User Profile Service - Windows Vista Service
This service is responsible for loading and unloading user profiles. If this service is stopped or disabled, users will no longer be able to successfully logon or logoff, applications may have problems getting to users' data, and components registered to receive profile event notifications will not receive them.
This service also exists in Windows 10, 11, 7 and 8.
Startup Type
| Windows Vista edition | without SP | SP1 | SP2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Home Basic | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Home Premium | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Business | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Ultimate | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
Default Properties
| Display name: | User Profile Service |
| Service name: | ProfSvc |
| Type: | share |
| Path: | %WinDir%\system32\svchost.exe -k netsvcs |
| File: | %WinDir%\system32\profsvc.dll |
| Error control: | normal |
| Group: | profsvc_group |
| Object: | LocalSystem |
| Privileges: |
|
Default Behavior
The User Profile Service starts as LocalSystem and runs in a shared process of svchost.exe. If User Profile Service fails to start, the error is recorded into the Event Log. Windows Vista startup proceeds, but a message box is displayed informing you that the ProfSvc service has failed to start. At least one service depends on User Profile Service. Therefore I do not recommend you to disable it.
Dependencies
User Profile Service will not start, if the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) is stopped or disabled.
If User Profile Service is stopped, the Application Information fails to start and initialize.
Restore Default Startup Type of User Profile Service
Automated Restore
1. Select your Windows Vista edition and Service Pack, and then click on the Download button below.
2. Save the RestoreUserProfileServiceWindowsVista.bat file to any folder on your hard drive.
3. Right-click the downloaded batch file and select Run as administrator.
4. Restart the computer to save changes.
Note. Make sure that the profsvc.dll file exists in the %WinDir%\system32 folder. If this file is missing you can try to restore it from your Windows Vista installation media.