Remove Optional and Probably Unnecessary Windows Vista Components

In the never-ending quest to rid your computer of unnecessary bloat, Windows Vista has a lot less options than prior versions, but you can still get rid of some of the extra Windows components that you don't need.
Open up Control Panel and go to the Programs and Features section. Find the link for "Turn Windows features on or off" (or you could just search for it)

This dialog is quite self-explanatory… uncheck the things you don't want, and hit the OK button. Depending on the version of Vista you are running you might not see everything in the list.


Guidelines, Not Set In Stone

Just to get you started, here's a few tips on what an average user might want to enable or disable. The rules will be different for everybody, depending on your applications and needs, so don't take these as absolute.

• ActiveX Installer Service
  No
  Do you really want anything to do with ActiveX?


• Games
  Why Not
  Your productivity can only increase with Spider Solitaire on your computer.


• Indexing Service
  No
  This is the old indexing service that is no longer needed in Vista.


• Internet Information Service
  No
  Used for hosting websites on your computer.


• Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0
  No
  Used for the new .NET 3.0 components, but only really needed for programmers.


• Microsoft Message Queue (MSMQ) Server
  No
  Used by programmers as a way to reliably queue messages.


• Print Services
  No
  You only need this if you use internet printers and like to kill trees. Our rainforests are depending on you disabling this service.


• Remote Differential Compression
  Maybe
  This is likely required for utilities that use the network to download files. If it is enabled, don't mess with it.


• Removable Storage Management
  No
  The only reason you'd need this is if you are restoring from old NTBACKUP files.


• RIP Listener
  No
  You won't need this, it's a routing protocol.


• Services for NFS
  No
  This can be used to map a drive to a linux NFS server. Unlikely you'd need it since Samba works so well.


• SNMP Feature
  No
  This is used for management systems in workplace networks. You don't need it.


• Subsystem for UNIX-based Applications
  No
  This is used for compatibility with certain applications based on UNIX… you don't need it.


• Tablet PC Optional Components
  Maybe
  If you have a Tablet PC, you should enable this. If you don't, you may still want to because this includes the Snipping Tool.


• Telnet Client
  AVOID
  You should never use telnet. Ever.


• Telnet Server
  AVOID
  You should never use telnet. Ever.


• TFTP Client
  AVOID
  TFTP was used by many of the early internet worms… there's a reason it's disabled by default.


• Windows DFS Replication Service
  No
  This is only really used in work environments. Don't bother with this if you are a home user.


• Windows Fax and Scan
  No
  Why anybody still faxes anything is beyond me.


• Windows Meeting Space
  No
  If you don't use Windows Meeting Space or the "People Near Me" feature, don't bother with this.


• Windows PowerShell
  No
  PowerShell is a more advanced command line geared towards programmers and system administrators.


• Windows Process Activation Service
  Probably
  This is likely required to support some .NET applications, so I wouldn't change whatever it's currently set to.


• Windows Ultimate Extras
  Maybe
  If you like the extras, then enable them. (Ultimate Only)

Hopefully this will help somebody!