Remove Optional and Probably Unnecessary Windows Vista Components
In the never-ending quest to rid your computer of unnecessary bloat, Windows Vista has a lot less options than prior versions, but you can still get rid of some of the extra Windows components that you don't need.
Open up Control Panel and go to the Programs and Features section. Find the link for "Turn Windows features on or off" (or you could just search for it)
This dialog is quite self-explanatory… uncheck the things you don't want, and hit the OK button. Depending on the version of Vista you are running you might not see everything in the list.
Guidelines, Not Set In Stone
Just to get you started, here's a few tips on what an average user might want to enable or disable. The rules will be different for everybody, depending on your applications and needs, so don't take these as absolute.
| ActiveX Installer Service | No | Do you really want anything to do with ActiveX? |
| Games | Why Not | Your productivity can only increase with Spider Solitaire on your computer. |
| Indexing Service | No | This is the old indexing service that is no longer needed in Vista. |
| Internet Information Service | No | Used for hosting websites on your computer. |
| Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 | No | Used for the new .NET 3.0 components, but only really needed for programmers. |
| Microsoft Message Queue (MSMQ) Server | No | Used by programmers as a way to reliably queue messages. |
| Print Services | No | You only need this if you use internet printers and like to kill trees. Our rainforests are depending on you disabling this service. |
| Remote Differential Compression | Maybe | This is likely required for utilities that use the network to download files. If it is enabled, don't mess with it. |
| Removable Storage Management | No | The only reason you'd need this is if you are restoring from old NTBACKUP files. |
| RIP Listener | No | You won't need this, it's a routing protocol. |
| Services for NFS | No | This can be used to map a drive to a linux NFS server. Unlikely you'd need it since Samba works so well. |
| SNMP Feature | No | This is used for management systems in workplace networks. You don't need it. |
| Subsystem for UNIX-based Applications | No | This is used for compatibility with certain applications based on UNIX… you don't need it. |
| Tablet PC Optional Components | Maybe | If you have a Tablet PC, you should enable this. If you don't, you may still want to because this includes the Snipping Tool. |
| Telnet Client | AVOID | You should never use telnet. Ever. |
| Telnet Server | AVOID | You should never use telnet. Ever. |
| TFTP Client | AVOID | TFTP was used by many of the early internet worms… there's a reason it's disabled by default. |
| Windows DFS Replication Service | No | This is only really used in work environments. Don't bother with this if you are a home user. |
| Windows Fax and Scan | No | Why anybody still faxes anything is beyond me. |
| Windows Meeting Space | No | If you don't use Windows Meeting Space or the "People Near Me" feature, don't bother with this. |
| Windows PowerShell | No | PowerShell is a more advanced command line geared towards programmers and system administrators. |
| Windows Process Activation Service | Probably | This is likely required to support some .NET applications, so I wouldn't change whatever it's currently set to. |
| Windows Ultimate Extras | Maybe | If you like the extras, then enable them. (Ultimate Only) |
Hopefully this will help somebody!
"Your productivity can only increase with Spider Solitaire on your computer."
that was funny, i had to read it twice, lol.
Once again, thank you for this!
In the neverending quest to "speed up" my machine I greatly appreciate everything you've posted!
Out of curiosity, why no telnet? I'm only asking since I thought RDC went through telnet?
Again, thank you!
Thanks ^_^ always looking for new ways to get rid of excess crap on my machine
Keep posting!
That's the thing, you can and I do remove all items ticked within Programs & Features but you still have a load of applications which I do want or will ever use. And you can't remove them anywhere… oh Vista!
Geek, my "Windows Feature" list is empty (I waited 5 mins and nothing appeared). Any idea how to get it to display the list?
Almost all of those were already disabled by default for me. Though, I can't disable the .NET Framework, because my work's application requires that. I was hoping to disable something! hehe
As a systems admin I use Telnet to troubleshoot every so often. I was surprised when it was disabled by default…. The only way I found out is because I needed it to test something
Thanks for this
I'm upgrading my sisters computer to teh Vista and was wondering about this since her computer is right on the threshold of being able to actually run Vista.
And to agree even more, telnet is horrible, and its nice to see that more people agree with that fact
@Jon: The Remote Desktop feature in Windows uses RDP a secure protocol that is unrelated to Telnet.
Telnet is basically a protocol for accessing the command line of a computer remotely.
SSH does the same thing only it's a secure protocol.
Many people including me wonder why Microsoft will include a Telnet client but not an SSH client.
Telnet is an ancient protocol, and is completely insecure… but as Smashpmk712 says, it can be used by sysadmins as a troubleshooting step… mostly to test other protocols like SMTP.
The average user has no need for telnet, server or client.
If anyone needs to have remote access to the Windows Command Line you can use freeSSHd at http://www.freesshd.com/
You can then connect to it with PuTTY at http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/
You can even test protocols like SMTP with PuTTY too.
So there is really no reason to install the Telnet server or client from that dialog.
"Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 - Used for the new .NET 3.0 components, but only really needed for programmers."
