Portable ExecutablePortable Executable (PE) is a file format for native executable code on 32-bit and 64-bit Windowsoperating systems, as well as in UEFI environments. It is used for native executables (.exe, .com), dynamic link libraries (.dll, .ocx), system drivers (.sys, .drv) and many other types of files.
Microsoft WindowsComputer operating systemOperating systemWindows is a proprietaryoperating system developed by Microsoft. Windows is grouped into families that cater to particular sectors of the computing industry – Windows for personal computers, Windows Server for servers, and Windows IoT for embedded systems.Shared libraryA shared library is a library of executable code that is loaded in memory such that multiple executables (programs and other libraries) can use it at runtime. In contrast, a static library is copied into an executable. A static library can be re-used (a form of sharing) in multiple executables, but each executable contains a copy of the library code instead of sharing a copy in memory with other executables. Although not true today, historically, all libraries were static.
Operating systemAn operating system (OS) is system software that manages computer hardware and software resources, and provides common services for computer programs. Time-sharing operating systems schedule tasks for efficient use of the system and may also include accounting software for cost allocation of processor time, mass storage, peripherals, and other resources.Device driverA device driver is software that operates or controls a particular type of device that is attached to a computer. A driver provides a software interface to hardware devices, enabling other software to access hardware functions without needing to know precise details about the hardware. A driver communicates with the device through the computer bus or communications subsystem to which the hardware connects.
32-bit computing32-bit computing refers to computer architectures with a processor, memory, and other major components that operate on 32-bit units of data. Compared to smaller bit widths, 32-bit computers can perform large calculations more efficiently and process more data per clock cycle. From the 1980s to about 2006, typical 32-bit personal computers had a 32-bit address bus, permitting up to 4 GiB of RAM to be accessed.
MicrosoftMicrosoft Corporation is an American multinational technology company headquartered in Redmond, Washington. The company became influential in the rise of personal computers through software like Windows and has since expanded into areas such as Internet services, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, video gaming, and more.
OS/2OS/2 (Operating System/2) is a discontinued proprietary computer operating system for x86 and PowerPC based personal computers created and initially developed jointly by IBM and Microsoft, under the leadership of IBM software designer Ed Iacobucci, intended as a replacement for DOS. The first version was released in 1987. A feud between the two companies beginning in 1990 led to Microsoft's leaving development solely to IBM, which continued development on its own.
ActiveXActiveX is a deprecated software framework created by Microsoft that adapts its earlier Component Object Model (COM) and Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) technologies for content downloaded from a network, particularly from the World Wide Web. Microsoft introduced ActiveX in 1996. In principle, ActiveX is not dependent on Microsoft Windows operating systems, but in practice, most ActiveX controls only run on Windows.ExeExe or EXE may refer to: .exe, a file extension exe., abbreviation for executiveFilename extensionA filename extension, also known as file name extension or file extension, is a suffix to the name of a computer file (for example, .txt, .mp3, .exe) that indicates a characteristic of the file contents or its intended use. A filename extension is typically delimited from the rest of the filename with a full stop (period), but in some systems it is separated with spaces.
64-bit computingIn computer architecture, 64-bitintegers, memory addresses, or other data units are those that are 64 bits wide. Also, 64-bit central processing units (CPU) and arithmetic logic units (ALU) are those that are based on processor registers, address buses, or data buses of that size. A computer that uses such a processor is a 64-bit computer. From the software perspective, 64-bit computing means the use of machine code with 64-bit virtual memory addresses.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.