In NTFS, information unique to a specific user is stored in the ______ file.

The file that stores user-specific information in the NTFS file system is NTUSER.DAT. This file plays a crucial role in maintaining the user profile settings for individual users on a Windows operating system. When a user logs into their Windows account, the system retrieves settings and preferences from the NTUSER.DAT file, which can include desktop configurations, application settings, and user-specific data like registry entries related to the user.

Understanding the significance of NTUSER.DAT underscores its function: it contains the Windows registry hive for a user profile, and any changes made to user settings are reflected in this file. This means that it is central to user customization and behavior on the system.

In contrast, USER.DAT is not a standard file associated with NTFS user profiles, and SYSTEM.DAT does not specifically hold user-specific settings but rather contains system-wide settings, making them less relevant in this context. Thus, the emphasis on NTUSER.DAT correctly highlights the specific storage of unique user information in the NTFS architecture.