Tips to open PFC file
Can't open the PFC file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open PFC files as well as a list of programs that support PFC files.
PFC file extension
| File Name |
AOL Personal Format Cabinet |
| File Developer |
AOL |
| File Category |
Data Files |
The PFC file is supported on 2 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the PFC files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the PFC file on each system platform.
What is PFC file?
The file in the PFC format belongs to the Data Files category. It was designed by AOL. Additionally, the Data Files category contains 1326 of other files. AOL Personal Format Cabinet is supported by 2 operating systems. The file will work on Mac OS, Windows systems, unfortunately not on others. The AOL Desktop application is recommended to open the file. It was released by America Online, Inc.. There are also 2 alternative programs to handle the PFC file. The AOL, ePreserver programs will also handle the file when the AOL Desktop program does not fulfill its role.
How to open PFC file?
An often recurring problem with AOL Personal Format Cabinet is that PFC is not associated with the correct program file. Thus, when you open PFC, the program selection wizard or some other program starts. This problem can be easily remedied.
The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the PFC 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 AOL Desktop
The first step is to check if the computer has the AOL Desktop program installed. This can be achieved by typing AOL Desktop into the operating system search engine. If it is not, installation may solve the problem, as most applications create file associations during installation. Later in this article you will find a list of programs that can open PFC files.
Programs to open PFC file
Remember to download programs supporting PFC files only from verified and safe sources. We suggest using the websites of software developers.
Step 2. Create association of AOL Desktop with PFC files
However, it may happen that the application itself does not cause the PFC file to open in the AOL Desktop application, but you can set it manually. This option is available from the level of Properties of a specific file available in the context menu. Information about the file and the program that the file is associated with are available here. Using the "Change" button we can set the program to handle this type. 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. Checking the "Always use the selected program ..." box will permanently associate the PFC file with the AOL Desktop program.
Step 3. Update AOL Desktop to the latest version
If, however, after binding AOL Desktop with AOL Personal Format Cabinet 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 America Online, Inc. page and install.
Step 4. Check for the following problems with the PFC file
The problem may also be with the file itself if the above steps don't work. The most common file problems are:
The affected file may be 0 KB or smaller than expected. This suggests truncating the PFC file contents when downloading or copying. The file should be downloaded again, making sure that the process has finished correctly.
The computer may have fallen victim to a computer virus or hacker. A virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should fix the problem. If this is not possible, you can use the online scanner. The scan should cover the entire computer, not only the PFC file that we want to open. However, remember that not every infected PFC file can be recovered, so it is important to take care of regular backups.
This can happen especially when the program is dynamically developed and the structure of the PFC files changes over time. 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 this. Depending on the type of file, it is necessary to repair it accordingly. Sometimes the program itself has options to repair the most popular PFC file corruption. The easiest way is to restore the file from a backup, if there is one, or contact AOL
The program indicates that the file is encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted PFC files cannot be played on other computers than the one on which they were encrypted, they must be decrypted before using on another device.
The operating system protects files in some locations (e.g. the root of the system partition) against unauthorized access. The problem is only writing to the file, not reading it. Copying the PFC file to another location will fix the problem.
This problem usually affects more complex files. In this case, the PFC file is blocked by the first application to open it. Running programs (including those in the background) should be verified. Sometimes it is necessary to wait a while before referencing the PFC file again. Antivirus programs or a backup being made may lock the file for a while without the user's knowledge. If this does not work either, restart the device.
Was this page helpful? YesNo