You're thinking of the .NET 3.0 Framework SDK. The .NET 3.0 Framework, however, is the runtime that lets you run .NET 3 applications. Without it, any apps you have that depend on it will either stop working, or require you to reinstall it.
Remove only if you're really certain you don't need it, AND you're exceptionally short on disk space.
- Will
(.NET Developer)
I found most of my boxes were already unchecked and only had to uncheck one box. This was a learning tool for me, Thanks!
The telnet protocol's been around a long time and has been used in a wide variety of ways. I've used it to control a PS2 running Linux from a Windows PC before. Since it was connected to the PC via an ethernet crossover cable (forming a simple 2 computer network) security was irrelevant. And it was a lot simpler then trying to setup SSH on the PS2.
One relative of mine used to have to use telnet to access a college E-mail system. Another used telnet (via Hyperterminal, which Microsoft didn't make and Vista doesn't include) to get dial-up internet access. And of course there were (and still are) telnet based BBS's. These days I imagine they're mostly accessed through the internet rather then a dial-up modem though. Telnet was also one of the earliest Internet Standards. (I'm not sure if SSH's been accepted as a standard or not yet.)
However I think most people that are using telnet these days are probably playing various online games that use telnet. (Like MUDs and MUSHes.) They probably won't use the XP/Vista client very long though since there are far better clients for use with those games.
@Will: I thought the same thing. I emailed the Geek and found out though that the entry in the "Windows Features" list labeled ".NET Framework 3.0″ is just the optional components for it, WCF HTTP Activation, WCF Non-HTTP Activation and XPS Viewer that most users don't need.
Apparently .NET Framework 3.0's mandatory components can not be uninstalled in Vista.
I understand your comment for the feature below, but does this affect any "Scanning" to be done? I am only assuming so since it has Scanning in the title. Is the scanning mentioned here only a precursor of the faxing system or is it for global scanning with in the system?
+———————————–+——+———————————————————————-+
| Windows Fan and Scan | 'No | Why anybody still faxes anything is beyond me. |
+———————————–+——+———————————————————————-+
Cool!
Now how about a post for XP?
@timbuckto: I think that program can be used for scanning but is not required for it. So if you scan things with another program then removing that program will not affect it.
@sbw07: See the first section at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/305548 for instructions on the same thing for Windows XP.
Note: The following items may appear in the list but will only remove the shortcuts to the program but not uninstall them: Internet Explorer, Outlook Express and Windows Messenger.
The .net framework is used by some software, such as Quickbooks, but I really like that it enables XPS. I generate almost no paper output now that I'm using XPS documents; it's native compared to pdf processing.
THanks! What everyone else said!
Thanks for displaying these options.
Before seeing this listing, I was unable to properly bring up the Indexing option, apparently because the Indexing box on this list was unchecked. With the box checked, I could re-index files that weren't being indexed (lots of e-mails, etc…)
for those who have an empty features list: it might help to set up the service "windows modul installer" on "manual" if it's disabled concerning tuning measures
It's very good.
Thnk
But, it's only increase system 15%
thanks~~ I'm convinced of my previous choice. And added the game back
re: "Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 - Used for the new .NET 3.0 components, but only really needed for programmers."
My HP Total Care Advisor stopped working when I turned off Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 which was only partially on with only the XPS Viewer checked…
My HP Total Care Advisor started working when I turned on Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 which was only partially on with only the XPS Viewer checked…
apparently some non programmers need Microsoft .Net Framework 3.0 turned on…
I was surprised!
Don't make mistake!!! Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 is used AS for the new .NET 3.0 components needed for .NET 3.0 programs to work. It is different than Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 SDK (Software Development Kit) wich is installed with IDE-s such as Visual Studio…
I recently started deleting Vista-stuff from a linux-partition. A lot of things in /system32 is full of unnessessary drivers, languages, etc… - the "administrator"-account is not enough if you try to wipe out these files (there's always the "system"-account that prevents you from kicking things away. I am recently at around 5 GB core-components on a "Vista Home Premium". If I find some time, I will proceed with this…
I dont have ActiveX Installer Service listed at all!! How come?
Kurban
You need the fax-and-scan "checked" if you want to use a scanner through Vista. I do not like to install any unnecessary programs. If the OS does it well enough for my needs, then I use it.
I have an HP all-in-one on my network… I do not use HP's bloatware. So, I need fax-and-scan "checked".
Hope that clarifies things a little.
Thanks! I was looking for a way to turn that damned "People Near Me" off that keeps asking me to share media with another computer every few hours. Why I want to give anyone, especially strangers, the ability to share my media is beyond me. That's what flash drives are for.
'Windows Fan and Scan' ?
Isn't it 'Windows Fax and Scan'?
@Evert: Thanks, typo fixed.
Telnet is a good tool for those people who do penetration testing. if you know what you are doing you can easily test your computer's security from another computer using telnet. that being said, so can anyone else who knows how to use and find ip and socket combinations. If you need it you are more than likely one of three things: A white hat hacker, a black hat hacker, or a system administrator.
I have only been a member here a week and found a lot of good tips.I like how you add pictures to your articles,it realy simplifies things.Thanks for posting info.