Minimal services/application installation

Hi,

I have built a home file server and installed Windows XP professional to run the server.

How could I determine which services are not required (and therefore be stopped) for this application.

Also the installation includes lots of applications that I do not really need for normal operation of the server. How could I determine which ones may be removed? I am pretty sure that I do not need this lot either:-

Outlook Express, Windows Media Player, Internet Explorer (perhaps occasionally), Direct X, Word, Games, Windows Messenger, the messenger service and others.

I know that some of these are integrated into the OS and cannot technically be removed but there must be a way of disabling many of the services that I do not need.

I am keen to do this in order to minimise the number hack routes into the machine. I am already using Norton Internet Security 2004.

Any ideas?

Regards Basher

 

Take a look at Black Viper's site for a great listing of XP services, what they really do, which ones you can run nicely without, and other good information.

 

Hi,

Thanks for the link. Had a quick look, and what a useful site it is indeed. Will have a closer look tomorrow and hopefully I will be able to increase my server security.

Once again many thanks.

Regards Basher.

 

You will probably have things you want to do that Black Viper doesn't cover and if so, post back with specifics. But info from his site should allow you to do most of it and his suggestions are well researched and reliable.