Thread: Windows cab files used for?

What are Windows cab files used for?

Cab files are Windows "Cabinet Files" that save compressed data used for software installations. They are used for the initial install of the OS, with for reinstalling software. You can extract the contents of a .cab file by doing the following:

Go to the Start Menu and select "Run..." If you are using Windows 98, type "sfc" and click Enter. After that select "Extract one file from the installation disk." If you are using Windows Millennium Edition, type "msconfig" and press Enter. Choose the General tab and click "Extract File." You should then be permitted to extract particular components from the installation disk to install on your machine. a few .cab files may also be available on your hard drive in your System folder.

While .cab files can frequently reinstall the files you want, sometimes you will require installing the whole Windows OS again. If this is the case, Ensure to back up all your data first, as restoring your system will remove all the data on your hard drive.