System Files
A system file is the collection of data that can easily be read or write, basically it is a program that is helpful to create and write text, provides those data that are required by the user. Its basic purpose is to provide printers, application, commands and application programs that are stored in the files. These files are used to provide input and output information in the operating system. It is used to have collection of the files that are stored in the directories.
System files are created and maintained by the operating system and therefore necessary for the system to be performed. These files can only be changed with the help of root authority. But sometimes due to some reasons these system files get corrupted and the basic reason for this corruption is improper system shutdown, NFS write errors, hardware failure, malfunctioning of hardware. It is very important to keep in mind that the proper system shut down is very important this is because the mounted file system off-line or physically write-protecting a mounted file system can corrupt the disk. In this condition hardware failure can occur due to the power outage, accidental unplugging of the system, bad disc controller.
Due to all these reason the stored data and files may become inaccessible, but it can be resolved easily.
Some important file extension that are used in the system files are discussed below:
.cab – It is also known as “Windows Cabinet File”, it is Archive format that is native to MS Windows that contains compressed data usually in the file extension as .zip. It is basically used for the Windows software installation like network components, device drivers and system components. It supports Windows operating system, Mac OS and Linux.
.cpl – It is also popular as “Windows Control Panel”, such as Mouse, display, sound and networking that are used by Windows operating system that are stored in “Windows –system” that are loaded automatically. It supports Windows operating system.
.cur – It is also known as “Windows Cursor” it is used as cursor image and animation that are used for the Windows mouse pointer it may be like an arrow, spinning hourglass. User may change the cursor image/animation. It supports Windows operating system.
.dll – It is also popular as “Dynamic Link Library” It is a compiled library file that contains a set of procedures and the drivers which are referenced and executed by a program, which allows multiple programs to be executed through shared system and through common libraries. It is supported by Windows operating system.
.dmp – It is also known as “Windows Memory Dump”, usually the data dump from the program’s memory space also creates programs that have errors and crash that may also be saved by the program. It may also be used for troubleshooting the system errors and many other problems. It supports Windows operating system.
.drv – It is also known as “Device Driver” that is especially used by Windows operating system to connect and communicate with the hardware devices and can be used for both external and internal and has parameters to operate the device to check the operating system. It supports Windows operating system.
.key – It is also known as “Security Key” it contains the information and security code of entire software program that are often created by the program when registered. It supports Mac OS and Windows operating system.
.lnk – It is also popular as “File Shortcut”, basically it is shortcut that is used by the Windows as reference to the original file. It is similar to the alias that is used on Mac platform; it is helpful in creating the shortcut key. It supports Windows operating system and Mac OS.
.sys – It is also known as “Windows System File” It is helpful in storing the system setting and variable that is used by DOS and Windows Operating system, it is also used to run the operating system. It supports Windows operating system and Mac OS.
Gather more information related to settings file format extensionon Settings Files Page
Other file extension that are used in System files are as follows:
Extension |
File Extension Name |
Popularity |
0.386 |
