I recently bought a Lexmark printer/scanner/fax/copier combo unit that came with Lexmark "all in one software". I have already disabled lexstart in msconfig and placed a shortcut for this in my quickstart menu. However, I noticed that when I would start this program, both lexpps.exe and Rcpss.exe would both open up ports to the internet as servers (later I noticed they do it anyway, even if I don't run it). I have squashed rcpss.exe before, so I thought no big deal. But when I renamed these files the Lexmark "all in one" software for printing and scanning, etc. failed to run every time I tried to use it. Is there anyway to trick this stupid software into skipping over trying to find these programs and just working without worrying about the internet? Any help would be appreciated.

Check the options to see if any options like 'automatically look for updates' are enabled.

I looked. There was nothing except for options directly relating to printing and scanning (color vs bw, scan dpi, etc.)

If found this info at Pacs-Portal lexpps.exe - For Lexmark printers. From Lexmark: "This enables bi-directional printing over a peer to peer network. If the printer is connected directly to your PC, the file is not used, (or should not be used) at all". It is known that firewalls can however alert you to "lexpps.exe" requesting server privileges Are you sure it's not rpcss.exe instead of rcpss.exe? Here's info on rpcss.exe rpcss.exe - Remote Procedure Call. Required by windows for programs to communicate with each other on networks/different machines. Originally for NT only but now installed with Win98/98se. Under Win98/98se, a program may need it to communicate with other components of itself. You could delete the program but if any abnormalities occur soon after then reinstall. Under NT, deleting this critical system component will disable the OS. For a more detailed explanation see here

It is rpcss.exe (my bad typing sorry). In Zone Alarm it shows up on top as "Distributed COM Services : Listening to Ports..." In the list of programs it lists D COM and shows it's base program as rpcss.exe ... Odd thing is I have this program completely disallowed by Zone Alarm and my security settings all the way up but it is still listed as listening to ports so I wonder if Zone Alarm is even blocking it or if it has forced it's way through somehow.

This gives you an idea what rpcss.exe is about (at the end it says don't delete it): http://www.cexx.org/rpc.htm Derek

I have them enabled again, because I needed to print some stuff. (I just rename annoying files (i.e. qttask.exe) I don't delete them most of the time). My concern is having the programs running when they are completely unecessary. I don't plan on using my printer on a network. I would rather just have as much memory and processor power free as possible and have all my ports as secure as I can make them. I guess for now, I'll turn these 2 programs back on (by renaming) when I need to use my printer and then flip them back off when I'm not going to use it for awhile. Thanks all for the input, though.