.exe is a common
filename extension
A filename extension, file name extension or file extension is a suffix to the name of a computer file (e.g., .txt, .docx, .md). The extension indicates a characteristic of the file contents or its intended use. A filename extension is typically ...
denoting an
executable file (the main execution point of a
computer program
A computer program is a sequence or set of instructions in a programming language
A programming language is a system of notation for writing computer programs. Most programming languages are text-based formal languages, but they may also b ...
) for
Microsoft Windows
Windows is a group of several Proprietary software, proprietary graphical user interface, graphical operating system families developed and marketed by Microsoft. Each family caters to a certain sector of the computing industry. For example, W ...
,
OS/2
OS/2 (Operating System/2) is a series of computer operating systems, initially created by Microsoft and IBM under the leadership of IBM software designer Ed Iacobucci. As a result of a feud between the two companies over how to position OS/2 re ...
, and
DOS.
File formats
There are numerous
file formats which may be used by a file with a extension.
DOS
;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. All later formats have an MZ
DOS stub header.
;16-bit
New Executable
The New Executable (abbreviated NE or NewEXE) is a 16-bit
16-bit microcomputers are microcomputers that use 16-bit microprocessors.
A 16-bit register can store 216 different values. The range of integer values that can be stored in 16 bi ...
(NE): Introduced with the multitasking
MS-DOS 4.0 and also used by 16-bit
OS/2
OS/2 (Operating System/2) is a series of computer operating systems, initially created by Microsoft and IBM under the leadership of IBM software designer Ed Iacobucci. As a result of a feud between the two companies over how to position OS/2 re ...
and Windows, NE can be identified by the "NE" in ASCII.
OS/2
;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. Some
DOS extenders also use this format.
;Mixed 16/32-bit Linear Executable (LE): Introduced with OS/2 2.0, these can be identified by the "LE" in ASCII.
VxD
VxD is the device driver
In computing
Computing is any goal-oriented activity requiring, benefiting from, or creating computing machinery. It includes the study and experimentation of algorithm
In mathematics
Mathematics ...
drivers on
Windows 3.x,
OS/2
OS/2 (Operating System/2) is a series of computer operating systems, initially created by Microsoft and IBM under the leadership of IBM software designer Ed Iacobucci. As a result of a feud between the two companies over how to position OS/2 re ...
, and
Windows 9x
Windows 9x is a generic term referring to a series of Microsoft Windows
Windows is a group of several Proprietary software, proprietary graphical user interface, graphical operating system families developed and marketed by Microsoft. Eac ...
, as well as some DOS extenders use this format.
Windows
;32-bit
Portable Executable (PE): Introduced with
Windows NT
Windows NT is a proprietary graphical operating system
An operating system (OS) is system software that manages computer hardware, software resources, and provides common services for computer programs.
Time-sharing operating syst ...
, 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."
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).
It is possible to link other, more function DOS stubs.
Indeed, there are a few such dual programs, such as
regedit in
Windows 95 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.
This file also includes a DOS stub.
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).
See also
*
Comparison of executable file formats
*
Executable compression
*
IExpress
*
*
CMD file (CP/M)
*
Windows Installer files (msi)
References
Further reading
*
External links
Dependency WalkerMZ EXE header formatPE Explorer
{{Executables
DOS files
DOS technology
Executable file formats
Filename extensions
Windows administration