Superfetch (SysMain) Service Defaults in Windows 7

Maintains and improves system performance over time.

Default Settings

Startup type: Automatic
Display name:Superfetch
Service name:SysMain
Service type:share
Error control:ignore
Object:LocalSystem
Path:%SystemRoot%\system32\svchost.exe -k LocalSystemNetworkRestricted
File:%SystemRoot%\system32\sysmain.dll
Registry key:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SysMain
Privileges:
  • SeTcbPrivilege
  • SeProfileSingleProcessPrivilege
  • SeTakeOwnershipPrivilege
  • SeDebugPrivilege
  • SeIncreaseBasePriorityPrivilege

Default Behavior

Superfetch is a Win32 service. In Windows 7 it is starting automatically on the operating system startup. Then the Superfetch service is running as LocalSystem in a shared process of svchost.exe. Other system components, such as drivers and services, may run in the same process. If Superfetch fails to load or initialize, Windows 7 startup continues without error messages. The failure details are being written into Event Log.

Dependencies

Superfetch is unable to start, if at least one of the following services is stopped or disabled:

Restore Default Startup Configuration of Superfetch

Before you begin doing this, make sure that all the services on which Superfetch depends are configured by default and function properly. See the list of dependencies above.

1. Run the Command Prompt as an administrator.

2. Copy the commands below, paste them into the command window and press ENTER:

sc config SysMain start= auto
sc start SysMain

3. Close the command window and restart the computer.

The SysMain service is using the sysmain.dll file that is located in the C:\Windows\system32 directory. If the file is removed or corrupted, read this article to restore its original version from Windows 7 installation media.