My WindowsXP machine is a stand-alone in my home. I have a dial-up internet
connection.

I notice that there are a lot of services running on my machine that are not
applicable to me.

I assume I don't need things like Alerter(for Administrative Alerts) or
Background Intelligent Transfer Service, which is described as "Transfers
data between clients and servers in the background. If BITS is disabled,
features such as Windows Update will not work correctly." or Terminal
Services:
(Allows multiple users to be connected interactively to a machine as well as
the display of desktops and applications to remote computers. The
underpinning of Remote Desktop (including RD for Administrators), Fast User
Switching, Remote Assistance, and Terminal Server.)

Maybe once or twice a year I might have a client who wants to do an
internet-based meeting, or I might want to log into my computer at my
office.

Is there any place that talks about what these services do, and what the
setup should be for a situation like mine?

"Is there any place that talks about what these services do..."
The internet.

"...and what the setup should be for a situation like mine?"
Only you can make those decisions, based on your research.

Once you've completed your research, you will discover, as most of us
already have, that nothing of value is gained by interfering with your
operating system, but the potential for problems is great if you do.

In all the years I have used Real Player and Adobe Reader I have never
had an update downloaded automatically.

There is no easy way to 'make sure your computer is setup properly'
since there are unlimited number of ways to successfully use a computer.
The only way to make sure your computer is running well is to learn how
to maintain it.
---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

Margaret Bartley wrote:

Margaret Bartley wrote: