First off I'll introduce myself. Most people know me as Manick in many of the communities I am a part of and I am a casual gamer, semi-experienced PC user, and college student. The computer which I am using to write this message with is the one that I am having trouble with for streaming video. I have another computer which can buffer just fine which I rarely use, so I am positive there is nothing wrong with my connection. I play online games without virtually any lag, ever, and I use cable modem.

I suspect that this problem arouse when I began tampering with my services.msc, in an attempt to reduce the amount of processes I wanted to have running to save RAM usage. I am pretty sure that it is the cause of this problem, but I am not sure what process would be responsible for it. I tried turning back on random processes which seemed to have anything at all to do with internet, or connectivity, and even some processes which I was unclear as to what they did because of the lack of a comprehensive description. So I can buffer videos at the -moment-, but, I still would like to know if anyone can help me figure out what process it might be thats responsible for it. My PF usage is at 501 MB, and was at 300 before, so I would still like to be able to turn off the majority of the processes I had off before with the exception of the one thats giving me this problem.

To be more specific about the problem, if I go to youtube and attempt to watch a short video, I have no problems downloading and viewing it. But if I try to stream a long video thats longer than 8 minutes or so, sometimes it won't finish downloading. Similarly on Veoh.com, where they have full episodes of many shows, I usually can't stream more than half an episode of anything.

Heres a list of all my processes in alphibetical order, most of which are on, with only a few off:

.NET Runtime Optimization Service v2.0.50727_X86
Alerter
Apple Mobile Device
Application Layer Gateway Service
Application Management
ASP.NET State Service
Automatic Updates
Background Intelligent Transfer Service
Bonjour Service
ClipBook
COM+ Event System
COM+ System Application
Computer Browser
Cryptographic Services
DCOM Server Process Launcher
DHCP Client
Distributed Link Tracking Client
Distributed Transaction Coordinator
DNS Client
Error Reporting Service
Event Log
Fast User Switching Compatibility
FLEXnet Licensing Service
ForceWare Intelligent Application Manager (IAM)
ForceWare IP service
Help and Support
HID Input Service
HTTP SSL
IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service
Indexing Service
iPod Service
IPSEC Services
Logical Disk Manager
Logical Disk Manager Administrative Service
Logitech Bluetooth Service
Messenger
MS Software Shadow Copy Provider
Net Logon
Net.Tcp Port Sharing Service
NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing
Network Connections
Network DDE
Network DDE DSDM
Network Location Awareness (NLA)
Network Provisioning Service
NT LM Security Support Provider
nTune Service
NVIDIA Display Driver Service
Performance Logs and Alerts
Plug and Play
PnkBstrA
Portable Media Serial Number Service
Print Spooler
Protected Storage
QoS RSVP
Remote Access Auto Connection Manager
Remote Access Connection Manager
Remote Desktop Help Session Manager
Remote Procedure Call (RPC)
Remote Procedure Call (RPC) Locator
Remote Registry
Removable Storage
Routing and Remote Access
Secondary Logon
Security Accounts Manager
Security Center
Server
Shell Hardware Detection
Smart Card
SSDP Discovery Service
System Event Notification
System Restore Service
Task Scheduler
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper
Telephony
Telnet
Terminal Services
Themes
Uninterruptible Power Supply
Universal Plug and Play Device Host
Volume Shadow Copy
WebClient
Windows Audio
Windows CardSpace
Windows Driver Foundation - User-mode Driver Framework
Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)
Windows Image Acquisition (WIA)
Windows Installer
Windows Management Instrumentation
Windows Management Instrumentation Driver Extensions
Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service
Windows Presentation Foundation Font Cache 3.0.0.0
Windows Time
Wireless Zero Configuration
WMI Performance Adapter
Workstation

I hope this is sufficient information, and I greatly appreciate any help. Thanks in advance.

I'll put next to the services which ones can be set manual so they don't start unless they are needed.

