What is a .ARN file?
The .ARN file extension refers to an Autoruns Data File, which is a specific type of file used by the Autoruns software. Autoruns is a utility tool developed by Microsoft that helps users see what programs and services are set to run automatically when a Windows computer starts up. This includes programs in the startup folder, as well as those listed in the Registry under the Run and RunOnce keys.
The .ARN file is a native binary file format for Autoruns. This means it is saved in a format specifically designed for Autoruns and cannot be easily read or edited like a simple text file. The content of an .ARN file includes all the data captured by Autoruns regarding the programs and services that start automatically. It is important to note that this file does not include any entries that Autoruns has been configured to omit from its results.
To view the contents of an .ARN file, you need to use the Autoruns software. This program allows you to open and view the data stored in the .ARN file. You can also use Autoruns to compare the data from one .ARN file with another, which can be helpful for troubleshooting or analyzing changes in what runs at startup over time.
In contrast to the .ARN file, Autoruns can also save data in a .TXT file format, which is a plain text format. The text format is easier to view and edit but does not support some of the advanced features available with the binary .ARN format, such as direct comparison of data sets within the Autoruns program.
In summary, if you have an .ARN file, you will need to use Microsoft Autoruns to open and work with it. This file contains detailed information about auto-starting programs captured by Autoruns and is useful for managing and troubleshooting startup processes on Windows computers.
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