Windows services
- Alerter - unnecessary - manual
- Application Layer Gateway Services - only needed for Internet Connection Sharing - disable
- Automatic Updates, automatic unless collecting data
- Background Intelligent Transfer Service - used by many Microsoft components - manual
- Clipbook - disabled by default
- COM+ Event Services - needed by some software - manual
- Computer Browser - needed in a domain, can use it to browse for shares - disable
- Cryptographic Services - important, automatic
- DCOM Server Process Launcher - important, automatic
- DHCP Client - only if you need DHCP - manual
- Distributed Link Tracking Client - for NTFS links over a domain - disabled
- DNS Client - might as well make it automatic
- Error Reporting Service - reports program errors to Microsoft - disabled
- Event Log - a good idea to have - automatic
- Help and Support - sometimes useful - manual
- IPSEC Services - needed for some security purposes - manual
- Logical Disk Manager - important for USB keys - automatic
- Messenger - disabled by default
- Net Logon - only needed for domain login, disable
- NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing - only needed for NetMeeting users, disable
- Network Connections - important - automatic
- Network Location Awareness (NLA) Service - may be helpful - manual
- Plug + Play - important - automatic
- Print Spooler - important for printing - manual
- Protected Storage - good for security - automatic
- Remote Access Connection Manager Service - manual
- Remote Procedure Call (RPC) - Absolutely essential, automatics
- Remote Registry Service - only needed for Remote Assistance, disable
- Routing and Remote Access - allows PC to act as a router, disabled by default
- Secondary Logon - useful for non-admin users - manual
- Security Accounts Manager - important - automatic
- Security Center - good for security unless you're collecting data - automatic
- Server Service - needed to share files and printers - manual
- Shell Hardware Detection - sometimes important - manual
- SSDP Discovery Service - potential security hole involving UPnP - disabled
- System Event Notification - good for security logging - manual
- System Restore Service - automatic
- Task Scheduler - potential useful, potential dangerous - disabled
- TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper Service - needed for sharing files - manual
- Telephony - manual
- Telnet - disabled by default
- Terminal Services - allows multiple login sessions, possibly remote - manual
- Universal Plug and Play - known security hole - disabled
- WebClient - needed to access the web - manual
- Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) - needed for scanners and cameras - manual
- Wireless Zero Configuration - only for wireless - manual
- Workstation - needed for mapping network drives - automatic