Managing Programs and Features in Windows Vista - Adding and Removing Windows Features

(Page 5 of 5 )

In earlier versions of Windows, you use the Add/Remove Windows Components option of the Add or Remove Programs utility to add and remove operating system components. In Windows Vista, operating system components are considered Windows features that can be turned on and off rather than added and removed.

Table 4-3 provides a complete list of available Windows features and their uses. The table also denotes the default on or off state for Windows Vista editions that support the feature.

Table 4-3. Windows features

Windows feature	Description	Default configuration
ActiveX Installer Services	Enables the ActiveX Installer Services, which you can use to install software based on policy settings.	Off
Games	Enables the games included with the operating systems. You can select the Games option to install all available games, or expand the Games node to select individual games. Games available include Chess Titans, FreeCell, Hearts, Inkball, Mahjong Titans, Minesweeper, Purble Place, Solitaire, and Spider Solitaire.	On
Indexing Service	Windows Vista uses the Windows Search service for content indexing and property caching of documents. If you are using your computer to provide web server services, you can enable Indexing Services for backward compatibility with search features used in your web pages.	Off
Internet Information Services	Windows Vista includes Internet Information Services 7. You can use this option and its related suboptions to configure FTP, web, and application services.	On for partial subset
Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0	Enables .NET Framework 3.0, a comprehensive framework for client-server communications over a network. Some features in the operating system require the related XPS viewer. If you install applications that require the Windows Communication Foundation APIs, you can enable the related options.	On for XPS Viewer
Microsoft Message Queue (MSMQ) Server	Enables a server service that allows queuing for web applications.	Off

Table 4-3.  Windows featured (continued)

Windows feature	Description	Default configuration
Print Services	Enables network printing services. Use Internet Printing Client to enable your computer to use HTTP to connect to a web print server. Use LPD Print Ser-vice to enable your computer to work as a Line Printer Daemon and Remote Line Printer client. Use LPR Port Monitor to enable your computer to print to TCP/IP printers connected to a Unix server.	On for Internet Printing Client
Remote Differential Compression	Enables your computer to transfer the differences between two objects over the network. This option is used primarily with Group Policy and domain con-figurations to reduce network bandwidth usage.	On
Removable Storage Management	Enables management and cataloging of removable media. Also allows you to operate automated removable media devices, such as a tape library device.	Off
RIP Listener	Enables your computer to listen to route updates sent by routers that use Routing Information Proto-col Version 1 (RIPv1).	Off
Services for NFS	Enables your computer to participate in file sharing using the Network File Sharing (NFS) protocol. Use Client for NFS if your office network has NFS shares.	Off
Simple TCPIP Services	Enables simple TCP/IP services, such as echo and daytime. These services may open your computer to attack and are not recommended for use with Windows Vista.	Off
SNMP Feature	Enables Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) agents that monitor the activity of network devices and create reports of this activity. Use Win-dows Imaging Format (WMI) SNMP Provider only if you are an administrator who uses SNMP adminis-tration tools for monitoring network activities.	Off
Tablet PC Optional Components	Enables optional components normally used with Tablet computers including the Input Panel, Snip-ping Tool, Sticky Notes, and Windows Journal.	On for Tablet PCs
Telnet Client	Enables your computer to connect to other comput-ers using Telnet.	Off
Telnet Server	Enables your computer to receive Telnet connections from other computers.	Off
TFTP Client	Enables your computer to connect to other comput-ers using TFTP.	Off
Windows DFS Replication Services	Enables your computer to replicate files to other computers and in this way keep your offline files in sync.	On
Windows Fax and Scan	Enables your computer to send, receive, and man-age faxes, and to scan and manage documents.	On

Table 4-3.  Windows featured (continued)

Windows feature	Description	Default configuration
Windows Meeting Space	Enables Windows Meeting Space, which you can use for collaboration and virtual meetings.	On
Windows Process Activation Service	Installs the .NET environment, configuration APIs, and process model for the Windows Process Activa-tion Service.	On
Windows Ultimate Extras	Installs the extra programs for Windows Ultimate Edition.	On

You can turn Windows features on and off by following these steps:

1. Click Start -> Control Panel.
   
2. In the Control Panel, click Programs.
   
3. Click “Turn Windows features on or off.” This displays the Windows Features dialog box, as shown in Figure 4-15.
   
   
   Figure 4-15.  Turning Windows features on and off
   
4. To turn features on, select feature checkboxes. To turn features off, clear feature checkboxes.
   
5. When you click OK, Windows Vista reconfigures components as appropriate for any changes you’ve made. You may need your original installation media.

DISCLAIMER: The content provided in this article is not warranted or guaranteed by Developer Shed, Inc. The content provided is intended for entertainment and/or educational purposes in order to introduce to the reader key ideas, concepts, and/or product reviews. As such it is incumbent upon the reader to employ real-world tactics for security and implementation of best practices. We are not liable for any negative consequences that may result from implementing any information covered in our articles or tutorials. If this is a hardware review, it is not recommended to open and/or modify your hardware.

Comments On: Managing Programs and Features in Windows Vista

· This article is an excerpt from the book "Windows Vista: The Definitive Guide,"...   >>> Post your comment now!

Buy this book...

This article is excerpted from chapter four of the book Windows Vista: The Definitive Guide, written by William R. Stanek (O'Reilly, 2007; ISBN: 0596528000). Check it out today at your favorite bookstore. Buy this book now.