To disable unneeded startup services for a safer, faster XP, use the "Services" Admin Tool (Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services).
If you are a single user of a non-networked machine, you can disable the following items, with no ill effect.
- Alerter
- Clipbook
- Computer Browser
- Fast User Switching
- Human Interface Access Devices Indexing Service (Slows the hard drive down)
- Messenger
- Net Logon (unnecessary unless networked on a Domain)
- Netmeeting Remote Desktop Sharing (disabled for extra security)
- Remote Desktop Help Session Manager (disabled for extra security)
- Remote Procedure Call Locator Remote Registry (disabled for extra security)
- Routing & Remote Access (disabled for extra security)
- Server
- SSDP Discovery Service (this is for the utterly pointless "Universal P'n'P", & leaves TCP Port 5000 wide open)
- TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper
- Telnet (disabled for extra security)
- Universal Plug and Play Device Host
- Upload Manager
- Windows Time
- Wireless Zero Configuration (for wireless networks)
- Workstation
