Files with pf extension can be typically found as so called prefetch system files in MS Windows operating systems. It was first introduced in Windows XP.

There are 6 other file types using
the PF file extension!

empty icon.pf - Aladdin Systems private data

empty icon.pf - Data archive

empty icon.pf - ICC profile

empty icon.pf - Monitor or printer profile file

empty icon.pf - Progress database parameter data

empty icon.pf - Stuffit private archive

PF file extension - Microsoft Windows prefetch data

What is pf file? How to open pf files?

File type specification:

System file type icon System file type

pf file icon: pf filetype icon

File extension pf is used by Microsoft Windows for its prefetch trace files.

In Windows XP Microsoft has used the prefetcher memory management utility to speed up the start-up of Windows. Put very basically whilst booting up Windows access different parts of the same files at different points in the process.

Reloading each of these files every time Windows needs to access a different section takes time, and hence the prefetcher utility helps by keeping a record (in the .PF trace files), of which files are accessed and when, and then seeks to use this information to expedite the boot up process in future.

The Task Scheduler is the process responsible for parsing the trace data collected by the prefetcher and writing files to the Prefetcher folder. As a result, the Prefetcher will not operate correctly if the Task Scheduler service is not started.

The prefetcher stores its trace files in the Prefetch folder in the root Windows directory (typically \Windows\Prefetch). The name of the boot trace file is always NTOSBOOT-B00DFAAD.PF, and application trace files are a concatenation of the application's executable name, a hyphen, a hexadecimal representation of the hash of the path the file resides in, and a ".pf" extension.

Updated: November 28, 2023

The default software associated to open pf file:

Microsoft Windows 8 icon

Microsoft Corporation logoMicrosoft Windows 8  Microsoft Windows software

Company or developer:
Microsoft Corporation

Microsoft Windows 8 was the first member of the Windows operating systems designed with touchscreens in mind. Windows 8 features a brand new GUI called Metro. The system also now supports the ARM platform. It is used on PC, mobiles, and tablets. The next version with many improvements and updates was Microsoft Windows 8.1

Help how to open:

Windows will access these files automatically, but there is really no way how you can open it manually.

How to convert:

Prefetch files cannot be converted to anything else and there is also no reason to do so.

File identification strings:

HEX code: 00 00 00 53 43 43 41
ASCII code: SCCA

List of software applications associated to the .pf file extension

Recommended software programs are sorted by OS platform (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android etc.)
and possible program actions that can be done with the file: like open pf file, edit pf file, convert pf file, view pf file, play pf file etc. (if exist software for corresponding action in File-Extensions.org's database).

Hint:
Click on the tab below to simply browse between the application actions, to quickly get a list of recommended software, which is able to perform the specified software action, such as opening, editing or converting pf files.

Programs that can create pf file - Microsoft Windows prefetch data

Programs supporting the exension pf on the main platforms Windows, Mac, Linux or mobile. Click on the link to get more information about listed programs for create pf file action.

Microsoft Windows:

Main software associated with pf file by default:
Microsoft Windows 8 small icon Microsoft Windows 8
Other suggested software:
Microsoft Windows 10 small icon Microsoft Windows 10
Microsoft Windows 7 small icon Microsoft Windows 7
Microsoft Windows Vista small icon Microsoft Windows Vista
Microsoft Windows XP Professional small icon Microsoft Windows XP Professional

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