.exe

Template:Short description Template:Redirect Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox file format For Microsoft Windows, OS/2, and DOS, .exe is the filename extension that denotes a file as being executable Template:Endash a computer program Template:Endash containing an entry point.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In addition to being executable (adjective) such a file is often called an executable (noun) which is sometimes abbreviated as EXE.

File formatsEdit

The file format of an EXE file varies by operating system version.

An operating system cannot use an EXE file unless it is formatted for it. Note that some formats support multiple operating systems.

Template:AnchorDOSEdit

16-bit DOS MZ executable (MZ): The original DOS executable file format. These formats can be identified by the letters "MZ" at the beginning of the file in ASCII. Later formats may contain an MZ DOS stub header.<ref name="PE Format" />
16-bit New Executable (NE): Introduced with the multitasking MS-DOS 4.0 and also used by 16-bit OS/2 and Windows, NE can be identified by the "NE" in ASCII.

OS/2Edit

Template:Anchor

32-bit Linear Executable (LX): Introduced with OS/2 2.0, these can be identified by the "LX" in ASCII. These can only be run by OS/2 2.0 and higher.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Mixed 16/32-bit Linear Executable (LE): Introduced with OS/2 2.0, these can be identified by the "LE" in ASCII. Template:Br VxD drivers on Windows 3.x and Windows 9x also use LE format.

WindowsEdit

Template:Anchor

32-bit Portable Executable (PE): Introduced with Windows NT, they are fat binaries consisting of a DOS-specific and a Windows-specific part. The DOS-specific part (dubbed DOS stub) is a legitimate 16-bit DOS program. Microsoft C++ linker, by default, uses a minimal DOS stub that prints the following message: "This program cannot be run in DOS mode."<ref name="PE Format" /><ref name="/STUB" /><ref name="DOS Stub" /> Windows ignores the DOS stub and executes the Windows-specific portion that starts with the "PE\0\0" ASCII sequence (letters "PE" and two null bytes).<ref name="PE Format" /> With some linkers, it is possible to specify a custom DOS stub.<ref name="PE Format" /><ref name="/STUB" /><ref name="dosStub.exe" /> Indeed, there are a few dual programs, such as regedit in Windows 95<ref name="regedit in real mode" /> and old versions of WinZIP self extractors.
64-bit Portable Executable (PE32+): Introduced by 64-bit versions of Windows, this is a PE file with wider fields. In most cases, code can be written to simply work as either a 32 or 64-bit PE file.<ref name="PE32plus" /> This file also includes a DOS stub.<ref name="dosStub.exe" />

OtherEdit

Template:Anchor 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).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

ReferencesEdit

Template:Reflist

External linksEdit

Template:Executables