Tips to open VDF file
Can't open the VDF file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open VDF files as well as a list of programs that support VDF files.
VDF file extension
| File Name |
AntiVir Virus Definition |
| File Developer |
Avira GmbH |
| File Category |
Misc Files |
The VDF file is supported on 1 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the VDF files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the VDF file on each system platform.
What is VDF file?
The .VDF file is a binary file. It is used by Avira anti-virus software. Virus signatures are distributed using this file. The file is downloaded when updating the virus database and software. You can find them in the program installation directory. They are named sequentially in the form of vbaseXXX.VDF, where XXX is the number of the sequence file. These files are not dangerous in any way and do not need to be opened manually, as the entire update process is carried out from within the program.
How to open VDF file?
An often recurring problem with AntiVir Virus Definition is that VDF is not associated with the correct program file. This is manifested by the fact that VDF files open in unusual applications or do not have an assigned program. How to solve such a problem?
The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the VDF 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 Avira AntiVir Premium
The first step is to check if the computer has the Avira AntiVir Premium program installed. The easiest method is to use the system search engine by entering the program name Avira AntiVir Premium in it. In the absence of an appropriate program, its installation in the vast majority of cases will fix the problem. Later in this article you will find a list of programs that can open VDF files.
Programs to open VDF file
Remember to download programs supporting VDF files only from verified and safe sources. We suggest using the websites of software developers.
Step 2. Create association of Avira AntiVir Premium with VDF files
If the application is or has been freshly installed, but the VDF file still does not use the Avira AntiVir Premium 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 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. The "always use the selected program ..." field will set the Avira AntiVir Premium application as the default for handling the VDF file.
Step 3. Update Avira AntiVir Premium to the latest version
If, despite the association of the Avira AntiVir Premium program with the AntiVir Virus Definition file, the file still does not open, check the program version and possibly update it to the newest version. Some applications allow you to update from the program level, and for others you need to download the installer from the Avira GmbH page and install.
Step 4. Check for the following problems with the VDF file
If the above steps do not help, you can assume that the file itself is not correct. File problems can be divided into the following:
Very often, the file may be size 0 or incomplete. This is most often caused by a problem while downloading the VDF file. The only repair option is to download the file again.
The operating system may be infected with a computer virus. A quick virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should clear up any doubts. If this is not possible, you can use the online scanner. However, it is important to scan the entire system, not only the file VDF or the program directory. However, remember that not every infected VDF file can be recovered, so it is important to take care of regular backups.
Older version of VDF file may not always be supported by the latest software version. These problems are known and are often very easy to fix using the software developers's website.
There can be many reasons for the failure. Depending on the type of file, it is necessary to repair it accordingly. Some programs offer the ability to automatically repair VDF file corruption. The easiest way to restore the file is from a backup or by contacting Avira GmbH, but this one can be expensive. Not all damage can be reversed.
When reading, a message appears that the file was encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted VDF 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 VDF to a different directory.
This problem only occurs with more complex files. In this case, the VDF file is blocked by the first application to open it. Closing other programs should help. Sometimes you have to wait for the session to the file VDF to close. Some anti-virus or backup software may occupy the VDF file for a certain period of time. If this does not work either, restart the device.
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