Remote Procedure Call (RPC)

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Below is a description of this Windows XP service:

Remote Procedure Call (RPC)

# Service Name:

RpcSs

# Service Description:

Provides the endpoint mapper and other miscellaneous RPC services.

# Default Settings:

Default setting in Windows XP Professional: Automatic
Default setting in Windows XP Home: Automatic


# This Windows service logs on as:

Local System

# The default path for this Windows service is:

%systemroot%\system32\svchost.exe -k rpcss

# This Windows service depends on the following system components:

None

# The following services have a dependency on this service:

Application Information
Background Inteligent Transfer Service
Base Filtering Engine > IKE and AuthIP IPsec Keying Modules
Base Filtering Engine > Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)
Base Filtering Engine > IPsec Policy Agent
Base Filtering Engine > Routing and Remote Access
Base Filtering Engine > Windows Firewall
Certificate Propergation
CNG Key Isolation > Extensible Authentication Protocol > Wired AutoConfig
CNG Key Isolation > Extensible Authentication Protocol > WLAN AutoConfig
COM+ Event System > Background Intelligent Transfer Service
COM+ Event System > COM+ System Application
COM+ Event System > DFS Replication
COM+ Event System > SL UI Notification Service
COM+ Event System > System Event Notification Service > COM+ System Application
COM+ System Application
Cryptographic Services
DES Replication
Distributed Link Tracking Client
Distributed Transaction Coordinator
Extensible Authentication Protocol > Wired AutoConfig
Extensible Authentication Protocol > WLAN AutoConfig
Function Discovery Provider Host > PnP-X IP Bus Enumerator
Function Discovery Resource Publication
Group Policy Client
Health Key and Certificate Management
IP Helper
KtmRm for Distributed Transaction Coordinator
Link-Layer Topology Discovery Mapper
Machine Debug Manager
Messenger Sharing Folders USN Journal Reader Service
Microsoft Software Shadow Copy Provider
Network Access Protection Agent
Network Connections > Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)
Network List Service > SL UI Notification Service
Network Location Awareness > Network List Service > SL UI Notification Service
Parental Controls
Performance Logs and Alerts
PnP-X IP Bus Enumerator
Portable Device Enumerator Service
Print Spooler
Program Compatibility Assistant Service
Protected Storage
Quality Windows Audio Video Experience
ReadyBoost
Remote Registry
Routing And Remote Access
Security Accounts Manager > Distributed Transaction Coordinator
Security Accounts Manager > KtmRm for Distributed Transaction Coordinator
Security Accounts Manager > Server > Computer Browser
Security Center
Shell Hardware Detection > Windows Image Acquisition (WIA)
Smart Card Removal Policy
Software Licensing > Ready Boost
Software Licensing > SL UI Notification Service
SuperFetch
Tablet PC Input Service
Task Scheduler
Telephony > Remote Access Auto Connetion Manager
Telephony > Remote Acess Connection Manager > Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)
Telephony > Remote Acess Connection Manager > Remote Access Auto Connection Manager
Telephony > Remote Acess Connection Manager > Routing And Remote Access
Terminal Services
Terminal Services Configuration
User Profile Service > Application Information
Virtual Disk
Volume Shadow Copy
Windows Audio
Windows Backup
Windows Color System
Windows Connect Now - Config Registrar
Windows Defender
Windows Image Acquisition (WIA)
Windows Installer
Windows Management Instrumentation > Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)
Windows Management Instrumentation > IP Helper
Windows Management Instrumentation > Security Center
Windows Remote Management (WS-Management)
Windows Search
Windows Update
Wired AutoConfig
WLAN AutoConfig

Marc Says:

The RPC "service" is actually a protocol that an application on your PC can use to request a service from an application located on another PC on a network, without having to understand any network details.

This is a VITAL service in Windows XP - NEVER disable it. Just look at the long list of services above that rely on it!