Windows Virtual Device Driver |
Rare |
.8xu |
TI-83 Plus Operating System File |
Uncommon |
.adm |
Administrative Template File |
Average |
.ani |
Windows Animated Cursor |
Average |
.ann |
Help Annotations |
Average |
.aos |
ARCHOS PCtablet Firmware File |
Uncommon |
.bio |
BIOS File |
Uncommon |
.bmk |
Help Bookmarks |
Uncommon |
.bom |
Mac OS X Bill of Materials File |
Uncommon |
.cgz |
Linux Drivers Archive |
Average |
.clb |
COM+ Catalog File |
Average |
.cnt |
Help Contents File |
Average |
.cpi |
Codepage Information File |
Average |
.crash |
Mac OS X Crash Log File |
Average |
.desklink |
Desktop Shortcut |
Average |
.dev |
Windows Device Driver File |
Average |
.dss |
DCC Active Designer File |
Average |
.dvd |
DOS Device Driver |
Average |
.dyc |
Xerox Printer Driver Configuration File |
Rare |
.emerald |
Emerald Theme |
Uncommon |
.ffa |
Find Fast Status File |
Uncommon |
.ffl |
Find Fast Document List |
Uncommon |
.ffo |
Find Fast Document Properties Cache |
Uncommon |
.ffx |
Microsoft Find Fast Index |
Average |
.fpbf |
Mac OS X Burn Folder |
Common |
.ftg |
Full Text Group |
Average |
.fts |
Full Text Search |
Average |
.grl |
Windows Update Status File |
Rare |
.grp |
Windows Program Manager Group |
Average |
.hdmp |
Windows Heap Dump |
Average |
.hhc |
HTML Help Table of Contents |
Average |
.hhk |
HTML Help Index |
Average |
.hlp |
Windows Help File |
Common
|
.hpj |
Help Project File |
Average |
.htt |
Hypertext Template File |
Average |
.icl |
Windows Icon Library File |
Average |
.icns |
Mac OS X Icon Resource File |
Average |
.ico |
Icon File |
Common |
.idx |
Index File |
Average |
.ins |
Internet Naming Service File |
Average |
.ion |
4DOS File Description |
Average |
.its |
Internet Document Set |
Average |
.kbd |
Keyboard Layout Script |
Average |
.kext |
Mac OS X Kernel Extension |
Average |
.ko |
Linux Kernel Module File |
Average |
.log1 |
Windows Registry Hive Log File |
Average |
.log2 |
Windows Registry Hive Log 2 File |
Average |
.manifest |
Windows Visual Styles File |
Average |
.mapimail |
Send To Mail Recipient |
Average |
.mdmp |
Windows Minidump |
Average |
.mem |
Parallels Desktop Memory Dump File |
Uncommon |
.metadata_never_index |
Spotlight Never Index File |
Uncommon |
.mi4 |
Audio Player Firmware File |
Average |
.msc |
Microsoft Management Console Snap-in Control File |
Average |
.msp |
Windows Installer Patch |
Common |
.msstyle |
Windows XP Unsigned Style |
Uncommon |
.msstyles |
Windows XP Style |
Average |
.mui |
MultiLanguage Resource File |
Average |
.mum |
Windows Vista Update Package |
Average |
.mydocs |
Send To My Documents |
Average |
.nfo |
System Information File |
Average |
.nls |
Microsoft National Language Support File |
Average |
.nt |
Windows NT Startup File |
Average |
.p7b |
PKCS #7 Certificate File |
Average |
.panic |
Kernel Panic File |
Uncommon |
.pdr |
Windows Port Driver |
Average |
.pfx |
PKCS #12 Certificate File |
Average |
.pid |
Creative Driver File |
Average |
.pk2 |
Silkroad Online Game Data File |
Average |
.pol |
Windows Policy File |
Average |
.ppd |
PostScript Printer Description File |
Average |
.prefpane |
Mac OS X System Preference Pane |
Average |
.prf |
Windows System File |
Common |
.prt |
Printer Driver File |
Rare |
.pwl |
Windows Password List |
Average |
.qvm |
Q Virtual Machine |
Rare |
.reg |
Registry File |
Average |
.rmt |
Router Firmware File |
Average
|
.ruf |
Samsung DVD and Blu-ray Player Firmware File |
Rare |
.savedsearch |
Spotlight Saved Search |
Average |
.saver |
Mac OS X Screen Saver |
Average |
.scf |
Windows Explorer Command |
Common |
.scr |
Windows Screensaver |
Average |
.sdb |
Custom Application Compatibility Database |
Uncommon |
.str |
Windows Screensaver File |
Rare |
.swp |
Swap File |
Average |
.sys |
Motorola Driver File |
Average |
.theme |
Microsoft Plus! Desktop Theme |
Average |
.vga |
VGA Display Driver |
Average |
.vgd |
Generic CADD VGA Driver |
Average |
.vxd |
Virtual Device Driver |
Average |
.wdgt |
Dashboard Widget |
Average |
.wer |
Windows Error Report |
Uncommon |
.wpx |
Printer Description File |
Average |
.xrm-ms |
Microsoft Security Certificate |
Uncommon |
| 
