Unfortunately, no. Hardware profiles no longer are supported in Windows 7 (or Vista) and do not perform like they did in XP. In fact, they appear to have been removed completely.
Several services have the ability to be uninstalled. You can add or remove these services by:
- Head to Start
- Select Control Panel
- Select Programs
- Select Programs and Features
- Select Turn Windows Features on or off
I have found that the following Windows 7 Services can be installed or uninstalled:
- Application Host Helper Service ~ Not Installed
- ASP.NET State Service ~ Not Installed
- Client for NFS ~ Not Installed
- Fax ~ Installed
- Indexing Service ~ Not Installed
- LPD Service ~ Not Installed
- Media Center Extender Service ~ Installed
- Message Queuing ~ Not Installed
- Message Queuing Triggers ~ Not Installed
- Microsoft FTP Service ~ Not Installed
- Net.Msmq Listener Adapter ~ Not Installed
- Net.Pipe Listener Adapter ~ Not Installed
- Net.Tcp Listener Adapter ~ Not Installed
- Net.Tcp Port Sharing Service ~ Installed
- Rip Listener ~ Not Installed
- Simple TCP/IP Services ~ Not Installed
- SNMP Service ~ Not Installed
- Telnet ~ Installed
- Web Management Service ~ Not Installed
- Windows CardSpace ~ Installed
- Windows Media Center Receiver Service ~ Installed
- Windows Media Center Scheduler Service ~ Installed
- Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service ~ Installed
- Windows Presentation Foundation Font Cache 3.0.0.0 ~ Installed
- Windows Process Activation Service ~ Not Installed
- Windows Search ~ Installed
- World Wide Web Publishing Service ~ Not Installed
Several services states cannot be modified using a registry patch in Windows 7. These are not listed to avoid errors while applying the patch to your system.
All services that have the ability to be installed or uninstalled via Add/Remove Windows Components are not listed. This is in an effort to not break existing configurations.
I have found that the following Windows 7 Services states cannot be controlled by a registry file in normal or safe mode:
With the default Category Control Panel:
- Head to Start
- Select Control Panel
- Select System and Security
- Select Administrative Tools
- Select Services
- Select a service to adjust by double-clicking
- In the General tab, Startup type section, select Automatic (Delayed Start), Automatic, Manual or Disabled.
If you like, you can also do: Start –> All Programs –> Accessories –> Run –> type in services.msc –> Select OK.
After configuring all services that you desire to change, reboot to see the effects of your tweaking.
Note: Do not use msconfig to stop services. It basically is “disabling” a service. Use the above procedure and set to “manual” instead for testing purposes.
Mar 042008
The short answer: depends.
The long answer: D E P E N D S.
The best way for you to figure that out is load up everything that you plan on doing “at the same time.” Meaning, if you regularly have 5, 10, 20 or more browser windows open, Email client, a media player streaming music/video, a game or high powered editing software, fire that all up! After doing so, hit CTRL+ALT+DEL to open up the task manager and determine how much memory all of your applications are using.
With Windows Vista and Windows 7, this is listed at the bottom of the Windows Task Manager as “Physical Memory:” and is shown as a percent.
For example, if all of your applications and OS are taking up 256MB, or 25% out of your available 1GB of system RAM (and notice I am NOT including virtual memory availability), you should be fine and MAY not notice any improvement with additional RAM. Again, this depends on your needs and your perception of a speedy system.
If, however, your system is using 1.5GB (1500MB) of memory and your system only has 1GB of physical RAM, then virtual memory is being utilized extensively and it would be best to upgrade to additional RAM. How much do you need? Depends on your wallet.
In all cases, the more the memory the better. However, a “gotcha” exists:
If you are using Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7 32-bit versions, they only support a maximum of 4GB physical RAM with, depending on hardware, between 2.5 and 3.5GB available for use by the OS. As such, if you have 3GB of memory and wish to upgrade to 8GB, it would be pointless while using a 32-bit OS as it will not “see” it or use it, anyway.
