.BAK file help please

[chartwise]

On booting my computer I have noticed several .bak files in the recycle bin.

Could anyone please tell me if it is safe to delete these files. Also what is a .bak file, where they have come from and what are they for?

I have never come across a .bak file before.

I am using Windows XP Media Edition

All help much appreciated

[AlexV]

Usually .bak is for backup files. As safe to delete than deleting a jpeg (if you don't need this backup)...

[Millenia]

A .bak file is usually a backup file. However they are also used for a lot few different programs such as Mozilla Firefox. Although none of them are essential to your system. In your case, it's probably just a backup of another document, for example, Windows might have made a .bak file for the System.ini and Win.ini files.

I'm not sure why they would have appeared in your recycle bin though. I'm far from an expert on Windows.
So yeah, it's perfectly safe to delete them.

[oracleguy]

for example, Windows might have made a .bak file for the System.ini and Win.ini files.

FYI: This isn't 1997 :), those might still exist but they are only there for legacy app support. Windows hasn't used them in a long time.

[Millenia]

FYI: This isn't 1997 :), those might still exist but they are only there for legacy app support. Windows hasn't used them in a long time.
Excuse my Microsoft knowledge :D