Windows XP Does an easy method of creating multiple Service Configurations exist?

Introduction

 

Would you like to have an easy method to tweak your Systems Services with little or no risk? That is what this page is here for. You can create multiple hardware profiles for the purpose of testing different services configurations. Ensure you read all instructions provided and the Pro's and Con's at the bottom of this page.

This page is here to assist those people that are worried about breaking their computer. As such, hardware profiles are not "really" required for the "safe" configuration or "Internet Gateway" as it is very easy to place the changed services back to the default value. This information assists people with testing out "Gaming" and "Bare-bones " configurations with the knowledge that "default is a reboot away." Having that security is a good thing.

Items to think about

 

  • Ensure that, if you own a USB keyboard, it will work with hardware profiles by creating one and rebooting to see if you can navigate the options menu.
  • Adjusting a service directly (in the General Tab) effects all hardware profiles and users.
  • Adjusting a service using hardware profiles effects all user accounts.
  • Ensure that you look at the "Started" column to see which services are running in any particular profile.
  • With hardware profiles, there is no "Manual" option located in the "Log On Tab." Services that are set to "Manual" globally (General Tab) will remain that way unless changed globally or in the hardware profiles to "disable."
  • If the service is set to Automatic or Manual by default or recommended to place it into Automatic or Manual, leave it at "Enabled" in the hardware profiles "Log On Tab."
  • If you desire a service to be set to Automatic, from Manual or Disabled, place it that way globally (in the general tab) and then enable it via the profiles on test tweaking setups.
  • Something I have not tried is if, in a particular hardware profile, the System Restore Service is "Disabled," whether or not it deletes previous restore points or just does not create more for that profile.
  • Two services you cannot disable with this method are Event Log and Plug and Play.
  • The service that you CAN disable and will cause your system to become unbootable is Remote Procedure Call. Do not disable RPC via the hardware profiles method or any other method.

 

Pro's

 

  • The ability to tweak your system with little or no risk.
  • Multiple configurations for different tasks or users.

Con's

 

  • Tweaking your computer's performance may become addictive. :)

1) Shall we begin? (Image 1.1)

 

Start --> Control Panel


Head to: Start --> Control Panel.

2) Control Panel: (Image 1.2)

 

Performance and Maintenance


In the Control Panel, select Performance and Maintenance.

3) Performance and Maintenance Panel: (Image 1.3)

 

System


In the Performance and Maintenance Panel, select System.

4) System Properties: (Image 1.4)

 

System Properties Dialog


System Properties Dialog will appear.

Select the Hardware tab, then click the Hardware Profiles button near the bottom.

5) Hardware Profiles Dialog: (Image 1.5)

 

Hardware Profiles Dialog


The Hardware Profiles Dialog will be displayed.

Your current profile (Profile 1) needs to be copied.

Select the profile to highlight and then select the Copy button.

6) Name Your Profile: (Image 1.6)

 

Confirmation screen


Using my Windows XP Services Configuration as a guide, choose a name that is appropriate.
I used "Default" here.

7) Copy and Rename Your Profiles: (Image 1.7)

 

No partitions have been previously defined


Continue to copy a profile and name them appropriately.

Here, I used:

Default, Safe, Internet Gateway, Gaming, and Super Tweak.

Please note: under usual circumstances, unless you are using "Internet Connection Sharing" to provide your network with internet access, you can skip the Internet Gateway Configuration. If you are using ICS, you could substitute the "Internet Gateway" Configuration for "Safe."

8) Example Naming Scheme: (Image 1.8)

 

Continue to create partitions 

 

Your Hardware Profiles could look something like this:

When finished, select OK on the Hardware Profiles Dialog and System Properties.

9) Administrative Tools: (Image 1.9)

 

Administrative Tools


After creating as many Hardware Profiles as you wish, select Administrative Tools in the Performance and Maintenance Panel.

10) Services Panel: (Image 1.10)

 

Select Services


In Administrative Tools, select Services.

 

11) Services Properties Dialog: (Image 1.11)

 

General Tab


Double click each service to bring up the Services Properties Dialog.

Using the standard method in the "General Tab," if you Disable a service, it is "forever" Disabled for every hardware profile and every user.

Instead, use the "Log On" tab.

12) Using the Log On Tab: (Image 1.12)

 

Log On


Select the Log On tab.

Using my Windows XP Services Configuration as a guide, select each service and Enable or Disable them in each profile by selecting the profile and choosing the proper button.

Do not adjust your "Default" or "Profiles 1" configuration.

Please understand:

  • If a service is listed as "Automatic or Manual," leave the hardware profile as "Enable."
  • If a service is listed as "Disabled," change the hardware profile to "Disable."

13) Reboot: (Image 1.13)

 

Reboot


After all services have been adjusted, reboot your system.

14) Example Boot Menu: (Image 1.14)

 

Hardware Profile


In a few seconds, the "Hardware Profile" screen will be displayed allowing you to choose which service configuration you wish to boot.

You are done!
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