If, however, you are using a 64-bit OS, this particular 4GB barrier does not exist, so upgrading from 3GB to 8GB, depending on system use, may have an effect on your perceived system speed.
The “minimum” RAM to run XP SP2 is listed here:
64MB is low and any memory beyond that, up to the 4GB 32-bit barrier, would be better. What and how much you need depends on your wallet and the system hardware itself. Check with your PC manufacture for specifics on how much memory your particular model PC supports as they are all different.
The “minimum” RAM required to run Vista is listed here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/editions/systemrequirements.mspx
Even though it is listed at 512MB for Home Basic and 1GB for all other versions, my performance requirements are beyond the “minimum” and I would recommend no less then 2GB to run Vista at all. By default, on a system with 8GB of memory, due to caching and various other Vista mechinisms, the OS uses about 700MB to 1GB. Using less physical RAM may reduce that figure, but adding more RAM will increase system speed if only making the minimum requirements.
The “minimum” RAM required to run Windows 7 is listed here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/get/system-requirements.aspx
Even though it is listed at 1GB for all versions, my performance requirements are beyond the “minimum” and I would recommend no less then 2GB to run Windows 7 at all. By default, on a system with 8GB of memory, due to caching and various other Windows 7 mechinisms, the OS uses about 700MB to 1GB. Using less physical RAM may reduce that figure, but adding more RAM will increase system speed if only making the minimum requirements. If anything, make the jump to “64-bit” and get a system with atleast 4GB, if not 6GB or 8GB. You can never have enough RAM.
Jan 062004
Unfortunately, the day has finally arrived when my information has become so popular that it has stretched my resources to the limit.
Each time I add something to the domain, more E-Mail is directed to my inbox. Some is positive feedback, but most are random technical support questions that I no longer have the time to answer.
I enjoy providing this domain to the Internet community, but my time has completely been overtaken by my desire to help as many people with their own personal computer issues. This desire to help has, thus far, outweighed my common sense when responding to technical questions.
At the onset a few years ago, it was a welcome event. I helped those that I could and the people that had questions that was beyond the capability to troubleshoot by E-Mail, I would point them in the right direction to help them resolve the issue on their own.
Then it became apparent that taking the time to point people in the right direction took too much time. Either I was "talking over their head" and spent lots of time trying to draft an E-Mail that everyone can understand about a complicated issue, or I was "talking under them" by automatically assuming this stranger that E-Mailed me does not know the first thing about computers. I began to ignore these more complex problems, sometimes after the sender has spent much time writing very extensive information about their particular issue, because I do not have as much time as the sender does to devote to a problem.
On March 25, 2003, I drafted the following: The Rant: Impossible Questions to Answer by E-Mail. This was in response to the large volume of E-Mail I get daily involving technical issues beyond what is humanly possible to solve remotely.
It hurts me to ignore people, as I have said many times before, if you have taken the time to send kind words about the domain my way, I will happily take the time to reply and thank you for them.
Feedback and encouragement has always fueled this domain. No banner ads are (or ever will) adorn this site. I provide the information because I enjoy my geekie hobby and encourage other people not to think of their own computer system as a toaster that "just works." However, saying "Thanks for the information on your web site" and my reply of "No problem, glad I can help" takes tons less time than to read a massive E-Mail about a technical issue that, in reality, is difficult if not impossible to solve from a remote location.
As such, I have to draw the line somewhere. I have dreaded this day from coming because, in part, I feel my domain has became popular because of my personal style of presentation and my responses to as many people as I can. The lack of obnoxious advertising bombarding the reader also plays a role. This word of mouth has came down to "don’t bother me, ask Black Viper! He will tell you the answer."
One person tells two friends, then those people tell other friends… before I knew it, I have 182 E-Mails waiting to be opened.
I have my own issues. Even though, on December 30, 2003, it took me relatively little time to "swap" the domain to a different computer and get it running, I spent several hours monitoring and testing to ensure everything was working.
I then got, once again, behind. I "just caught up" only the day before by spending several hours replying to E-Mail.
