General Information
None at this time
Windows 8
Default Description
Provides user experience theme management.
Additional Information
None at this time.
Default Startup Type
| OS | SP0 |
|---|---|
| Windows 8 x86 | Automatic (Started) |
| Windows 8 x64 | Automatic (Started) |
| Windows 8 Pro x86 | Automatic (Started) |
| Windows 8 Pro x64 | Automatic (Started) |
| Windows 8 Enterprise x86 | Automatic (Started) |
| Windows 8 Enterprise x64 | Automatic (Started) |
Service Names
Service Name (registry): Themes
Display Name: Themes
Default Path and Command Line Options
C:\Windows\System32\svchost.exe -k netsvcs
Log On As
Account: Local System account
Dependencies
Note: No dependencies are listed for any service in the WDP build I used to draft this information.
Windows 7
Default Description
Provides user experience theme management.
Additional Information
The Windows 7 Aero is a plus, however, if you are using an older system that does not meet the recommended requirements to run the Aero Glass engine, disable the themes to make it look like Windows 2000/XP (with its new theme disabled) and save the memory. If you decide to disable this service, you might check into also disabling the Desktop Window Manager Session Manager Service. Disabling these two services alone could save you several hundred MB.
Default Startup Type
| OS | SP0 | SP1 |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 7 Starter | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) |
| Windows 7 Home Basic | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) |
| Windows 7 Home Premium | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) |
| Windows 7 Professional | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) |
| Windows 7 Ultimate | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) |
| Windows 7 Enterprise | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) |
Service Names
Service Name (registry): Themes
Display Name: Themes
Default Path and Command Line Options
C:\Windows\System32\svchost.exe -k netsvcs
Log On As
Account: Local System account
Dependencies
What service Themes needs to function properly:
- None (S, HB, HP, P, U, E)
What other service require Themes to function properly:
- None (S, HB, HP, P, U, E)
Windows Vista
Default Description
Provides user experience theme management.
Additional Information
The new Aero is a plus, however, if you are using an older system that does not meet the recommended requirements to run the new Aero Glass engine, disable the themes to make it look like Windows 2000/XP (with its new theme disabled) and save the memory. If you decide to disable this service, you might check into also disabling the Desktop Window Manager Session Manager service. Disabling these two services alone could save you several hundred MB.
With the default Category Control Panel:
- Head to Start
- Select Control Panel
- Select Appearance and Personalization
- Select Personalization
- Select Theme
- From the drop down box, select “Windows Classic”
- Select the Ok button
With the Classic Control Panel:
- Head to Start
- Select Control Panel
- Select Personalization
- Select Theme
- From the drop down box, select “Windows Classic”
- Select the Ok button
After that is finished, you can disable the Themes service.
Default Startup Type
| OS | SP0 | SP1 | SP2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vista Home Basic | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) |
| Vista Home Premium | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) |
| Vista Business | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) |
| Vista Ultimate | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) |
| Vista Enterprise | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) |
Service Names
Service Name (registry): Themes
Display Name: Themes
Default Path and Command Line Options
C:\Windows\System32\svchost.exe -k netsvcs
Log On As
Account: Local System Account
Dependencies
What service Themes needs to function properly:
- None (HB, HP, B, U)
What other service require Themes to function properly:
- None (HB, HP, B, U)
Windows XP Pro x64
Default Description
Provides user experience theme management.
Additional Information
Used to display all those new XP themes and colors on your desktop. If you are memory conscious and do not care about the “new” XP look, disable this service to save RAM. I have observed between 4 MB to 12 MB of RAM used for the new themes.
Default Startup Type
| OS | SP0 | SP1 | SP2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| XP Pro x64 | ? | ? | Automatic |
Service Names
Service Name (registry): Themes
Display Name: Themes
Default Path and Command Line Options
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe -k netsvcs
Log On As
Account: Local System Account
Dependencies
What service Themes needs to function properly:
- None
What other service require Themes to function properly:
- None
Windows XP
Default Description
Provides user experience theme management.
Additional Information
Used to display all those new XP themes and colors on your desktop. If you are memory conscious and do not care about the “new” XP look, disable this service to save RAM. I have observed between 4 MB to 12 MB of RAM used for the new themes.
Default Startup Type
| OS | SP0 | SP1 | SP2 | SP3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XP Home | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) |
| XP MCE 2005 | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) |
| XP Pro | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) |
| XP Tablet PC 2005 | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) |
Service Names
Service Name (registry): Themes
Display Name: Themes
Default Path and Command Line Options
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe -k netsvcs
Log On As
Account: Local System Account
Dependencies
What service Themes needs to function properly:
- None (H, M, P, T)
What other service require Themes to function properly:
- None (H, M, P, T)
Additional Reading
None at this time.