Open up Control Panel and go to the Programs and Features section.
Depending on the version of Vista you are running you might not see everything in the list.
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 box.
Indexing Service
This is the old indexing service that is no longer needed in Vista.
Internet Information Service
Used for hosting websites on your setup.
Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0
Used for the new .NET 3.0 components, but only really needed for programmers.
Microsoft Message Queue (MSMQ) Server
Used by programmers as a way to reliably queue messages.
Print Services
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 data pipe to download files.
If it is enabled, don’t mess with it.
Removable Storage Management
The only reason you’d need this is if you are restoring from old NTBACKUP files.
RIP Listener
You won’t need this, it’s a routing protocol.
Services for NFS
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
This is used for management systems in workplace networks.
You don’t need it.
Tablet PC Optional Components
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.
Windows DFS Replication Service
This is only really used in work environments.
Don’t bother with this if you are a home user.
Windows Fax and Scan
Why anybody still faxes anything is beyond me.
Windows PowerShell
PowerShell is a more advanced command line geared towards programmers and system administrators.
Windows Ultimate Extras
If you like the extras, then enable them.
(Ultimate Only)
Hopefully this will help somebody!
