What's this file please?

[Guest]

I have a BIG (16M) file at c:\windows\system32\config\ called just
'SOFTWARE'
It gets 'touched' every day I think at power off. Anyone know what this is
and how it gets used please? My system is WinXP - SP1.

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

That file is connected with the Registry - please don't do anything to it.

--


Will Denny
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups

 

[HeyBub]

I have a BIG (16M) file at c:\windows\system32\config\ called just
'SOFTWARE'
It gets 'touched' every day I think at power off. Anyone know what
this is and how it gets used please? My system is WinXP - SP1.

That's not big. Mine's 36 meg. It's not big either.

 

[Haggis]

That's not big. Mine's 36 meg. It's not big either.

agreed , mine is 26m ... leave it be :>

 

[Guest]

I will take your collective advice and leave alone. However, anyone know
what it actually does and why it gets hit every day?

 

[Lem]

I will take your collective advice and leave alone. However, anyone know
what it actually does and why it gets hit every day?

As Will Denny told you, it's part of the Windows registry. In XP, the
registry is actually several "hives" (see
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/256986/):

Registry hive Supporting files

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SAM Sam, Sam.log, Sam.sav
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Security Security, Security.log, Security.sav
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software Software, Software.log, Software.sav
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System System, System.alt, System.log, System.sav
HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG System, System.alt, System.log,
System.sav, Ntuser.dat, Ntuser.dat.log
HKEY_USERS\DEFAULT Default, Default.log, Default.sav