Tips to open INF file

Can't open the INF file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open INF files as well as a list of programs that support INF files.

INF file extension

File Name Setup Information Format
File Category Settings Files

The INF file is supported on 2 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the INF files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the INF file on each system platform.

Operating systems
  • 4
  • 2
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

What is INF file?

The INF file has been categorized as Settings Files. Additionally, the Settings Files category contains 1305 of other files. Setup Information Format is supported by 2 operating systems. The file will work on Mac OS, Windows systems, unfortunately not on others. It is recommended to use TextMate to handle this file. This is a program created by MacroMates Ltd.. There are also 5 alternative programs to handle the INF file. Text editor, Microsoft Windows, Windows Notepad, NotePad++ text editor will apply when it is not possible to use TextMate.

How to open INF file?

The most common problem when using Setup Information Format is that a specific INF is not associated with the program. This causes the file INF to open by system applications not designed for this purpose, or to display a message that there is no associated program. This problem can be easily remedied.

The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the INF file icon you want to open. If the operating system has an appropriate application to support it and there is also an association between the file and the program, the file should be opened.

Step 1. Install TextMate

An often overlooked issue is to make sure that TextMate is installed on the computer. To do this, enter the name TextMate into the system search engine. If it is not, installation may solve the problem, as most applications create file associations during installation. Below is a list of programs that support the file INF.

Step 2. Create association of TextMate with INF files

If the application is or has been freshly installed, but the INF file still does not use the TextMate program, it means no association. It is most convenient to call the context menu with the right mouse button and select Properties. The displayed window will contain information about the program that supports this type of file. Using the "Change" button we can select the desired program. If there is no software on the list, simply select "Browse" and manually select the directory where the application is installed. Checking the "Always use the selected program ..." box will permanently associate the INF file with the TextMate program.

Step 3. Update TextMate to the latest version

If, however, after binding TextMate with Setup Information Format there were still problems, you should update the program to the latest version. Some applications allow you to update from the program level, and for others you need to download the installer from the MacroMates Ltd. page and install.

Step 4. Check for the following problems with the INF file

The problem may also be with the file itself if the above steps don't work. This could be due to the file itself, the cleanest issues are:

Very often, the file may be size 0 or incomplete. Usually this applies to INF files downloaded from the Internet in case the download did not finish properly. The only repair option is to download the file again.
The most common cause here is computer viruses. A quick virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should clear up any doubts. Alternatively, you can use the scanners available online. The scan should cover the entire computer, not only the INF file that we want to open. Sometimes virus-infected INF files cannot be recovered, so make a backup in advance.
Older version of INF file may not always be supported by the latest software version. Help should be sought from the software developer, as they usually recommend using free file converters or installing an older version of the program.
There can be many reasons for the failure. Repairing is very dependent on the file type. Some programs offer the ability to automatically repair INF file corruption. You can restore the file from a backup or use N/A help.
When reading, a message appears that the file was encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted INF files can be used by the device on which they were encrypted, on any other device it is required to have the appropriate cryptographic key and decrypt the file before its recovery.
Some operating systems do not allow file operations in certain locations, eg in system directories or directly on the system drive. These directories are write-protected to them and it's very hard to fix this problem. Copying the INF file to another location will fix the problem.
This can happen on a file that does not support multiple access. You may find that another program you are using is preventing you from working with the file. Just close unnecessary programs. Sometimes you have to wait for the session to the file INF to close. Some anti-virus or backup software may occupy the INF file for a certain period of time. If nothing helps, please reset the device.