1. Executable file

COM: System command file, mainly edited in assembly language, in binary code format. It is characterized by being very

very short, with the length generally not exceeding 64KB. In the DOS era, *.COM files were relatively common. In Windows 98

, executable files in COM format are no longer common (mainly WIN.COM, COMMMAND.COM and other files).

EXE: System executable file, mostly compiled using programming languages ??(such as common C, VC, VB, VF, etc.)

There is no limit on its length. It has a wide range of applications in Windows systems. The applications we currently use are basically EXE files.

BAT: Batch file, mainly edited by users, can contain multiple different applications or commands. After

execution, the system will start all the commands contained in the batch file in sequence, thus eliminating the user's pain of entering

commands one by one and simplifying the user's operation.

SCR: Screen saver file. Just double-click the corresponding screen saver (*.SCR) to start, but it is generally not controlled by the user but called by the system.

2. System support files

Due to memory, file size limitations, function calls, etc., some applications cannot build all the content required to run

into the EXE executable Most of the files only save the core modules of the system into EXE files, and save other content required for operation to corresponding system support files.

DLL: Dynamic link library file, mainly responsible for providing other applications with functions, parameters, dialog boxes and other information required to run (any application, including those edited by the user) All programs can directly call *.DLL

dynamic link library), so application designers no longer have to worry about issues such as dialog box settings, function calls, etc.

It not only facilitates the design of the software, but also reduces the size of the executable file.

DRV: Windows 98 device driver, which provides the required software support for most of the system's conventional hardware devices (such as mouse,

graphics card, etc.).

SYS: System extension management file, which mainly provides necessary hardware drivers and programs for some non-standard devices (such as USB).

Programs, etc. Some of these special case files will be introduced in the article "Extension Application Tips".

VXD: Virtual device file, mainly provides support for virtual hardware devices.

LIB: Library files used by related applications.

3． System configuration file

INI: The most common system configuration file. In the Windows 3.X era, all software and hardware configuration information of the system

are saved in *.INI configuration files. In Windows 95/98, although the registry database has gradually replaced the role of INI files, some applications still use INI files as system configuration files. Need to

remind everyone that the capacity of the INI file has a certain limit, it generally cannot exceed 64KB, otherwise it may lead to

some unpredictable errors.

INF: Mainly used to save Windows 98 related software and hardware installation information. Hardware devices such as CD-ROM drives and Modems

and some software must be installed under the guidance of the *.INF file.

You can often see the AUTORUN.INF file in the root directory of many CDs. This file is a CD configuration file that is specially used to set the CD's

automatic running programs, icons and other information. .

PIF: One of the system configuration files, which can determine the running status (such as running mode, screen size, memory size) of each DOS application under Windows

according to the actual situation. , display fonts, etc.) to ensure the normal operation of DOS programs in Windows.

LOG: Log file. We can use any word processing software, including Notepad, to edit the *.LOG file

. It is a record of the operating status of the relevant application so that users can check it

Query the running status of the corresponding program (for example, when we use the disk scanning program SCANDISK, the system will automatically

generate a disk scanning log file SCANDISK.LOG in the corresponding disk root directory. We You can use

this file to understand the health of the disk).

REG: A system configuration file in a special format. The invisible information in the Windows 98 registry

database can be exported in text format through the registry editor. Users can Edit and modify it directly through Notepad, thereby solving the difficult problem of reading and managing the registry database. Double-click the edited

good *.REG file to re-import the contents of the file into the registry database, thereby achieving the purpose of indirectly

modifying the registry database.

CFG: Some application software's own configuration files save the relevant status of the software's operation. It is generally controlled directly by software

and users cannot configure it manually.

CNF: Configuration file used to save system device information.

There are two configuration files with special extensions, CONFIG.DB and CONFIG.FX, which are the system configuration files of Dbase (DB) and FoxBASE (FX) respectively.

CPL: Windows 98 Control Panel file. The display, system, input method and other settings in the control panel

The projects are all composed of the corresponding CPL files on the hard disk.

4. Other system files

PWL: A file used by some applications to save the password entered by the user (the file itself is encrypted).

Windows 98 is a typical example. Its startup password is stored in the "Username.PWL" file in the installation folder

.

ICO: Icon file.

SWP: System swap file (WIN386.SWP), used in the virtual swap file technology adopted by Windows 98.

In Windows 3.X, the system swap file uses the *.PAR extension. After understanding this truth,

I think no one will ever ask "Why is there a SWP file in my Windows directory that takes up hundreds of megabytes and cannot be deleted

?" and other questions.

CUR: mouse file. In order to help users correctly distinguish the current system status, Windows provides a variety of different mouse pointers for different running states, such as common arrows, funnels, etc. In addition, the system also provides

an animated mouse file, such as a running horse, a triumphant dinosaur, etc. *.ANI is the "creator" of these animated mouse files

". However, it should be noted that this function will occupy a large amount of system resources.

Users with slow computers are best not to use it.

LNK: shortcut file, consisting of the actual path, startup directory, running parameters, etc. of the application.

We only need to right-click the corresponding shortcut (usually in the icon A small arrow is displayed in the shortcut),

Then execute the "Properties" command from the pop-up shortcut menu to modify the content specified by the shortcut.

HLP: Help file. Whether it is a DOS application or a Windows application, its help system generally adopts the HLP format. Windows 98 has added a new *.CHM help file in HTML format, which is more intuitive and convincing than the old *.HLP help file. Windows 95 does not support the CHM format.

IME: Chinese input method file for Windows 98.

MB: Chinese Windows 98 input method code table source file, which can generate IME input method files for direct use, and can also restore the original TXT encoding file (all of this is Achieved through the input method generator that comes with Windows 98

).

REM: Custom phrase file for Windows 98 smart ABC input method. Users who frequently use this input method may wish to

back up the tmmr.rem and user.rem files to achieve backup The purpose of the custom phrase.

DIC: dictionary file. They are generally provided by software vendors, and users only need to copy them to the corresponding folder for direct use (our most common dictionary file is Word's spell check dictionary file: CUSTOM.DIC).

GRP: In Windows 3. Just save it in this file. However, Windows 95/98 no longer uses grouping to manage files, so GRP files are becoming increasingly rare.

CLP: A file generated after saving the contents of the clipboard using a clipboard viewer program.

FND: The search record file saved by the search function of Windows 98. We only need to double-click the file to quickly search according to the last saved conditions. It is very convenient to use. .

CHK: When we use CHKDSK or SCANDISK to scan the disk, if lost clusters are found, the system will

convert them into *.CHK temporary files and save them to the corresponding hard disk. In the root directory of the partition, these files generally do not have much value. Users can delete them after confirming that they are useless.

NO: Serial.no serial number file, which can be viewed using Windows Notepad.

ACL: User login password file for Windows systems.

Windows provides a very practical print-to-file function, that is, when performing a print operation, the user does not directly

send the data to the printer for printing, but uses a dedicated *.PRN file is saved to the hard disk,

Then we only need to copy the file to a computer with a printer installed, and execute DOS's "COPY

(PRN file) PRN/B" command to print