.exe

Filename extension for a native executable program EXE Exe (disambiguation)Exe January 2023 y Windows Executable File Windows 11 executable.svg .exe application/vnd.microsoft.portable-executable Depends on the file format Microsoft Executable file Executable (Binary machine code) MZ, NE, LX, LE, PE, PE32+, W3, W4, DL, MP, P2, P3 No In Windows, OS/2, and DOS, .exe is the filename extension for a file that is runnable as a native executable computer program.https://fileinfo.com/extension/exe .EXE File Extension FileInfo - The File Extensions Database Sharpened Productions 16 August 2019 Such a file is sometimes referred to an EXE as one historical way to identify a file extension is without the dot prefix and capitalized. File formats Although the EXE file format has a common lineage across related operating system (OS) versions, the format was enhanced over time. Some amount of backward compatibility was supported in later versions but earlier versions cannot run an EXE formatted for a newer version. Formats include: MZDOS MZ executable The DOS MZ executable format is used by MS-DOS compatible operating systems. This format is 16-bit. NENew Executable The New Executable (NE) format was introduced with the multitasking MS-DOS 4.0 and also used by 16-bit OS/2 and Windows. This format is 16-bit. OS/2 LE LXLinear Executable The Linear Executable (LE) format is mixed 16/32-bit and was introduced with OS/2 2.0. VxD drivers on Windows 3.x and Windows 9x also use this format. There is a 2-bit only version identified as LX was also introduced with OS/2 2.0 and runs on OS/2 2.0 and higher.http://www.operating-system.org/betriebssystem/_english/bs-os2.htm OS/2 Operating System 3 April 2004 13 February 2014 operating system documentation project PE PE32+Portable Executable Introduced with Windows NT, the Portable Executable (PE) format is a fat binary consisting of both a DOS and a Windows part. The DOS stub is runnable on a DOS system but is ignored by Windows. The Microsoft C++ linker, by default, adds a small DOS program that prints the message: "This program cannot be run in DOS mode" and exits. Windows ignores the DOS stub and executes the 32-bit Windows-specific portion. With some linkers, it is possible to specify a custom DOS stub. Indeed, there are a few dual programs, such as regedit in Windows 95 and old versions of WinZIP self extractors. A 64-bit version, PE32+, was introduced with 64-bit versions of Windows. In most cases, code can be written to simply work as either a 32 or 64-bit PE file. This format also includes a DOS stub. Other W3 W4 DL MP P2 P3There are other EXE formats, including but not limited to W3 (a collection of LE files, only used in WIN386.EXE), W4 (a compressed collection of LE files, only used in VMM32.VXD), DL, MP, P2, P3 (last three used by Phar Lap extenders).http://www.ctyme.com/intr/rb-2939.htm#table1593 Int 21/AH=4Bh Ralf Brown Ralf Brown's Interrupt List 16 July 2000 30 October 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20150519112524/http://www.ctyme.com/intr/rb-2939.htm#table1593 19 May 2015 dead See also Comparison of executable file formats Executable compression IExpress List of file formats Object code, executable files, shared and dynamically linked libraries CMD file (CP/M) Dynamic-link library References https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/debug/pe-format PE Format Windows App Development Microsoft 25 August 2019 https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/reference/stub-ms-dos-stub-file-name /STUB (MS-DOS Stub File Name) C/C++ Building Reference Visual Studio 2022 Microsoft 10 January 2014 http://thestarman.pcministry.com/asm/debug/DOSstub.htm DOS Stub Program The Starman's Realm Self-published Daniel B. Sedory 12 October 2004 10 January 2014 http://support.microsoft.com/kb/131352 Using Registry Editor in Real Mode Support Microsoft 10 January 2014 15 November 2006 https://web.archive.org/web/20140115050101/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/131352 15 January 2014 Windows 95 includes a Registry Editor program (Regedit.exe) that runs in both the real-mode MS-DOS environment and in the protected-mode Windows environment. When you need to modify the registry without starting Windows 95, use Registry Editor in real mode. Note that the switches listed in this article only work in real-mode. http://purl.net/xyzzy/dos/dostub.htm dostub.exe Frank Ellermann Purl.net 22 January 2014 24 January 2014 https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/bb985992(printer).aspx An In-Depth Look into the Win32 Portable Executable File Format MSDN Magazine Microsoft February 2002 Matt Pietrek Matt Pietrek Further reading Re: Run a COM file Matthias R. Paul 7 October 2002 2000 alt.msdos.programmer https://groups.google.com/d/msg/alt.msdos.programmer/d7blJjY0H5M/Qu3VeTOIGVcJ 3 September 2017 Second reply External links Dependency Walker MZ EXE header format PE Explorer Category:DOS files Category:DOS technology Category:Executable file formats Category:Filename extensions Category:Windows administration