LanguagePF
Microsoft Windows prefetch data
File type: System file
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.
Found 7 different file type records with the same pf filename suffix.
What is pf file?
File type category:
System file
Date updated: December 31, 2024
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.
How to open pf file?
Windows will access these files automatically, but there is really no way how you can open it manually.
How to convert pf file?
Prefetch files cannot be converted to anything else and there is also no reason to do so.
Suggested software to open pf file:
Associated software actions with the pf file
Software apps that create pf files:
Microsoft Windows 10 (Microsoft Windows)
Microsoft Windows 8 (Microsoft Windows)
Microsoft Windows 7 (Microsoft Windows)
Microsoft Windows Vista (Microsoft Windows)
Microsoft Windows XP Professional (Microsoft Windows)
Software applications that handle other tasks involving pf files:
Microsoft Windows 10 (Microsoft Windows)
Aladdin Systems private data
File type category:
Encoded and encrypted file
Date updated: March 30, 2018
The pf file extension is generated by Allume Systems Stuffit (Allume was also known as Alladin) which is usually used to compress, encrypt and password protect files with private data.
How to open pf file?
Use Stuffit compatible tools to open *.pf files.
How to convert pf file?
There is no way how to convert the encrypted *.pf files. However, after decoding the *.pf files, original files can be converted, if their format allows it.
Suggested software to open pf file:
Associated software actions with the pf file
Software applications that can open pf files:
StuffIt Expander (Microsoft Windows)
StuffIt Expander for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
Software apps that extract pf files:
StuffIt Expander (Microsoft Windows)
StuffIt Expander for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
Software applications that handle other tasks involving pf files:
StuffIt Expander (Microsoft Windows)
StuffIt Expander for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
Data archive
File type category:
Archive and compressed file
Date updated: March 22, 2019
The pf file extension is related to the data archive.
The old file archive format or not supported application.
Most likely some old format without support. No further information could be found.
ICC profile
File type category:
Settings, options, themes or skins file
Date updated: October 14, 2024
An ICC profile is a set of data that characterizes a color input or output device, or a color space, according to standards published by the International Color Consortium (ICC).
ICC Profile: Windows ICM profile
Suggested software to open pf file:
Associated software actions with the pf file
Software apps that manage settings for pf files:
Adobe Photoshop (Microsoft Windows)
Adobe Photoshop for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
Monitor or printer profile file
File type category:
Settings, options, themes or skins file
Date updated: July 29, 2010
Common used file extension for monitor or printer profile.
Progress database parameter data
File type category:
Various data file
Date updated: November 10, 2017
The pf file extension is associated with applications for data integration, big data, mobility or data analytic challenges developed by Progress Software Corporation.
The pf file stores database parameter used by Progress apps.
How to open pf file?
Use Progress to work with *.pf files.
Suggested software to open pf file:
Associated software actions with the pf file
Software applications that can open pf files:
Progress (Microsoft Windows)
Software apps that create pf files:
Progress (Microsoft Windows)
Software applications that handle other tasks involving pf files:
Progress (Microsoft Windows)
Stuffit private archive
File type category:
Encoded and encrypted file
Date updated: April 10, 2017
The pf file extension is related to the Stuffit, an archiving and data compression tool for Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac computers, developed by Smith Micro.
The pf file contains private archive, protected by by password and encrytption.
How to open pf file?
Use Stuffit to open *.pf files.
How to convert pf file?
Conversion to other formats is not possible.
Suggested software to open pf file:
Associated software actions with the pf file
Software applications that can open pf files:
Stuffit (Microsoft Windows)
StuffIt Deluxe (Microsoft Windows)
StuffIt for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
StuffIt Deluxe for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
Software apps that create pf files:
Stuffit (Microsoft Windows)
StuffIt Deluxe (Microsoft Windows)
StuffIt for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
StuffIt Deluxe for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
Software apps that extract pf files:
Stuffit (Microsoft Windows)
StuffIt Deluxe (Microsoft Windows)
StuffIt for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
StuffIt Deluxe for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)