How to completely remove WIA from XP system?

[Joe Smith]

How do I remove WIA completely?

In run Windows XP Pro system (with all hotfixes except SP2) and I
have Windows Image Aquisition (WIA) installed.

WIA seems to be implicated in all sorts of things which are an
unwanted overhead on my small machine. I have disabled the WIA
service but there seem to be all sorts of other activities to do with
WIA such as:

(1) services such as the Still Image Service (StiSvc)
(2) I get entries Event logs saying I have errors because WIA can't
start,
(3) RegMon reports masses of unnecessary registry accesses to keys
related to WIA (device ref A1F4E726-8CF1-11D1-BF92-0060081ED811).
(4)

I always use TWAIN and I never use WIA.

How do I remove WIA completely?

 

[CSM1]

How do I remove WIA completely?

In run Windows XP Pro system (with all hotfixes except SP2) and I
have Windows Image Aquisition (WIA) installed.

WIA seems to be implicated in all sorts of things which are an
unwanted overhead on my small machine. I have disabled the WIA
service but there seem to be all sorts of other activities to do with
WIA such as:

(1) services such as the Still Image Service (StiSvc)
(2) I get entries Event logs saying I have errors because WIA can't
start,
(3) RegMon reports masses of unnecessary registry accesses to keys
related to WIA (device ref A1F4E726-8CF1-11D1-BF92-0060081ED811).
(4)

I always use TWAIN and I never use WIA.

How do I remove WIA completely?

By not using Windows XP!

WIA is a Microsoft invention that came in Windows XP.

Microsoft wants to own the world of technology, Bill Gates is not happy
being the richest man in the world, he wants to be King of the world.

Microsoft also thinks that their way is the best way. (NOT TRUE!)

Here is a tip:
Look in the \Windows\Twain_32\scanner_twain folder for a file that does not
belong to the TWAIN driver that the scanner manufacturer installed.

I found this in my TWAIN driver for my old Flatbed scanner:
NT5Supp.sti

I renamed it to CSM_NT5Supp.sti because Windows XP kept putting it back when
I deleted it. The above file is a part of the WIA system and screwed up the
transparency mode.

 

[bmoag]

I think you are overly concerned about a process that has little real impact
on Windows functioning.
By partially getting rid of WIA associated files you may also damage/erase
TWAIN associated files.
I only see WIA options in Photoshop but no other imaging program and it is
easy to ignore them.
If your computer has problems because of background processes the most
likely culprits are anti-virus programs (especially Norton
anti-anything--get rid of it, shut it off), software firewalls, unnecessary
resident multimedia processes (from real player, quicktime and the like) or
programs that do not release those old Windows heaps and stacks (Microsoft
Word is often listed as a chief offender) even when the program is
terminated.
Perhaps you need to learn the Kama Sutra of MSCONFIG?

 

[CSM1]

I think you are overly concerned about a process that has little real
impact on Windows functioning.
By partially getting rid of WIA associated files you may also damage/erase
TWAIN associated files.
I only see WIA options in Photoshop but no other imaging program and it is
easy to ignore them.
If your computer has problems because of background processes the most
likely culprits are anti-virus programs (especially Norton
anti-anything--get rid of it, shut it off), software firewalls,
unnecessary resident multimedia processes (from real player, quicktime and
the like) or programs that do not release those old Windows heaps and
stacks (Microsoft Word is often listed as a chief offender) even when the
program is terminated.
Perhaps you need to learn the Kama Sutra of MSCONFIG?

Perhaps the OP has a malfunctioning TWAIN system. Or maybe a bad TWAIN
driver install.

If TWAIN is screwed up on Windows XP, Photoshop will not show any TWAIN
Scanners in Acquire.

 

[Joe Smith]

On Tue 22 Mar 2005 16:42:17, CSM1 wrote:

Perhaps the OP has a malfunctioning TWAIN system. Or maybe a bad
TWAIN driver install.

If TWAIN is screwed up on Windows XP, Photoshop will not show
any TWAIN Scanners in Acquire.

No, my TWAIN setup works fine. But WIA is a real nuisance. The high
registry activity I can monitor on my XP system does not seems due to
antivirus software but instead it seems due to calls linked to WIA.

 

[dps]

Microsoft wants to own the world of technology, Bill Gates is not happy
being the richest man in the world, he wants to be King of the world.

FYI he is not any more the richest....

to OP: use linux ;-)

 

[CSM1]

FYI he is not any more the richest....

to OP: use linux ;-)

To the OP.
To remove any WIA driver that Windows XP installs, open the Device manager
when the scanner is connected and remove the scanner driver. Disconnect the
scanner then reboot the computer.

Never connect a scanner to Windows XP before installing the software.
Install the software then connect the scanner.

The exception to that rule, is when there is no TWAIN driver available.

 

[Quaoar]

On Tue 22 Mar 2005 16:42:17, CSM1 wrote:



No, my TWAIN setup works fine. But WIA is a real nuisance. The high
registry activity I can monitor on my XP system does not seems due to
antivirus software but instead it seems due to calls linked to WIA.

You write of "high registry activity". You are monitoring this under
the assumption that registry activity is by and of itself, bad. I think
you are completely misguided in this assumption. Nonetheless, most WIA
and TWAIN drivers are installed as software and are removed via
Add/Remove Programs. You can take out the entire WIA subsystem by
disabling the WIA Service, Administrative Tools/Services.

Q