INF file (setup Information file) is INIplain-text file used by Microsoft Windows-based operating systems for the installation of software and drivers.[1] INF files are most commonly used for installing device drivers for hardware components.[2] Windows includes the IExpress tool for the creation of INF-based installations. INF files form part of the Windows Setup API and of its successor, Windows Installer.
The structure of an INF file is very similar to that of an INI file; it contains various sections that specify the files to be copied, changes to the registry, etc. All INF files contain a [Version] section with a Signaturekey–value pair specifying the version of Windows that the INF file is meant for. The signature is commonly $CHICAGO$ (for Windows 9x) or $WINDOWS NT$ (for Windows NT/2K/XP). Most of the remaining sections are user-defined and contain information specific to the component being installed. An example of an INF file might have something like this:
[autorun]open=example.exe
What this would do is open the example.exe file automatically whenever the media containing the file (in its root directory) is connected to the computer. This can be dangerous, as there is no way to tell whether such a file exists before inserting the media. Since Windows XP, however, this feature has been replaced with a menu forcing the user to choose which action to take.
INF Files can sometimes be dangerous on Windows 2000 as they may allow viruses to autorun without prompting.[citation needed] They are blocked on Windows 7, but can be worked around. [4]
[autorun]open=example.baticon=cd.ico
icon=*.ico command replaces any old or default drive icon with the specified one. [autorun] can be replaced by [AutoRun] or [Autorun].
Registry valuesedit
The INF file may specify values for Windows Registry entries. Drivers providers and users may for instance use this feature to override display Extended Display Identification Data (EDID) metadata for displays that have corrupted ROM memory.[5]
^tedhudek. "Overview of INF Files - Windows drivers". learn.microsoft.com. Retrieved 2022-11-29.
^lorihollasch. "Creating an INF file for a file system driver - Windows drivers". learn.microsoft.com. Retrieved 2022-11-29.
^Norton, Peter; Mueller, John Paul (28 October 1997). Peter Norton's Complete Guide to Windows XP. Pearson Education (published 1997). ISBN9780132715386. Retrieved 2014-08-31. Look in the \WINDOWS\INF directory, and you'll see a set of INF files.
^"How To Auto-Launch Apps With A USB Stick [Windows]". 22 September 2011.
^lorihollasch. "Manufacturer override of monitor EDIDs - Windows drivers". learn.microsoft.com. Retrieved 2022-11-29.
External linksedit
INF Files at MSDN
Internet Component Download with INF Files at MSDN
Standard Modem Command Sets and INFs.
May 01, 2024
file, this, article, about, setup, files, help, files, information, presentation, facility, other, uses, disambiguation, setup, information, file, plain, text, file, used, microsoft, windows, based, operating, systems, installation, software, drivers, most, co. This article is about setup files For help files see Information Presentation Facility For other uses see INF disambiguation INF file setup Information file is INI plain text file used by Microsoft Windows based operating systems for the installation of software and drivers 1 INF files are most commonly used for installing device drivers for hardware components 2 Windows includes the IExpress tool for the creation of INF based installations INF files form part of the Windows Setup API and of its successor Windows Installer Setup Information fileFilename extension infInternet media typetext plainType of formatConfiguration file Precompiled Setup Information fileFilename extension pnfInternet media typeapplication octet streamType of formatConfiguration file The windows inf directory contains several such inf files 3 Precompiled setup Information file pnf is a binary representation of an INF file compiled by the operating system Contents 1 Structure 1 1 Registry values 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksStructure editThe structure of an INF file is very similar to that of an INI file it contains various sections that specify the files to be copied changes to the registry etc All INF files contain a Version section with a Signature key value pair specifying the version of Windows that the INF file is meant for The signature is commonly CHICAGO for Windows 9x or WINDOWS NT for Windows NT 2K XP Most of the remaining sections are user defined and contain information specific to the component being installed An example of an INF file might have something like this autorun open example exe What this would do is open the example exe file automatically whenever the media containing the file in its root directory is connected to the computer This can be dangerous as there is no way to tell whether such a file exists before inserting the media Since Windows XP however this feature has been replaced with a menu forcing the user to choose which action to take INF Files can sometimes be dangerous on Windows 2000 as they may allow viruses to autorun without prompting citation needed They are blocked on Windows 7 but can be worked around 4 autorun open example bat icon cd ico icon ico command replaces any old or default drive icon with the specified one autorun can be replaced by AutoRun or Autorun Registry values edit The INF file may specify values for Windows Registry entries Drivers providers and users may for instance use this feature to override display Extended Display Identification Data EDID metadata for displays that have corrupted ROM memory 5 See also editAutorun inf CabextractReferences edit tedhudek Overview of INF Files Windows drivers learn microsoft com Retrieved 2022 11 29 lorihollasch Creating an INF file for a file system driver Windows drivers learn microsoft com Retrieved 2022 11 29 Norton Peter Mueller John Paul 28 October 1997 Peter Norton s Complete Guide to Windows XP Pearson Education published 1997 ISBN 9780132715386 Retrieved 2014 08 31 Look in the WINDOWS INF directory and you ll see a set of INF files How To Auto Launch Apps With A USB Stick Windows 22 September 2011 lorihollasch Manufacturer override of monitor EDIDs Windows drivers learn microsoft com Retrieved 2022 11 29 External links editINF Files at MSDN Internet Component Download with INF Files at MSDN Standard Modem Command Sets and INFs Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title INF file amp oldid 1208441279, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
