Tips to open PF file

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

PF file extension

File Name Windows Prefetch Format
File Developer Microsoft
File Category System Files

The PF file is supported on 1 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the PF files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the PF file on each system platform.

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

What is PF file?

The file in the PF format belongs to the System Files category. The author of this format is Microsoft. System Files consists of 323 similar files. Windows Prefetch Format appears on 1 operating systems as a functional file. Although it can be found with greater or lesser success on any operating system, it will only be useful on Windows. It is recommended to use Microsoft Windows 8 to handle this file. This is a program created by Microsoft Corporation. This file type can also be opened by 3 other programs. The Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows XP Professional programs will also handle the file when the Microsoft Windows 8 program does not fulfill its role.

How to open PF file?

An often recurring problem with Windows Prefetch Format is that PF is not associated with the correct program file. Thus, when you open PF, the program selection wizard or some other program starts. How to solve such a problem?

The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the PF 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 Microsoft Windows 8

The first step is to check if the computer has the Microsoft Windows 8 program installed. To do this, enter the name Microsoft Windows 8 into the system search engine. If we do not have this program, it is worth installing it, as it will help you automatically associate the file PF with Microsoft Windows 8. Below is a list of programs that support the file PF.

Step 2. Create association of Microsoft Windows 8 with PF files

If, despite the installed application, the PF file does not start in the Microsoft Windows 8 application, you must create a file association. The association can be created using the drop-down list available by right-clicking on the file and selecting Properties. The window will show, among other things, the type of the file and the information by which the program is used to launch the file. Using the "Change" button we can select the desired program. The program should be visible in the window, otherwise it should be selected manually using the "Browse" button and the program installation directory should be indicated. However, it is important to check the "Always use the selected program ..." box, this will allow you to permanently associate the PF file with the Microsoft Windows 8 application.

Step 3. Update Microsoft Windows 8 to the latest version

The fault may also lie with the Microsoft Windows 8 program, it is possible that Windows Prefetch Format requires a newer version of the program. Some applications allow you to update from the program level, and for others you need to download the installer from the Microsoft Corporation page and install.

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

Of course, it may happen that despite the above steps, the file still does not work. The most common file problems are:

Very often, the file may be size 0 or incomplete. This suggests truncating the PF file contents when downloading or copying. The only repair option is to download the file again.
The most common cause here is computer viruses. Perform a virus scan using available and up-to-date anti-virus software. Some antivirus vendors also provide free online scanners. The scan should cover the entire computer, not only the PF file that we want to open. Sometimes virus-infected PF files cannot be recovered, so make a backup in advance.
A typical compatibility error - the program does not support the older version of the PF file. Help should be sought from the software developer, as they usually recommend using free file converters or installing an older version of the program.
The file may be corrupted in a number of ways. The repair method must be adapted to the type of file and damage. Some programs offer the option of recovering data from damaged PF files. The easiest way is to restore the file from a backup, if there is one, or contact Microsoft
The program indicates that the file is encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted PF files cannot be played on other computers than the one on which they were encrypted, they must be decrypted before using on another device.
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. It is best to move PF to a different directory.
This can happen on a file that does not support multiple access. In this case, the PF file is blocked by the first application to open it. Just close unnecessary programs. Sometimes you have to wait for the session to the file PF to close. Antivirus programs or a backup being made may lock the file for a while without the user's knowledge. If the problem persists, restart the machine.