- INI files hold configuration data for various programs. This information is usually in the form of variable declarations or settings for different program features. The syntax and actual contents of the INI file will vary depending on what program it is used by.
- INI files are essentially text files and can be opened and edited with basic programs such as Notepad or Wordpad. However, you should not attempt to alter an INI file unless you know what you are doing.
- Beginning with Microsoft Windows 95, the system registry was implemented to try and phase out the large number of INI files used. More recently, XML (extended markup language) files have been used to accomplish the same tasks an INI files. However, even with these innovations, INI files are still widely used.
- Some computer program problems can be fixed by deleting that program's INI file. When the program does not find an existing file, it will create a new one filled with the default settings. However, not all programs recreate these files, so make sure you know what you are doing before deleting any INI files.
- If you are editing an INI file, make sure you make a backup copy first. Pay special attention to the formatting of the INI file. With some programs, getting character case wrong or putting an extra space where it does not belong can cause the INI file to malfunction.
