Read an NFO
I'll explain what an NFO contains and how to open it without losing its layout.
Using Notepad
- Right-click the .nfo file → Open with → Choose another app → Notepad. You can read the installation notes without installing a special viewer.
- If Windows opens System Information, return to Open with and select the text editor explicitly. Game NFOs are usually text, despite sharing the extension with Windows information files.
- Use a monospace font and turn off word wrap for wide artwork. If characters look wrong, use an NFO viewer or an editor that supports the file's encoding, often CP437 for older scene art.
DAMN NFO Viewer and dedicated viewers
The original guide recommends DAMN NFO Viewer. Its old Uptobox download is no longer available. If you already have it, the steps below still apply. iNFekt is another dedicated viewer with a maintained project page.
- Install your chosen viewer, then right-click the .nfo → Open with → Choose another app and select it.
- Enable the option to always use that app for .nfo files if you want a permanent association. In the viewer's settings, choose white text on a black background for the look shown in the original tutorial.