diff --git a/test/cri-containerd/helper_sandbox_test.go b/test/cri-containerd/helper_sandbox_test.go
index 3976b57026..984b53d522 100644
--- a/test/cri-containerd/helper_sandbox_test.go
+++ b/test/cri-containerd/helper_sandbox_test.go
@@ -66,24 +66,6 @@ func removePodSandbox(tb testing.TB, client runtime.RuntimeServiceClient, ctx co
 	}
 }
 
-func getPodSandboxStatus(tb testing.TB, client runtime.RuntimeServiceClient, ctx context.Context, podID string) *runtime.PodSandboxStatus {
-	tb.Helper()
-	status, err := client.PodSandboxStatus(ctx, &runtime.PodSandboxStatusRequest{
-		PodSandboxId: podID,
-	})
-	if err != nil {
-		tb.Fatalf("failed PodSandboxStatus for sandbox: %s, request with: %v", podID, err)
-	}
-	return status.Status
-}
-
-func assertPodSandboxState(tb testing.TB, client runtime.RuntimeServiceClient, ctx context.Context, podID string, state runtime.PodSandboxState) {
-	tb.Helper()
-	if st := getPodSandboxStatus(tb, client, ctx, podID).State; st != state {
-		tb.Fatalf("got pod sandbox %q state %q; wanted %v", podID, st.String(), state.String())
-	}
-}
-
 func getTestSandboxConfig(tb testing.TB, opts ...SandboxConfigOpt) *runtime.PodSandboxConfig {
 	tb.Helper()
 	c := &runtime.PodSandboxConfig{
diff --git a/test/cri-containerd/helper_service_test.go b/test/cri-containerd/helper_service_test.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 5ac7a34acd..0000000000
--- a/test/cri-containerd/helper_service_test.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,94 +0,0 @@
-//go:build windows && functional
-
-package cri_containerd
-
-import (
-	"fmt"
-	"sync"
-	"testing"
-	"time"
-
-	"golang.org/x/sys/windows/svc"
-	"golang.org/x/sys/windows/svc/mgr"
-)
-
-// Implements functionality so tests can start/stop the containerd service.
-// Tests assume containerd will be running when they start, since this
-// matches with the state a dev box will usually be in. A test that stops containerd should
-// therefore ensure it starts it again.
-
-var (
-	svcMgr            *mgr.Mgr
-	svcMgrConnectOnce sync.Once
-	svcMgrConnectErr  error
-)
-
-func getSvcMgr() (*mgr.Mgr, error) {
-	svcMgrConnectOnce.Do(func() {
-		s, err := mgr.Connect()
-		if err != nil {
-			err = fmt.Errorf("failed to connect to service manager: %w", err)
-		}
-		svcMgr, svcMgrConnectErr = s, err
-	})
-	return svcMgr, svcMgrConnectErr
-}
-
-func startService(serviceName string) error {
-	m, err := getSvcMgr()
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	s, err := m.OpenService(serviceName)
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("failed to open service %s: %w", serviceName, err)
-	}
-	if err := s.Start(); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("failed to start service %s: %w", serviceName, err)
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-func stopService(serviceName string) error {
-	m, err := getSvcMgr()
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	s, err := m.OpenService(serviceName)
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("failed to open service %s: %w", serviceName, err)
-	}
-	status, err := s.Control(svc.Stop)
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("failed to send stop control to service %s: %w", serviceName, err)
-	}
-	tc := time.NewTimer(10 * time.Second)
-	defer tc.Stop()
-	for status.State != svc.Stopped {
-		time.Sleep(1 * time.Second)
-		select {
-		case <-tc.C:
-			return fmt.Errorf("service %s did not stop in time", serviceName)
-		default:
-			status, err = s.Query()
-			if err != nil {
-				return fmt.Errorf("failed to query service %s status: %w", serviceName, err)
-			}
-		}
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-func startContainerd(tb testing.TB) {
-	tb.Helper()
-	if err := startService(*flagContainerdServiceName); err != nil {
-		tb.Fatal(err)
-	}
-}
-
-func stopContainerd(tb testing.TB) {
-	tb.Helper()
-	if err := stopService(*flagContainerdServiceName); err != nil {
-		tb.Fatal(err)
-	}
-}
diff --git a/test/cri-containerd/main_test.go b/test/cri-containerd/main_test.go
index 5ac2b070b3..f19f7d185f 100644
--- a/test/cri-containerd/main_test.go
+++ b/test/cri-containerd/main_test.go
@@ -88,11 +88,10 @@ var (
 
 // Flags
 var (
-	flagFeatures              = testflag.NewFeatureFlag(allFeatures)
-	flagCRIEndpoint           = flag.String("cri-endpoint", "tcp://127.0.0.1:2376", "Address of CRI runtime and image service.")
-	flagVirtstack             = flag.String("virtstack", "", "Virtstack to use for hypervisor isolated containers")
-	flagVMServiceBinary       = flag.String("vmservice-binary", "", "Path to a binary implementing the vmservice ttrpc service")
-	flagContainerdServiceName = flag.String("containerd-service-name", "containerd", "Name of the containerd Windows service")
+	flagFeatures        = testflag.NewFeatureFlag(allFeatures)
+	flagCRIEndpoint     = flag.String("cri-endpoint", "tcp://127.0.0.1:2376", "Address of CRI runtime and image service.")
+	flagVirtstack       = flag.String("virtstack", "", "Virtstack to use for hypervisor isolated containers")
+	flagVMServiceBinary = flag.String("vmservice-binary", "", "Path to a binary implementing the vmservice ttrpc service")
 )
 
 // Features