Surely, many users of computer programs running under Windows could see specific objects in the form of files with the extension .nfo. Let's see what an NFO file is, how to open it and why it is needed. As a rule, the main ones are only two options, which will be discussed later.
What is a standard NFO file?
In general, standard files of this type are objects containing system information and metadata encoded in XML format.
A program that opens NFO files is also a system tool that ordinary users are unlikely to use. This is the msinfo32.exe utility, which provides access to the descriptive part of the hardware and software components.
NFO file: how to open?
Based on the description of the standard type, it is easy to understand how it can be used. If the user sees an NFO file in front of him, than to open it, it becomes clear.
In principle, even the system utility does not need to be called. A simple double click will do the job, and the user will see the information contained in the file.
How to open an NFO file (Windows 7 or any other OS) if the file cannot be opened or read in the standard way?
However, such objects cannot always be opened for viewing in the usual way. Very often, when downloading pirated software, such files can be found as descriptive components when performing actions related to installing, hacking, patching, generating keys or bypassing the registration of official software.
Most often, such objects can be found among hackers from the teams TEAM R2R, Core, Oxygen, Warez Group and others. Since the object does not contain system information, respectively, double-clicking does not open the NFO file. How to open it in this case?
Everything is simple! If you call the context menu with a right click on the file, the opening line will be displayed there using the standard Notepad. This is what you need to use, because the file itself initially has a text DOS format.
In principle, you can use any other text editor of this type. Another option is also useful, allowing you to view the NFO file. How to open? Yes, even the standard Word application, which is part of the office suite from Microsoft. True, unlike Notepad, you will have to specify the encoding here if for some reason it will not be recognized automatically.
By the way, text editors are suitable for those cases when the standard file with system information is damaged. However, there are still plenty of specialized utilities for viewing content. For example, DAMN NFO Viewer, Bred3, GetDiz and others behave pretty well.
Instead of a total
As can be seen from the foregoing, the problem of opening NFO files is solved quite simply. In the simplest case, even if the user does not know what to do, viewing the contents is most easily done using the usual Notepad. If for some reason the file still does not open, you can try to select the application from the list of the most suitable ones manually, and in Windows 10, refer to the store section where you can find something most acceptable.