XP said:
Is there a way to stop the useless creation of .XML files in
the \WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\DataColl\ directory?
Answer: Yes
Question: How?
Answer: I am not sure.
These annoyed me to start with as well and was on my todo list to
look into, but then i discovered that along the way of taming the
wild raging beast that is a fresh WinXP install i do something
that stops these from being created. Changing one setting here
.... another setting over there ... and a myriad of settings in
all different unimaginable places ... I've never figured out
exactly what setting stops it.. but it does on several machines i
get to configure to my own liking.
(Since the files get created at a variable time after some
bootups, but do not happen after every bootup ...) My suspicion
is that it may be something started from the Task Scheduler. I
make no use of that and turn it off, with the Task Scheduler
Service set to Manual Startup-type and it does not run.
If you try that and it doesn't help, here is my list of current
Services-settings seen in the Services MMC-plugin (3rd party
services excluded) on this /HomeEd bundle/ machine. May be
something else in there that does it?
@ Automatic ( & started)
-----------------------
COM+ Event System
Computer Browser
Cryptographic Services
DCOM Server Process Launcher
Event Log
Network Connections
NLA (Network Location Awareness)
Plug and Play
Remote Access Connection Manager
RPC (Remote Procedure Call)
Secondary Logon
Security Accounts Manager
Server
Shell Hardware Detection
System Event Notification
Telephony <- usually @ Disabled
Terminal Services
Windows Audio
WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation)
Workstation
@ Disabled ( started if at Manual )
-----------------------
ClipBook
Human Interface Device Access
Messenger
@ Manual ( & NOT started )
-----------------------
Alerter
ALG (Application Layer Gateway) Service
Application Management
Automatic Updates
Background Intelligent Transfer Service
COM+ System Application
DHCP Client
Distributed Link Tracking Client
Distributed Transaction Coordinator
DNS Client
Error Reporting Service
Extensible Authentication Protocol Service
Fast User Switching Compatibility
Health Key and Certificate Management Service
Help and Support
HTTP SSL
IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service
Indexing Service
IPSEC Services
Logical Disk Manager
Logical Disk Manager Administrative Service
ms Software Shadow Copy Provider
Net Logon
NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing
Network Access Protection Agent
Network DDE
Network DDE DSDM
Network Provisioning Service
NT LM Security Support Provider
Performance Logs and Alerts
Portable Media Serial Number Service
Print Spooler <- Check this if you have a printer
Protected Storage
QoS RSVP
Remote Access Auto Connection Manager
Remote Desktop Help Session Manager
RPC (Remote Procedure Call) Locator
Removable Storage
Routing and Remote Access
Security Center
Smart Card
SSDP Discovery Service
System Restore Service
Task Scheduler
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper
Themes
Uninterruptible Power Supply
Universal Plug and Play Device Host
Volume Shadow Copy
WebClient
Windows Firewall / ICS (Internet Connection Sharing)
WIA (Windows Image Acquisition)
Windows Installer
Windows Time
Windows User Mode Driver Framework
Wired AutoConfig
Wireless Zero Configuration
WMI Performance Adapter
(If setting these to how i have them doesn't help, i really don't
know what setting might be responsible.)
I understand this has got something to do with either WBEM or
WMI - can someone explain the *difference* between WMI and
WBEM?
Should be described in an online dictionary near you?
One is a 'Standard'.
The other is ms implementation of that standard.
Don't know about their implementation of this one in particular,
but we all know how it is with ms implementing various standards.
(See my sig.)
There are also log files created in \system32\wbem\Logs, but
I've found instructions on how to stop that.
Bonus question: I would like to turn off WMI and WBEM
completely. I come across lots of dire warnings about turning
off the WMI service (or services?) but none of them explain
exactly what system functionality depends on them. If anyone
can answer that, please do.
Don't know, but if you find out if you can, tell us howto do it.
