SuperFetch: what kind of service is it and whether to disable it

Since the release of one of the most popular operating systems today, Windows 7, it has implemented a unique technology called SuperFetch. What is this service, know not all. However, if you recall the technology Prefetcher in Windows Vista, everything will fall into place. Let's try to figure out what it is.

SuperFetch: What is this service?

Before you deal with the service itself, let's start with the basics. If anyone does not know, when you run any program, its executables or configuration files and components are first read from the hard disk and then loaded into the RAM. After the application is finished, the same process is performed when the program is reopened.

To speed up access to programs and directly optimize the work of system processes, SuperFetch technology was developed. What is this service? To put it simply, it's some kind of intelligent system that tracks the user's most frequent use of certain programs, which allows you to cache application files (put them in RAM) to speed up access to them. That is, the program is launched much faster, because the data is already in the "RAM", and not read from the hard drive, which, naturally, takes more time.

In the process tree of later systems than Vista, in the standard Task Manager, it is represented as a SysMain process (SuperFetch - in the service description).

What is the difference between Prefetch and SuperFetch?

The original technology was very timidly applied in Windows XP for the first time, but it was seriously continued in the Vista version, only then it was called Prefetcher (preliminary selection). She was responsible for optimizing the loading of system components and application modules before launching.

Starting with the "seven", the service was slightly redesigned, called SuperFetch (super-selection) and began to work a little differently (although the Prefetcher module also exists). Pre-selection has a number of drawbacks. The fact is that the number of programs loaded into RAM is limited, and when some application ceases to be actively used, its data is again unloaded onto the hard drive, and into the swap file.

In Windows, SuperFetch tracks user activity and, in addition to creating special maps, still maintains the configuration of frequently used programs. If for some reason one application has been unloaded from memory, the service performs an unload analysis, and after the process that caused the download is completed, it again initiates loading the modules of the previous program into "RAM".

In general, the service speeds up the start of applications and even provides a more stable increase in system performance. True, here it is worth paying attention to that sometimes there may be problems with loading "RAM" if its volume does not exceed 1 Gb, but more on this later.

Managing SuperFetch service settings

So, now let's see how SuperFetch parameters are managed. What kind of service is this, I think, already a little clear. Let's go directly to the setting.

According to many experts, it is best to use the system registry or group policies for these purposes. However, the second option, in fact, duplicates the first, so let's stop on the registry. The editor is called with the regedit command in the "Run" menu (Win + R).

Here, using the HKLM branch, you need to find the PrefetchParameters directory in the system partition (these parameters can also be found using a search query). Here we are interested in two keys: EnablePrefetcher and EnableSuperFetch. If there is no second key, you need to create it (parameter DWORD) and assign it the appropriate name. For each key, you can enter four values:

• 0 - complete disconnection;
• 1 - optimization of only the launched programs;
• 2 - optimizing only the launch of system components;
• 3 - balanced acceleration of both applications and systems.

As the recommended parameter, automatic optimization of both the system and the programs ("3") is established.

Another method for managing service parameters (and at the same time, its SysMain SuperFetch process) is the use of the services.msc command, which opens the settings window for executable services and processes. Here you need to find SuperFetch and open the properties of the service with a double click, and then set the required parameter from the drop-down list of the launch type.

SuperFetch: disable or not?

The question of using the service itself for many is controversial. In principle, with a small amount of RAM, it is better not to use the service. So, for example, if the volume of "RAM" does not exceed 1 Gb, the memory load can reach 600 MB, not to mention virtual memory and swap file. However, almost all modern computer systems, even with a minimal configuration, are initially equipped with fairly large volumes of "RAM" of the order of 3-4 GB and above. So disabling the service is not recommended. Even with 2 GB of SuperFetch you can use, in general, without any problems.

Error starting SuperFetch service

But sometimes there are problems with the SuperFetch service (disconnect or not, this is everyone's business). The failures at the system level are not particularly manifested, and there is no critical impact on the operation of the operating system.

However, in the SuperFetch module the error is that this service is simply not activated, even if you enter the necessary parameters in the same registry. As a rule, you receive a message about the emergency termination (SuperFetch terminated) or about the prohibition of access. The point here is that there is not enough RAM or there is a conflict between the slats of the RAM.

Naturally, the best option is to completely turn off the service, but if there is enough memory, it is better to initially test it, fix possible problems, and only after that make a decision about disconnection or further use.

Conclusion

Proceeding from the general description of SuperFetch, what kind of service is it, probably already understandable. But the question of disabling or using this process should be solved by the user himself. General recommendations are such that with a small amount of RAM it is better to disable it, and with a normal amount - on the contrary, leave it activated. At least, it will not bring harm precisely.