Skip to content

TechRepublic

  • Top Products
  • AI
  • Developer
  • Payroll
  • Security
  • Project Management
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • Innovation
  • Cheat Sheets
  • Big Data
  • Tech Jobs
  • TechRepublic Premium
  • Top Products
  • AI
  • Developer
  • Payroll
  • Security
  • Project Management
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • Innovation
  • Cheat Sheets
  • Big Data
  • Tech Jobs
  • See All Topics
  • Sponsored
  • Newsletters
  • Forums
  • Resource Library
TechRepublic Premium
Microsoft

Taming and Tweaking Windows Vista Services

By Ed Bott May 18, 2008, 7:25 AM PDT

Image
1
of 7

001_processes_tab_with_uac.jpg
001_processes_tab_with_uac.jpg
Taming and Tweaking Windows Vista Services

Use Task Manager to see running processes

Use Task Manager to see running processes

By Ed Bott

The default view of Task Manager, shown here, lists only the processes running under your user account. To see processes running under service accounts, click the Show processes from all users button in the lower left corner.

For a detailed discussion of when and how to manage services, see Fixing Windows Vista, Part 4: Get smart about services

Taming and Tweaking Windows Vista Services

Sort by columns to see resource usage

Sort by columns to see resource usage

This listing shows a complete set of processes, including those running under service accounts, as indicated by the capitalized names in the User Name column. I’ve clicked the Memory heading to show which processes are using the most memory.

For a detailed discussion of when and how to manage services, see Fixing Windows Vista, Part 4: Get smart about services

Taming and Tweaking Windows Vista Services

What is that process doing?

What is that process doing?

The process highlighted in the center of this list is using 9% of all available CPU resources. But what is it? The generic process name, Svchost.exe, provides no clues at all. To see the details, right-click the entry in the list and then click Go To Service(s) from the shortcut menu.

For a detailed discussion of when and how to manage services, see Fixing Windows Vista, Part 4: Get smart about services

Taming and Tweaking Windows Vista Services

Many services can run in a single process

Many services can run in a single process

In this case, at least 13 processes are running under s single Svchost instance. You’ll need more advanced tools to identify which of those services is active at any given time, but it’s a good guess in this case that Superfetch is doing most of the work.rnrn

For a detailed discussion of when and how to manage services, see Fixing Windows Vista, Part 4: Get smart about services

Taming and Tweaking Windows Vista Services

Identify third-party services

Identify third-party services

On a properly running system, most Windows services run predictably. Third-party services are much more likely to run amok and use too much memory, CPU, or disk I/). To see a concise list of third-party services, open the System Configuration utility (Msconfig.exe), click the Services tab, and select the rncheckbox circled at the bottom of this dialog box. As a diagnostic tool, you can temporarily disable a service by clearing its checkbox here and then restarting.rn

For a detailed discussion of when and how to manage services, see Fixing Windows Vista, Part 4: Get smart about services

Taming and Tweaking Windows Vista Services

To manage services, use this console

To manage services, use this console

Msconfig provides a quick-and-dirty troubleshooting tool, but for long-term management, you’ll want to use the Services console (Services.msc). Click the Status heading (1) to sort all the running (Started) processes into a group. Use the command buttons (2) to start, stop, pause, or restart a service. For quick testing, use the Stop and Restart links (3) in the sidebar, where you’ll also find descriptions of the selected service.rnrn

For a detailed discussion of when and how to manage services, see Fixing Windows Vista, Part 4: Get smart about services

Taming and Tweaking Windows Vista Services

How to disable a service for good

How to disable a service for good

The Stop button temporarily puts a service out of commission. But it’s likely to restart the next time you start your system, unless you specifically disable it. Use the Disable choice on the Startup Type menu, shown here, to ensure that a service won’t run at all. The Manual option keeps a service turned off but allows it to start if it’s needed.rnrn

For a detailed discussion of when and how to manage services, see Fixing Windows Vista, Part 4: Get smart about services

  • Microsoft
  • Account Information

    Share with Your Friends

    Taming and Tweaking Windows Vista Services

    Your email has been sent

Share: Taming and Tweaking Windows Vista Services
Image of Ed Bott
By Ed Bott
  • Account Information

    Contact Ed Bott

    Your message has been sent

  • |
  • See all of Ed's content

Daily Tech Insider

If you can only read one tech story a day, this is it.

