Windows XP "Random Services" - REPORT

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mario
  • Start date Start date
M

Mario

I have posted a question here before about randomly named services being
installed on my WinXP Pro SP2 box. After the initial "must be a virus" knee
jerk reaction, and a lot of subsequent research (after I was certain that
there were no viruses on my system), I have found that the services are
being installed by Adobe Photoshop CS "Adobe LM" service.

This is an adobe license manager service which ties your Photoshop copy to
your hardware and verifies each time you launch Photoshop if any of the
hardware is changed. It also tries to install randomly named services on
your machine (which seem to be some sort of drivers). The service also seem
to "spy" on your computer usage. Adobe seems to use Microvision's
(http://www.macrovision.com/) licensing spyware software for their
licensing. The service can not be disabled (if you do it enables itself
!!!!).

More info about Photoshop "Adobe LM" service (and subsequent services it
installs) can be found here:

http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showpost.php?p=305667&postcount=1

Or do a search on Google for "Adobe LM service"

I wish Adobe mentioned this on their website. I certainly would not have
bought an upgrade to Photoshop CS if I knew this. I want my money back.

Well, another mystery solved, at least now I know what the hell is going on
my system, and what is doing it.

Mario
Senior Software Developer
 
Any service can be disabled,you can go to run,type:services.msc In msc,locate
the srvice,double click on it,then select disable from auto in the scroll
box,then
select stop the service,close out.You can also go to run,type:Msconfig
In config,start-up tab,uncheck the box for the service,close-out,on
restart,when
the pop-up gets displayed for Msconfig select "dont show at start-up" box.
 
Well, duh. But the point is that when you launch Photoshop, the service is
enabled again, in fact set to manual start and started by Photoshop again.

And by the way, MS Config tool is only used to diagnose problems, not to
permanently configure your system.
 
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