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Best Free NFO Viewer

Last Update: Sat, 08/29/2009 - 22:25 — JonathanB

Introduction
Many freeware files are distributed with descriptive NFO and DIZ files as part of the distribution package. These are just plain text files, so you can view them with Notepad or other text editors, but often the formatting is lost.
Discussion

GetDiz is our #1 pick for the best NFO viewer. A small download, it does everything you could want it to do. Supports over 15 languages, with the ability to save files as a GIF image. You have the ability to change the color of the background and text. There's also a portable version for a thumb drive. You could use this to replace Notepad.

Official description: GetDiz is a fully featured text editor which can replace Notepad while maintaining an incredible speed, ease of use and small size. You can display and edit any text files with GetDiz. Additionally it offers enhanced functionality with DIZ and NFO files, which are often included in ZIP archives. GetDiz is able to display ASCII art correctly and save text, nfo and diz files as GIF images. The user interface is handy, small and specific. An optional USB-Stick installation is also possible.

Those who like ultra lightweight software should check out DIZzy. At less than 10kb in size, this barebones application does one thing and does it well: open DIZ, NFO, and text files. There aren't many extra features but if all you're looking to do is open and correctly display these files, then this may be your best bet.

Official description: DIZzy displays DIZ, NFO and other confusing, ASCII-extended text files in a pleasing graphic format. It supports drag-and-drop, file associations and command line. DIZzy is an amazingly small, self-contained, flexible and free program.

Another one worth trying is DAMN NFO Viewer. It's a very small file size and is packed full of features. Unfortunately, the software has been abandoned and is no longer being updated.

Official description: DAMN NFO Viewer is an utility designed for viewing text files containing ASCII Art (e.g. nfo files), and it proved itself to be handy.

So, if you're fed up with starting some DOS-like file manager each time you need to view nfo file, or ain't too happy with the viewer you use, or (worst case) use Notepad - give this little tool a try.
Quick Info

GetDiz   Rating 9 of 10
Pros   Top pick, full of features, supports many languages, thumbdrive version available.
Cons   During installation it asks to install Ask.com toolbar, but it is not required to use the software.
Developer Home Page   http://www.outertech.com/index.php?_charisma_page=product&id=4
Download link   http://download.outertech.com
File Size   1.31MB  License Type Freeware  Installation Requirements Windows 95 and above.

DIZzy    Rating 9 of 10
Pros   Extremely small file size, very fast.
Cons   No extra bells and whistles.
Developer Home Page   http://members.ozemail.com.au/~nulifetv/freezip/freeware/
File Size   8kb  License Type Freeware  Installation Requirements Windows 95 and above.

Damn NFO Viewer    Rating 8 of 10
Pros   Small file size, supports multiple languages, lots of features.
Cons   No longer being updated.
Developer Home Page   http://www.softpedia.com/get/Office-tools/Text-editors/DAMN-NFO-Viewer.shtml
File Size   263kb  License Type Freeware  Installation Requirements Windows 95 and above.

 This category is maintained by volunteer editor JonathanB.

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4.5
Average: 4.5 (8 votes)
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#1Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 10/20/2009 - 18:26.

Im looking for a NFO-viewer to be able to use a music probram a friend told me about but I can´t find any good ones. Please give me a link or a tip where I can find one.
CJ Eklund

#2Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 09/21/2009 - 18:47.

I am using GetDiz under Windows 7. The program worked for a while but now just shows on the task bar. I can not get the window to display. This happened on two systems. I tried reinstalling with no luck.

#3Submitted by JonathanB on Sat, 09/26/2009 - 19:06.

Sounds like a bug in the software. Hopefully the developer creates a fix.

#4Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 09/01/2009 - 03:14.

NFOSTONERS homepage is: http://krakenstein.six6.net/nfostoners/

#5Submitted by JonathanB on Sat, 09/26/2009 - 19:07.

Looks good. I'll check it out some time.

#6Submitted by Anupam on Sat, 07/18/2009 - 14:14.

If anyone has Notepad++, there is no need of seperate NFO Viewer :)

Anupam Shriwatri

#7Submitted by JonathanB on Tue, 08/04/2009 - 16:24.

Notepad++ is great software and can definitely replace some other software. GetDiz has some things in common with Notepad++, in the sense that it can open NFO files, replace Notepad, and many other things.

#8Submitted by Jojoyee on Sat, 07/18/2009 - 16:01.

Notepad++ does retain formating quite well and serves the purpose, good for source code editing too.

#9Submitted by Anupam on Sat, 07/18/2009 - 16:14.

Yep, Notepad++ is very good for source code editing, and supports a lot of programming languages, with syntax highlighting. It can act as a notepad replacement.. and can open files in multiple tabs. Comes with themes too, and can be enhanced by various plugins. An excellent editor.

Anupam Shriwatri

#10Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 07/18/2009 - 13:56.

