HELP! How do I turn OFF all networking except what I need for a dial up ISP in win XP pro?

[LurkingInNC]

Ok, I know this is almost the opposite of most questions asked here. And as you'll be able to tell, I'm mostly ignorant about networks and the XP pro OS.

I've got win XP pro with version 5.1.2600 service pack 2 build 2600 installed. I have a single computer (no networking, unless you consider a conection to my printer and scanner as networking) that I use to connect to a dial-up ISP. Since it's a bit older (Athlon 1600+ overclocked to just under 1600 actual) with 512 MB memory, I want to ensure maximum efficiency. Plus I've been having problems with the internet connection, but I'll ask about that in a seperate post.

I'd like to simplify things to where I've got ONLY what I need to interact with my ISP provider (Earthlink) turned on (plus of course stilll have access to my printer & scanner).

I assume I need to change my Services Settings in the System Configuration Utility, but even after reading about what each service does, I get discombobulated as to what networks they're refering to (w.r.t. what I need for my ISP).

I have Norton Personal Firewall 2004 and Norton Systemworks 2005 installed, but don't use that firewall, and will take it off as soon as I fugure out how to do so (even though I'm logged onto Win as an admnistrator, Norton gives me a message about needing to be logged onto systemworks as an administrator. I don't remember setting that up when I originally installed Systemworks 2004, nor when I uninstalled 2004 and installed Systemworks 2005. Even though I've got a free copy of Norton firewall 2005, from what I read sounds like I'll be better off using one of the better freeware products than installing norton firewall 2005 (right now I've just got the XP firewall turned on).

Critical to all of this is minimizing any delays in my connection speed. I live out in the sticks, and have no option for high speed connection other than satellite, which I can't afford right now. Plus, because of the outdated phone equipment between me and the small town my line goes through to reach the nearest local-call ISP servers (in Durham NC), I'm usually connecting at speeds like 9.6 Kbps. Painful, but fortunately the Earthlink accelerator software makes it seem like around 40 Kbps, and I always have several windows open so I can browse something while the next thing is loadiing. I'm still completely screwed on any file downloads, though.

Can anyone tell me what to leave on and turn off to simplify my system? (No plans on networking anything in the near future.)

Thanks to anyone willing to take the time to help a technically ignorant (but not stupid) AT member!

 

[Atheus]

Disabling windows services can give a small amount of memory back, maybe a few processor cycles, but probably won't help your connection speed. That is not the bottleneck here.

Try here

 

[MoFunk]

You can also try disabling things you do not need by following this guide http://majorgeeks.com/page.php?id=12

 

[JackMDS]

There are only 3 types of Users that disable Services.

1. Those that have had problems with it.
2. Those that are having problems with it.
3. Those that are going to have problems with it.

You have 512MB and 1.5GHz computer.

Do you really believe that saving few MB on services, and here and there a CPU cycle is going to do any thing?

In contrast, Norton System works and similar utilities might slow down some computers.

In any case, instead of acting on Urban Myths.

Download this free program ( http://www.sysinternals.com/Files/ProcessExplorerNt.zip ) it is one exe file not need to install.

Run it. Pull down the View menu click on Set Columns.

Click on the Process Performance tab and check the CPU Usage and Memory Indicators of your choice.

The screen would look like this (Some of the svchost are the one related to Network services) the screen shot does not show the memory usage the real program?s screen would let you scroll to the right and see the rest of the columns).

http://www.ezlan.net/network/processes.jpg

The Reddish marked Processes are the one the are initiate by services, the blue are the ones initiated by StartUps.

Evaluate the situation on your running machine and hopefully you would be able to make sensible choices.

:sun:

 

[LurkingInNC]

Thanks for the feedback.

I got the problem connecting to secure websites fixed; removed all Symantec software (it was actually Persoal Firewall 2002, so a real PITA to get all of it off, but thanks to help in my other post got it done).

I know the speed issue is mostly a physical one related to the phone equipment between where I live (way out in the sticks) and the nearest local call dial-up ISp servers. I was mostly thinking to simplify things as much as possible, mainly so as to help me with any potential future problem diagnoses given my limited knowledge. Maybe not necessary given how helpful this board is.

Haven't had a chance to run the utility suggested, but may try to do so as soon as I get some time, just to learn.

thanks again!

 

[JackMDS]

Check the processes to make sure that nothing related to NIS is still runing as a process.

:sun: