{"id":1009,"date":"2008-02-12T12:21:54","date_gmt":"2008-02-12T06:51:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/198.58.113.91\/blog\/?p=1009"},"modified":"2019-06-29T14:20:22","modified_gmt":"2019-06-29T14:20:22","slug":"fix-error-system-information-cannot-open-this-nfo-file-xp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/fix-error-system-information-cannot-open-this-nfo-file-xp\/","title":{"rendered":"Error: System Information cannot open this NFO file"},"content":{"rendered":"

.nfo (also written .NFO or NFO, a contraction of “info”, or “information”) is a commonly used three-letter filename extension for text files that accompany various digital scene releases with information about them.<\/em><\/p>\n

NFO files are used to deliver release information about the media, such as the digital media title, authorship, year, or license information. This information is delivered for publishing through digital media to make it searchable on the web as well as within local catalogues and libraries.<\/em><\/p>\n

As NFO (information) files are plain text files, you can use the Open with dialog to open it using Notepad or any other text editor<\/a> of your choosing.\u00a0Here is a sample NFO file containing ASCII art:<\/p>\n

\".nfo<\/p>\n

Note:<\/strong> As Windows also has a built-in .nfo<\/code> file format which is used by the System Information Tool (msinfo32.exe<\/code>), when you open any .nfo<\/code> (information file), Windows assumes that you’re opening a file created by msinfo32.exe<\/code><\/em>\u00a0and throws the following error:<\/p>\n

System Information is unable to open this .nfo file. The file might be corrupt or incompatible with this version of System Information.<\/div>\n

\".nfo<\/p>\n

RELATED: Similarly, .scr file can be a Windows screen saver file or an AutoCAD data file. Check out the article How to Associate AutoCAD Script (.SCR) Files With Notepad<\/a> for more information.<\/div>\n

Error when opening a MSInfo32 .nfo file?<\/h4>\n

When you open a msinfo32.exe .nfo<\/b> data file stored in a folder that contains spaces in the name — e.g., d:\\log files<\/code>, an error may occur mentioning that the NFO file could be corrupt.<\/p>\n

System Information cannot open this NFO file. It might be corrupted or an unrecognized version.<\/p>\n

Here is a fix for the issue.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Launch the Registry Editor (regedit.exe<\/code>)<\/li>\n
  2. Go to the following location:\n
    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\\MSInfoFile\\shell\\open\\command<\/pre>\n<\/li>\n
  3. Double-click (default)<\/b> and change the data to:\n
    %SystemRoot%\\system32\\msinfo32.exe \"%1\"<\/pre>\n<\/li>\n
  4. Exit the Registry Editor.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    System Information (.nfo) files should now open correctly.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
    .nfo (also written .NFO or NFO, a contraction of “info”, or “information”) is a commonly used three-letter filename extension for text files that accompany various digital scene releases with information about them. NFO files are used to deliver release information about the media, such as the digital media title, authorship, year, or license information. This … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[191],"class_list":["post-1009","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-windows","tag-error-messages"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":29684,"url":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/msinfo32-generate-system-info-report\/","url_meta":{"origin":1009,"position":0},"title":"Generate a System Information Report using MSINFO32","author":"Ramesh","date":"November 7, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"The built-in Microsoft System Information (Msinfo32.exe) tool in Windows gathers information about your computer. It displays a comprehensive view of your hardware, system components, and software environment, which you can use to diagnose computer issues. The MSINFO32 report is instrumental in diagnosing hardware and software problems in Windows. This post\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Windows"","block_context":{"text":"Windows","link":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/category\/microsoft\/windows\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"msinfo32 save report","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/msinfo32-save-report.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/msinfo32-save-report.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/msinfo32-save-report.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/msinfo32-save-report.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":31098,"url":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/collect-diagnostic-logs-windows\/","url_meta":{"origin":1009,"position":1},"title":"How to Collect Diagnostic Logs in Windows","author":"Ramesh","date":"December 21, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"There are many different types of diagnostic logs in Windows. Each log is to diagnose a specific component. The Windows Update client creates the Windows Update ETL or Windows Update log files, the Component-Based Servicing uses \"cbs.log\", and the DISM tool writes to \"dism.log\", etc. Besides the native logs, you\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Utilities"","block_context":{"text":"Utilities","link":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/category\/utilities\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Farbar Recovery Scan Tool - FRST - FRST64.exe","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/farbar.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/farbar.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/farbar.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":28973,"url":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/system-restore-delete-personal-files\/","url_meta":{"origin":1009,"position":2},"title":"Does System Restore Delete My Files?","author":"Ramesh","date":"October 4, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"A common misconception among Windows users is that System Restore wouldn't touch your personal files and data stored under your user shell folders, such as Documents, Pictures, Music, etc. This is not fully true! From the Microsoft or System Restore perspective, 'document' files include those whose extensions are not included\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Windows"","block_context":{"text":"Windows","link":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/category\/microsoft\/windows\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"undo system restore rollback","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/undo-system-restore.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/undo-system-restore.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/undo-system-restore.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8452,"url":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/bat-files-do-not-run-when-double-clicked-fix-association\/","url_meta":{"origin":1009,"position":3},"title":"[Fix] Windows Batch Files (.bat) do not run when double-clicked","author":"Ramesh","date":"April 2, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"When you double-click a Windows batch file (.bat) or a .cmd file, one of the following symptoms may happen: The error \"Windows cannot find 'filename.bat'. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again.\" occurs when you run a .bat or a .cmd file. The batch file opens\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Windows"","block_context":{"text":"Windows","link":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/category\/microsoft\/windows\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"comspec setx","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/comspec-fix-setx.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/comspec-fix-setx.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/comspec-fix-setx.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":80655,"url":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/legacy-office-documents-file-in-use\/","url_meta":{"origin":1009,"position":4},"title":"“File In Use” Error When Opening Legacy Office Documents","author":"Ramesh","date":"April 7, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"When you open legacy Office documents (97-2003), Office applications may display the \"File In Use\" error and suggest opening the document in Read-Only mode. This may happen in every Office application\u2014Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. The dialog would say \"file is locked for editing by 'another user'\", suggesting that you select\u00a0\"Open\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Office"","block_context":{"text":"Office","link":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/category\/microsoft\/office\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"legacy office files open read-only error","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/winword-read-only-error-2.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":80266,"url":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/enable-preview-of-log-files-explorer\/","url_meta":{"origin":1009,"position":5},"title":"How to Enable Preview of .LOG Files in File Explorer","author":"Ramesh","date":"February 16, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"By default, the preview capability exists for most text-based files in File Explorer. However, for some file types, such as .log or .py, a preview may not be generated by default and you see the message \"No preview available\" in the preview pane in File Explorer. You can enable preview\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Windows 10"","block_context":{"text":"Windows 10","link":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/category\/microsoft\/windows\/windows-10\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1009","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1009"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1009\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1009"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1009"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1009"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}