what are .ini files used for
Initialization file (Generic) INI is a file extension for an initialization file format, as the name implies, used by Microsoft Windows. INI files are plain text (ASCII) and are used to set parameters for the operating system and some programs. In Windows, two common INI files are SYSTEM.INI and WIN.INI. The files contain statements that set various parameters for the mouse, keyboard, peripherals, screen colors, passwords, and so on. In Windows 95 and higher most of the configuration is conducted by the registry.