Unknown services (Windows)

Module: Startup Files

Supported Platforms: Windows 2000, Windows 2003, Windows 2008, Windows Vista, Windows XP

This check reports installed services that are not already specified in the Required services or Disallowed services name lists. Use the name list to exclude known optional services. If this check is enabled, Required services and Disallowed services must also be enabled or these services will be reported as unknown.

The following table lists the error messages for the check.

Table: Error messages for Unknown services

Message String ID and Category

Platform and Message Numeric ID

Message Title and Description

Additional Information

String ID: ESM_DUPSVCNAME

Category: System Information

  • Windows 2000 (105844)

  • Windows 2003 (205844)

  • Windows 2008 (248844)

  • Windows Vista (228844)

  • Windows XP (200844)

Title: Service named by more than one name list

Description:The service exists in more than one of the following name lists: Required services, Disallowed services, and Unknown services. Remove the service from all but one of the name lists, then rerun the audit.

Severity: red-4

Correctable: false

Snapshot Updatable: false

Template Updatable: false

Information Field Format: [Found in both %s and %s lists]

String ID: ESM_UNKNOWNRUN

Category: System Information

  • Windows 2000 (105845)

  • Windows 2003 (205845)

  • Windows 2008 (248845)

  • Windows Vista (228845)

  • Windows XP (200845)

Title: Unknown service running

Description:The service is running, but is not specified as required, disallowed, or optional. If the service is not needed, uninstall it. Otherwise, add it to the Required Services or Optional Services name list.

Severity: red-4

Correctable: true

Snapshot Updatable: false

Template Updatable: false

Information Field Format: [%s]

String ID: ESM_UNKNOWNNOTRUN

Category: System Information

  • Windows 2000 (105846)

  • Windows 2003 (205846)

  • Windows 2008 (248846)

  • Windows Vista (228846)

  • Windows XP (200846)

Title: Unknown service installed

Description:The service is installed, but is not specified as required, disallowed, or optional. If the service is not needed, uninstall it. Otherwise, add it to the Required Services or Optional Services name list.

Severity: yellow-1

Correctable: false

Snapshot Updatable: false

Template Updatable: false

Information Field Format: [%s]