	Need it? (Vital, Yes, Maybe, No, Not Installed, Never)	MINE	DEFAULT Pro	"SAFE"	Internet Gateway	Gaming
Remote Procedure Call (RPC) Locator	RpcLocator	locator.exe	Workstation	No.	Manual	Manual	Manual	Manual	Manual
Remote Registry Service	RemoteRegistry	svchost.exe	None	Never.	Disabled	Auto	Disabled	Disabled	Disabled
Removable Storage	NtmsSvc	svchost.exe	Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	No.	Disabled	Manual	Manual	Disabled	Disabled
RIP Listener		svchost.exe	Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	Not Installed.	Not Installed	Not Installed	Not Installed	Not Installed	Not Installed
Routing and Remote Access	RemoteAccess	svchost.exe	NetBIOSGroup, Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	No.	Disabled	Manual	Disabled	Disabled	Disabled
Secondary Logon	seclogon	svchost.exe	None	No.	Disabled	Auto	Disabled	Disabled	Disabled
Security Accounts Manager	SamSs	lsass.exe	Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	No.	Disabled	Auto	Disabled	Disabled	Disabled
Server	lanmanserver	svchost.exe	None	Maybe.	Auto	Auto	Auto	Auto	Disabled
Shell Hardware Detection	ShellHWDetection	svchost.exe	Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	Maybe.	Disabled	Auto	Auto	Disabled	Disabled
Simple Mail Transport Protocol (SMTP)	SMTPSVC	inetinfo.exe	Event Log, IIS Admin	Not Installed.	Not Available	Not Installed	Not Installed	Not Installed	Not Installed

Display Name	Service Name	Process Name	Dependencies	Need it? (Vital, Yes, Maybe, No, Not Installed, Never)	MINE	DEFAULT Pro	"SAFE"	Internet Gateway	Gaming
Simple TCP/IP Services		tcpsvcs.exe	AFD Networking Support Environment	Not Installed.	Not Installed	Not Installed	Not Installed	Not Installed	Not Installed
Smart Card	SCardSvr	SCardSvr.exe	Plug and Play	Never.	Disabled	Manual	Disabled	Disabled	Disabled
Smart Card Helper	SCardDrv	SCardSvr.exe	None	Never.	Disabled	Manual	Disabled	Disabled	Disabled
SNMP Service		snmp.exe	Event Log	Not Installed.	Not Installed	Not Installed	Not Installed	Not Installed	Not Installed
SNMP Trap Service		snmptrap.exe	Event Log	Not Installed.	Not Installed	Not Installed	Not Installed	Not Installed	Not Installed
SSDP Discovery Service	SSDPSRV	svchost.exe	None	No.	Manual	Manual	Disabled	Disabled	Disabled
System Event Notification	SENS	svchost.exe	COM+ Event System	No.	Disabled	Auto	Auto	Disabled	Disabled
System Restore Service	srservice	svchost.exe	Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	Never.	Disabled	Auto	Disabled	Disabled	Disabled
Task Scheduler	Schedule	svchost.exe	Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	Maybe.	Disabled	Auto	Auto	Disabled	Disabled
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper Service	LmHosts	svchost.exe	AFD Networking Support Enviroment, NetBios over TCP/IP	No.	Disabled	Auto	Disabled	Disabled	Disabled

Display Name	Service Name	Process Name	Dependencies	Need it? (Vital, Yes, Maybe, No, Not Installed, Never)	MINE	DEFAULT Pro	"SAFE"	Internet Gateway	Gaming
TCP/IP Printer Server	LPDSVC	tcpsvcs.exe	Print Spooler, TCP/IP Protocol Driver	Not Installed.	Not Installed	Not Installed	Not Installed	Not Installed	Not Installed
Telephony	TapiSrv	svchost.exe	Plug and Play, Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	Maybe.	Manual	Manual	Manual	Auto	Disabled
Telnet	TlntSvr	tlntsvr.exe	NT LM Security Support Provider, Remote Procedure Call (RPC), TCP/IP Protocol Driver	Never.	Disabled	Manual	Disabled	Disabled	Disabled
Terminal Services	TermService	svchost.exe	Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	No.	Disabled	Manual	Manual	Disabled	Disabled
Themes	Themes	svchost.exe	None	No.	Disabled	Auto	Auto	Disabled	Disabled
Uninterruptible Power Supply	UPS	ups.exe	None	No.	Disabled	Manual	Disabled	Disabled	Disabled
Universal Plug and Play Device Host	UPNPhost	svchost.exe	SSDP Discovery Service	No.	Manual	Manual	Disabled	Disabled	Disabled
Upload Manager	uploadmgr	svchost.exe	Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	No.	Disabled	Auto	Disabled	Disabled	Disabled
Volume Shadow Copy	VSS	vssvc.exe	Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	No.	Manual	Manual	Manual	Disabled	Disabled
WebClient	WebClient	svchost.exe	WebDav Client Redirector	Never.	Disabled	Auto	Disabled	Disabled	Disabled

Display Name	Service Name	Process Name	Dependencies	Need it? (Vital, Yes, Maybe, No, Not Installed, Never)	MINE	DEFAULT Pro	"SAFE"	Internet Gateway	Gaming
Windows Audio	AudioSrv	svchost.exe	Plug and Play, Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	Vital.	Auto	Auto	Auto	Disabled (no sound card in this system)	Auto
Windows Image Acquisition (WIA)	stisvc	svchost.exe	Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	No.	Manual	Manual	Manual	Disabled	Disabled
Windows Installer	MSIServer	msiexec.exe	Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	Yes.	Manual	Manual	Manual	Manual	Manual
Windows Management Instrumentation	Minmgmt	svchost.exe	Event Log, Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	Vital.	Auto	Auto	Auto	Auto	Auto
Windows Management Instrumentation Driver Extension	Wmi	svchost.exe	None	Yes.	Manual	Manual	Manual	Manual	Manual
Windows Time	W32Time	svchost.exe	None	No.	Disabled	Auto	Disabled	Disabled	Disabled
Wireless Zero Configuration	WZCSVC	svchost.exe	NDIS Usermode I/O Protocol, Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	No.	Manual	Auto	Disabled	Disabled	Disabled
WMI Performance Adapter	WmiApSrv	wmiapsrv.exe	Remote Procedure Call (RPC)	No.	Manual	Manual	Disabled	Disabled	Disabled
Workstation	lanmanworkstation	svchost.exe	None (but plenty depend on it...)	Vital.	Auto	Auto	Auto	Auto	Auto
World Wide Web Publishing Service	W3SVC	inetinfo.exe	IIS Admin	No.	Not Available	Not Installed	Not Installed	Not Installed	Not Installed