One day leads to more and again, I am behind. So, not only do I have to ignore and possibly make people mad by not responding or helping with their particular problem, but those that I finally get to their problem, I get a reply to my solution saying "I have already figured it out" or "you took too long." As such, I have spent time in replying for no greater good other than "seemingly wasting my already limited time."
Thus, I am going to further limit the amount of technical issues that get my personal response. I have tons of information that many people have utilized. I write it once, it is view by, not only hundreds, but thousands. A personal reply from one person, goes to that one person and is not an efficient use of my limited time.
Several times, as with the most recent Virus and Worm epidemic, I would post a page directing people on how to solve the problem. If I responded individually to each person that page helped, it would have taken more hours than what is in a day.
In closing, I thank all of my readers for visiting and utilizing what variety of information I offer to the internet community. I will still respond to those people with kind words or "specific issues" relating to my information. In the short term, that will not change. In the long run, that line may also need to be drawn.
This change of view does not mean that updates to content and additional articles will never happen. In fact, quite the opposite. Limiting the amount of one-on-one communication will free up some time to do just that. It also should not be thought of as a way for me to "leave my readers hanging." That, by far, is not the desire.
Feel free to use my forums for questions.
Scan your computer with the latest definitions.
“wink<random characters>.exe” is the klez virus.
Search http://www.symantec.com/ for more information.
Please contact the vendor, manufacture or “company” that your system was purchased from for technical support. Part of the money you spent was to pay for technical help when you need it. Use it while you can.
Information on “who” or “how” to contact them is in the owners/operations manual that came with your new PC or hardware. I do not have access to that information in a timely fashion.
The PC vendor or “brand” that your computer is has access too much more resources to solve your technical issue than I do. They know the in’s and out’s of their PC’s much better than I do since I make my own. They also have access to “known issues” with “how” they implemented particular hardware configurations.
Even if I did diagnose your hardware issue, you would still need to contact them directly to get it “resolved.” It would be much more timely if you started with them, first.
Do not be surprised if they cannot fix your problem as it is very difficult to troubleshoot from a remote location.
Jan 052002
Put it back the way it was! Really, though, place each service that you disabled back to the way it was (displayed under the Default configuration) and see which service “fixes” your software. Do look at the dependencies and decide if you may need it! Tweaking your system always comes with risk.
This is what ZoneAlarm complains about while connected to the internet. “SVCHOST.EXE” is “Generic Service Host.” What that means is it is a “host” for other processes or services. If your internet connection seems to “no longer work,” it is due to you disallowing various “required” functions to no longer access the internet. A big one is “DNS Lookups” and HTTP. With DNS lookups disabled, you will no longer be able to type in “www.blackviper.com” but you will always be able to type in the IP address of the systems. The internet connection is still working, but you are blocking a “vital” part of the process for surfing web pages. With HTTP TCP Port 80 blocked, you will not be able to access any web site.
As to whether or not “you” need the particular process to access the internet or act as a server is completely dependent upon your computer configuration, your software installation, and what you are doing at any given time.
Only you can make the decision about if “you need this to access the internet” or not.
A security vulnerability exists with Windows that could cause your system to exhibit all kinds of poor behavior. This particular issue attacks the Remote Procedure Call service which Zone Alarm may issue a warning with regards to SVCHOST.EXE and Generic Host Process for Win32 Services. However, this inbound traffic should NOT be allowed. READ MORE…
Generally speaking, the following ports and services should NOT be blocked:
- DHCP: UDP Port 67 and 68 (block both outbound and inbound only if you have a static IP address)
- DNS: UDP Port 53 (allow only outbound; disable inbound unless you have local DNS server)
- HTTP: TCP Port 80 (allow only outbound; disable inbound unless you have local web server)
- HTTPS: TCP Port 443 (allow only outbound; disable inbound unless you have local web server)
Generally speaking, the following ports and services SHOULD be blocked, “outbound and inbound”:
- NetBIOS: UDP 137
- RPC: TCP 135
- UPnP: UDP 1900
- UPnP: TCP and UDP 5000
If you block a port and something breaks, reenable the blocked port and see if it is fixed. Easy as that. 