TechRepublic Premium

  • TechRepublic Premium

    Payroll Processing Checklist

    Some operations and tasks don’t require painstaking attention to detail. Unfortunately, processing payroll isn’t one of them. With sensitive salary and wage information, bank and direct deposit accounts, Social Security numbers and other personal information in play, the stakes are high. This guide — and the accompanying spreadsheet — from TechRepublic Premium will help you ...

    Published:  November 30, 2023, 4:00 PM EST Modified:  December 1, 2023, 9:00 AM EST Read More See more TechRepublic Premium articles
  • TechRepublic Premium

    Quality Assurance Checklist For Outsourced Projects

    Quality assurance refers to the processes being used to manage the project and to build the deliverables. This is in contrast to quality control, which refers to the activities used to create the deliverables. Because you are not responsible for the creation of the deliverables (quality control), you need to be comfortable that the outsourcer ...

    Published:  November 29, 2023, 4:00 PM EST Modified:  November 30, 2023, 9:00 AM EST Read More See more TechRepublic Premium articles
  • TechRepublic Premium

    Cloud Computing Policy

    The list of advantages to cloud computing include lowered operational costs, greater technological flexibility and the ability to rapidly implement new systems or services. Gains in business continuity are an especially noteworthy attraction to cloud services, which operate via remote systems that remain running in the event of a local disaster, such as a hurricane ...

    Published:  November 29, 2023, 4:00 PM EST Modified:  November 30, 2023, 10:00 AM EST Read More See more TechRepublic Premium articles
  • TechRepublic Premium

    Quick Glossary: Business Intelligence and Analytics

    Business intelligence and data analytics give tech decision makers a clearer idea of how well their companies are running and whether they’re meeting goals. Because BI incorporates data from across the enterprise — revenue operations, sales, supply chain and logistics — its insight is beneficial in areas such as customer profiling, customer support and market ...

    Published:  November 28, 2023, 4:00 PM EST Modified:  November 29, 2023, 9:00 AM EST Read More See more TechRepublic Premium articles

Services

  • About Us
  • Newsletters
  • RSS Feeds
  • Site Map
  • Site Help & Feedback
  • FAQ
  • Advertise
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • Careers

Explore

  • Downloads
  • TechRepublic Forums
  • Meet the Team
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • TechRepublic Premium
  • Resource Library
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Editorial Policy
  • TechRepublic
  • TechRepublic on Twitter
  • TechRepublic on Facebook
  • TechRepublic on LinkedIn
  • TechRepublic on Flipboard
© 2023 TechnologyAdvice. All rights reserved.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Property of TechnologyAdvice
CLOSE

Create a TechRepublic Account

Get the web's best business technology news, tutorials, reviews, trends, and analysis—in your inbox. Let's start with the basics.

Already registered? Sign In
Use Facebook
Use Linkedin

* - indicates required fields

CLOSE

Sign in to TechRepublic

Not a member? Create an account
Use Facebook
Use Linkedin

Lost your password? Request a new password

CLOSE

Reset Password

Please enter your email adress. You will receive an email message with instructions on how to reset your password.

Check your email for a password reset link. If you didn't receive an email don't forgot to check your spam folder, otherwise contact support.

Back to login
1 Finish Profile
2 Newsletter Preferences
CLOSE

Welcome. Tell us a little bit about you.

This will help us provide you with customized content.

No thanks, continue without
1 Finish Profile
2 Newsletter Preferences
CLOSE

Want to receive more TechRepublic news?

Newsletter Name
Subscribe
Daily Tech Insider
Daily Tech Insider AU
TechRepublic UK
TechRepublic News and Special Offers
TechRepublic News and Special Offers International
Executive Briefing
Innovation Insider
Project Management Insider
Microsoft Weekly
Cloud Insider
Data Insider
Developer Insider
TechRepublic Premium
Apple Weekly
Cybersecurity Insider
Google Weekly
Toggle All
No thanks, continue without

You're All Set

Thanks for signing up! Keep an eye out for a confirmation email from our team. To ensure any newsletters you subscribed to hit your inbox, make sure to add newsletters@nl.technologyadvice.com to your contacts list.

Back to Home Page