Windows Executable File

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Windows Executable File
Filename extension.exe
Internet media typeapplication/vnd.microsoft.portable-executable
Magic numberDepends on the file format
Developed byMicrosoft
Type of formatExecutable file
Container forMZ, NE, LX, LE, PE, PE32+, W3, W4, DL, MP, P2, P3

In Windows, OS/2, and DOS, .exe is the filename extension for a file that is runnable as a native executable computer program.[1] 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:

DOS MZ executable
The DOS MZ executable format is used by MS-DOS compatible operating systems. This format is 16-bit.
New 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.
Linear 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. A 32-bit only version identified as LX was also introduced with OS/2 2.0 and runs on OS/2 2.0 and higher.[2]
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.[3][4][5] Windows ignores the DOS stub and executes the 32-bit Windows-specific portion.[3] With some linkers, it is possible to specify a custom DOS stub.[3][4][6] Indeed, there are a few dual programs, such as regedit in Windows 95[7] 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.[8] This format also includes a DOS stub.[6]
Other
There 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).[9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ ".EXE File Extension". Sharpened Productions. https://fileinfo.com/extension/exe. 
  2. ↑ "OS/2 Operating System". operating system documentation project. 3 April 2004. http://www.operating-system.org/betriebssystem/_english/bs-os2.htm. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "PE Format". Microsoft. 25 August 2019. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/debug/pe-format. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "/STUB (MS-DOS Stub File Name)". C/C++ Building Reference. Microsoft. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/reference/stub-ms-dos-stub-file-name. 
  5. ↑ Sedory, Daniel B. (12 October 2004). "DOS Stub Program". Self-published. http://thestarman.pcministry.com/asm/debug/DOSstub.htm. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Ellermann, Frank (22 January 2014). "dostub.exe". http://purl.net/xyzzy/dos/dostub.htm. 
  7. ↑ "Using Registry Editor in Real Mode". Support. Microsoft. 15 November 2006. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/131352. "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." 
  8. ↑ Pietrek, Matt (February 2002). "An In-Depth Look into the Win32 Portable Executable File Format". MSDN Magazine (Microsoft). https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/bb985992(printer).aspx. 
  9. ↑ Brown, Ralf (16 July 2000). "Int 21/AH=4Bh". http://www.ctyme.com/intr/rb-2939.htm#table1593. 

Further reading

  • Paul, Matthias R. (7 October 2002) [2000]. "Re: Run a COM file". Newsgroup: alt.msdos.programmer. Archived from the original on 3 September 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2017. Second reply



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