Data file
What is a .sys file?
A .sys file is a Windows system file, usually a device driver. Windows loads it; you never open one yourself.
Deleting a .sys file can stop Windows from booting. Leave them where they are.
This extension has been used by more than one format
3 different formats have claimed .sys over the years, so two files with the same extension aren't necessarily the same kind of thing.
How to open a .sys file
- WindowsNothing. Don't move or delete system .sys files.
How to convert a .sys file
- If you can view the data, exporting to .csv is usually the most portable option.
MIME type
When a .sys file travels over the web, servers label it with this MIME type:
application/vnd.microsoft.portable-executableThe technical record
For archivists, developers and the merely curious: these are the PRONOM registry entries for .sys.
| Format name | Version | MIME type | PUID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows Portable Executable | — | application/vnd.microsoft.portable-executable | x-fmt/411 |
| Windows Portable Executable | 32 bit | application/vnd.microsoft.portable-executable | fmt/899 |
| Windows Portable Executable | 64 bit | application/vnd.microsoft.portable-executable | fmt/900 |