EXE: Difference between revisions

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EXE is the executable file format for the following operating systems: Windows, DOS, OS/2.

The EXE file contains series of instructions for the processor to be executed.

Formats of the EXE file

Summary of EXE File Formats by Operating System

DOS

16-bit DOS MZ Executable (MZ)

 * The original DOS executable format, identifiable by the ASCII letters "MZ" at the start of the file.
 * Later formats retain an MZ DOS stub header for backward compatibility.

16-bit New Executable (NE)

 * Introduced in multitasking MS-DOS 4.0.
 * Used in 16-bit OS/2 and Windows, identifiable by "NE" in ASCII.

OS/2

32-bit Linear Executable (LX)

 * Introduced in OS/2 2.0 and identifiable by "LX" in ASCII.
 * Runs only on OS/2 2.0 and higher.

Mixed 16/32-bit Linear Executable (LE)

 * Introduced in OS/2 2.0, identifiable by "LE" in ASCII.
 * Used for VxD drivers on Windows 3.x, OS/2, and Windows 9x.

Windows

32-bit Portable Executable (PE)

 * Introduced with Windows NT, structured as "fat binaries" with a DOS-specific and Windows-specific section.
 * The DOS stub (a minimal DOS program) displays "This program cannot be run in DOS mode." Custom DOS stubs can be created.
 * The Windows part starts with "PE\\0\\0" (ASCII for "PE" with two null bytes).

64-bit Portable Executable (PE32+)

 * Introduced with 64-bit Windows, an extended PE format with wider fields.
 * Often allows code to run in either 32-bit or 64-bit mode.
 * Includes a DOS stub for compatibility.

Other Formats

Additional EXE formats include W3 (used in WIN386.EXE), W4 (compressed LE files in VMM32.VXD), and others like DL, MP, P2, and P3 (used by Phar Lap extenders).

External links

https://eshagalawatta.medium.com/analyzing-structure-of-executable-programs-exe-files-821b2d531a4

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.exe

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 The EXE file contains series of instructions for the processor to be executed.
+== Formats of the EXE file ==
+== Summary of EXE File Formats by Operating System ==
+=== DOS ===
+* '''16-bit DOS MZ Executable (MZ)'''
+  * The original DOS executable format, identifiable by the ASCII letters "MZ" at the start of the file.
+  * Later formats retain an MZ DOS stub header for backward compatibility.
+* '''16-bit New Executable (NE)'''
+  * Introduced in multitasking MS-DOS 4.0.
+  * Used in 16-bit OS/2 and Windows, identifiable by "NE" in ASCII.
+=== OS/2 ===
+* '''32-bit Linear Executable (LX)'''
+  * Introduced in OS/2 2.0 and identifiable by "LX" in ASCII.
+  * Runs only on OS/2 2.0 and higher.
+* '''Mixed 16/32-bit Linear Executable (LE)'''
+  * Introduced in OS/2 2.0, identifiable by "LE" in ASCII.
+  * Used for VxD drivers on Windows 3.x, OS/2, and Windows 9x.
+=== Windows ===
+* '''32-bit Portable Executable (PE)'''
+  * Introduced with Windows NT, structured as "fat binaries" with a DOS-specific and Windows-specific section.
+  * The DOS stub (a minimal DOS program) displays "This program cannot be run in DOS mode." Custom DOS stubs can be created.
+  * The Windows part starts with "PE\\0\\0" (ASCII for "PE" with two null bytes).
+* '''64-bit Portable Executable (PE32+)'''
+  * Introduced with 64-bit Windows, an extended PE format with wider fields.
+  * Often allows code to run in either 32-bit or 64-bit mode.
+  * Includes a DOS stub for compatibility.
+=== Other Formats ===
+* Additional EXE formats include W3 (used in '''WIN386.EXE'''), W4 (compressed LE files in '''VMM32.VXD'''), and others like DL, MP, P2, and P3 (used by Phar Lap extenders).
 == External links ==