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.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 Walker

MZ EXE header format

PE Explorer
{{Executables DOS files DOS technology Executable file formats Filename extensions Windows administration