.NET Runtime Optimization Service v2.0.50727_X86 MANUAL
Alerter MANUAL OR DISABLED
Apple Mobile Device MANUAL
Application Layer Gateway Service MANUAL
Application Management MANUAL
ASP.NET State Service MANUAL
Automatic Updates AUTOMATIC
Background Intelligent Transfer Service AUTOMATIC
Bonjour Service MANUAL
ClipBook MANUAL OR DISABLED
COM+ Event System MANUAL
COM+ System Application MANUAL
Computer Browser AUTOMATIC
Cryptographic Services AUTOMATIC
DCOM Server Process Launcher AUTOMATIC
DHCP Client AUTOMATIC
Distributed Link Tracking Client AUTOMATIC
Distributed Transaction Coordinator MANUAL
DNS Client MANUAL
Error Reporting Service CAN BE DISABLED
Event Log AUTOMATIC
Fast User Switching Compatibility MANUAL UNLESS YOU USE IT
FLEXnet Licensing Service MANUAL
ForceWare Intelligent Application Manager (IAM) AUTOMATIC
ForceWare IP service AUTOMATIC
Help and Support CAN BE DISABLED IF YOU DON'T USE THE MICROSOFT HELP AND SUPPORT FEATURE
HID Input Service AUTOMATIC
HTTP SSL AUTOMATIC
IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service MANUAL
Indexing Service MANUAL
iPod Service MANUAL
IPSEC Services AUTOMATIC
Logical Disk Manager AUTOMATIC
Logical Disk Manager Administrative Service MANUAL
Logitech Bluetooth Service MANUAL
Messenger MANUAL OR DISABLE
MS Software Shadow Copy Provider MANUAL
Net Logon MANUAL
Net.Tcp Port Sharing Service MANUAL OR DISABLE
NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing MANUAL
Network Connections AUTOMATIC
Network DDE MANUAL OR DISABLE
Network DDE DSDM MANUAL OR DISABLE
Network Location Awareness (NLA) AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL
Network Provisioning Service MANUAL
NT LM Security Support Provider MANUAL
nTune Service AUTOMATIC
NVIDIA Display Driver Service AUTOMATIC
Performance Logs and Alerts MANUAL
Plug and Play AUTOMATIC
PnkBstrA AUTOMATIC
Portable Media Serial Number Service MANUAL
Print Spooler AUTOMATIC
Protected Storage AUTOMATIC
QoS RSVP MANUAL
Remote Access Auto Connection Manager MANUAL
Remote Access Connection Manager MANUAL
Remote Desktop Help Session Manager MANUAL
Remote Procedure Call (RPC) AUTOMATIC
Remote Procedure Call (RPC) Locator MANUAL
Remote Registry AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL
Removable Storage MANUAL
Routing and Remote Access MANUAL OR DISABLED
Secondary Logon AUTOMATIC
Security Accounts Manager AUTOMATIC
Security Center AUTOMATIC
Server AUTOMATIC
Shell Hardware Detection AUTOMATIC
Smart Card MANUAL
SSDP Discovery Service MANUAL
System Event Notification AUTOMATIC
System Restore Service AUTOMATIC
Task Scheduler CAN BE DISABLED IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY SCHEDULED TASKS
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper AUTOMATIC
Telephony MANUAL
Telnet MANUAL OR DISABLED
Terminal Services MANUAL
Themes AUTOMATIC
Uninterruptible Power Supply MANUAL
Universal Plug and Play Device Host MANUAL
Volume Shadow Copy MANUAL
WebClient AUTOMATIC
Windows Audio AUTOMATIC
Windows CardSpace MANUAL
Windows Driver Foundation - User-mode Driver Framework MANUAL
Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) MANUAL
Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) MANUAL
Windows Installer AUTOMATIC
Windows Management Instrumentation AUTOMATIC
Windows Management Instrumentation Driver Extensions MANUAL
Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service MANUAL
Windows Presentation Foundation Font Cache 3.0.0.0 MANUAL
Windows Time AUTOMATIC
Wireless Zero Configuration CAN BE SET TO MANUAL IF YOU DON'T CONNECT TO INTERNET WIRELESSLY
WMI Performance Adapter MANUAL
Workstation AUTOMATIC

Here's a links to info on what services can be disabled with a description of what they do so you can decide which you may not need. E.g. Computer browser is not required unless you share files with another pc on your home network.

http://techrepublic.com.com/i/tr/dow...e_disabled.pdf

Whoa great link, I was actually looking for something exactly like that but had no luck. I cut down my RAM usage and still have everything in working order now thanks to you

That link also made it much easier to help me decide once and for all what to leave the settings as, so most likely I won't have to fool with it ever again. Now I actually know what everything does, which is really helpful if I need to switch something from off to on, or vise versa, in the future. I also changed mostly everything to the recommended settings you posted. Thanks a bunch for your help.

So automatic is really only useful if your computer has to use the service the entire time its on? I assume automatic also means it starts the program when you boot up the machine, correct? And manual is only good for something that requires only temporary use, like using the printer?

Black Viper's listing was the original website to go to.

He disappeared off of the face of the planet for a fair while, and some say he could be the STIG.

Here is his latest updated Win XP SP3 listing...

Windows XP x86 (32-bit) Service Pack 3 Service Configurations by Black Viper

Yes - if a service is set to automatic it starts on boot up. If it's manual it starts if it's needed - but not always - sometimes you have to manually start it yourself.

Good to hear you got it fixed. Will mark as fixed.