NFOPad: http://thd.dyndns.org/s_nfopad.php

#11Submitted by JonathanB on Tue, 08/04/2009 - 16:27.

Thanks for the suggestion. I see that NFOPad is currently being actively developed. I'll give it a try some time and post my review.

#12Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 07/15/2009 - 22:23.

GetDiz 4.4/4.5 simpply freezes on installation! And on both my PCs (copmpletely different from one another). I don't know whether it's a conflict or something else, but I don't need software that installs from 21-st time.
Other than that, GetDiz WAS great. Buit now I suggest you avoid it (not like youre gonna listen to me anyway). It occasionally freezes on copying its help file (if my memory serves me) and installation simply doesn't finish.

#13Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 08/10/2009 - 05:31.

had the same problem.
weird!
Installation would start but then freeze [not my computer] just the installation process.
I then had to go to C:\WINDOWS\Fonts to delete both GetDiz fonts and also remove the GetDiz Program Folder.
I then re-started the install..... [i'm using getdiz45]
I unchecked ASCII Art Files.
I unchecked all 3 boxes regarding Ask.com and it's toolbar.

There's something about the ASCII Art Files that would simply freeze the install window but i'm not sure why!

#14Submitted by JonathanB on Tue, 08/04/2009 - 16:25.

I'm not sure why it's freezing on you. I didn't experience this when testing. I'd try a different NFO viewer.

#15Submitted by keroffs on Tue, 08/04/2009 - 16:39.

I had been meaning to install GetDiz and after seeing these posts, I just installed.

I had no issues installing on Windows XP SP3 and no issues copying the help file or using the help file.
Installation was smooth as silk. It did scan my two externals (500GB each) for previous installations. I assume this is because it has an option to install to a portable drive, which is a nice option.

#16Submitted by JonathanB on Mon, 06/08/2009 - 01:02.

Thanks for the suggestions. I added a review of GetDiz. I will be reviewing Dizzy soon and will post what I think.

#17Submitted by Chat-Polisi on Sat, 02/07/2009 - 16:44.

Thank you very much.. Saygilarimla Hakan@

#18Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 02/07/2009 - 11:36.

GetDiz is great..just what i was looking for..thnx guys

#19Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 01/30/2009 - 20:15.

Try this
NFOSTONERS 0.0.1e

far away more better than old dated DAMN's nfo tool ;)

Link:
http://dayodamustdie.thefreehost.biz/nfostoners/

#20Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 01/23/2009 - 09:22.

This article should give more choices. GetDiz is one of the best, why not mentioned?

#21Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 11/10/2008 - 00:45.

GetDiz is my preference as I think it integrates better with smaller footprint.

#22Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 10/18/2008 - 14:44.

my vote goes on NFOpad

#23Submitted by ma_t on Thu, 01/22/2009 - 19:37.

NFOpad does not render all NFO files correctly!

Just Compare those two screenshots, the one taken from GetDiz and the other from NFOpad.

With GetDiz:

http://www.screen2web.com/0238cd7da51b71ba2ea6c053a67ce589.php

With NFOpad:

http://www.screen2web.com/41def0bfd81d6bae926963b0a772acb6.php

DamnNFO has been discontinued so that leaves us with only one serious, lightweight and frequently updated NFO specific viewer and that is GetDiz.

#24Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 04/14/2009 - 18:49.

Those problems where fixed in version 1.52, from the change log:
"Added support for some rare line ending characters, fixes problems with some NFO files having double blank lines"

#25Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 01/29/2009 - 21:37.

I've never had any problems with NFOpad, and it views razer's NFOs nicely for me.

#26Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 08/23/2008 - 19:45.

Combine the best notepad replacement, best source code editor, and your NFO viewer into one with Notepad++.

#27Submitted by choicefresh on Tue, 08/12/2008 - 18:40.

DAMN NFO Viewer has been abandoned, by the way.

#28Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 08/12/2008 - 17:21.

Could you compare some of the others, too? There's quite a list on Wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.nfo#NFO_tools

#29Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 06/11/2008 - 07:12.

Outertech GetDiz (http://getdiz.outertech.com), from the same guys who make CachemanXP. Free and works really well!

#30Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 05/14/2008 - 20:53.

Get Diz Always works for me.

http://www.pcmicro.com/getdiz/

http://www.download.com/GetDiz/3000-2347_4-10036789.html?tag=lst-1&cdlPi...

:-)

#31Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 04/26/2009 - 19:04.

I approve, GetDiz is great.

#32Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 04/29/2008 - 04:39.

Second vote here for Dizzy. Just drag the file onto the executable and Dizzy does the rest. Tiny, portable...and just works.

#33Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 11:20.

Or dizzy, the smallest one, only 6KB

Dizzy 1.12
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~nulifetv/freezip/freeware/dizzy.exe

#34Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 12:09.

Great viewer!

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