I see alot of incoming search queries where people are looking for whether certain things should be loading with their copy of Windows Vista. Thus, allow me to provide you with a complete list.

You may be looking in the “Startup” tab of MSCONFIG. This is an excellent resource (For the uninitiated, click Start > Run > msconfig). The only item placed here by default reads “Microsoft Windows Operating System”. Anything else is part of a third-party application you have installed, and it’s probably an update checker that has no business running on your system. It could even be spyware.

I even have the Windows OS item unchecked on my system, as they did a bad job of explaining what it does; and I have had no negative side effects. I suggest unchecking them one at a time and seeing if anything breaks. Your system will boot faster and run more smoothly. You can always go back to msconfig and re-enable them.

What do I have in my MSCONFIG? Management apps for my webcam, Synergy (Which connects me to the server’s monitor under the cameras… Yeah that’s what I’m looking at.), Bluetooth driver, a multi-monitor management app called Ultramon, and a bandwidth monitoring applet. Nothing else has any business starting with my OS.

But what about services?

Here are the services I have elected to allow an automatic start on my Vista SP1 box:

Application Experience
Application Host Helper Service
Base Filtering Engine
COM+ Event System
Computer Browser
Cryptographic Services
DCOM Server Process Launcher
Desktop Window Manager Session Manager (graphic session management management)
DHCP Client
Diagnostic Policy Service
Distributed Link Tracking Client
DNS Client
Group Policy Client
Human Interface Device Access
IKE and AuthIP IPsec Keying Modules
IP Helper
IPsec Policy Agent
Multimedia Class Scheduler
Net.Pipe Listener Adapter
Net.Tcp Listener Adapter
Network List Service
Network Location Awareness
Network Store Interface Service
Plug and Play
Program Compatibility Assistant Service
ReadyBoost
Remote Procedure Call (RPC)
Secondary Logon
Security Accounts Manager
Security Center
Server
Shell Hardware Detection
Simple TCP/IP Services
Software Licensing
Superfetch
System Event Notification Service
Task Scheduler
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper
Terminal Sevices
Themes
UPnP Device Host
User Profile Service
WebClient
Windows Audio
Windows Audio Endpoint Builder
Windows Driver Foundation
Windows Event Log
Windows Image Acquisition
Windows Time
Workstation

I allow these services to run Automatic (Delayed Start):
TPM Base Service
Background Intelligent Transfer Service
KtmRm for Distributed Transaction Coordinator
Windows Update

All other services are set to “Manual” or “Disabled”. Those are my recommendations, so you can stop Googling; there’s your answer.