EXE is an extension for DOS and Windows programs. The Exe format refers to a group of executable files that contain all the data needed to install an application. Compression algorithms are used to compactly distribute the installation file.
File contents
An object with the .exe extension is found in the Windows operating system. The exe program contains the scripts and compiled code that starts the installation of applications. The contents of the EXE object include:
- Software resources - graphics and other media elements, as well as compressed packages (.package) of program code classes;
- Object shapes (bitmaps, sheets, application icons);
- Information for the file loader;
- Installation launcher.
When the EXE is launched, the system automatically initializes all archived components of a flash drive, virtual disk, or hard disk. The components of the EXE file include software libraries, connected services, program code.
After unpacking the executable file, the operating system starts initializing all program classes and installing the application.
EXE Openers
In Windows Exe, the object can be opened using the standard installer or the 7Zip utility. To launch the file, just double-click on it with the mouse or launch the object through the archiver menu. To run in MacOS install the Windows emulator and open the Exe file in it.
EXE can be not only a program installation module, but also a self-extracting archive. Running Exe files allows its contents to be unpacked into a folder specified by the user or by the archive itself.
To view the contents of an EXE file without launching it, you should use the developer tools, namely the Visual Studio software package. With its help, you can edit program resources, change the interface and functions of the program module. Changes are only possible for open source applications (which do not use encryption).
Files with the EXE extension are executable files for most of the applications that we use every day. When installing any program on a computer, we create a shortcut for it on the desktop to make it easier to find. But it happens that a program that was running yesterday does not open for any manipulation.
Let's assume that you are faced with this problem: EXE files do not start. In this case, a window often appears in which you are asked to select a program to open the file. In this case, first you need to check your computer for viruses and malware. If your antivirus is outdated or missing altogether, the first thing to do is to install an updated version of the scanner or antivirus and scan your computer in a deep scan. If you often use a portable flash drive and take information from different computers, then you just need to install a program designed specifically for portable USB devices. When a flash card is connected to a computer, it scans it for viruses, worms, and because of which EXE files do not start. There are many such instructions, and they take up few resources on the system of your machine. But it also happens that the user himself accidentally makes changes to the registry, thereby disrupting its work. Of course, the EXE files do not open afterwards. In this case, the registry must be restored to make the file executable.
How does this happen? Let's describe the problem in more detail. User or malware disables the registry editing function. To enable it and make the necessary changes, you need:
Go to "Start> Run ..." Then enter: "gpedit.msc", click OK, then "Group Policy", select "Local Computer" in the list that appears, then go to the line "User Configuration", then "Administrative Templates" In the window that appears, select "System" ... In the "System" window, find the line with the name "Make tools unavailable. After all, the problem with the fact that EXE does not start is associated with the operation of a virus. It puts the editing of the registry in the "Enabled" state, making changes impossible.
In the Properties window, disable the feature that prevents you from making changes to the registry. After rebooting, everything should work. In order not to enter the information into the registry itself, you can download data for it that is suitable for your operating system.
If the EXE files still do not start, you can type in the information manually or You need to name it arbitrarily, double-click on it and open it. Then you need to go to the command line: "Start> Run", enter the name of your created file (with the reg extension) and click OK.
If after the work done, nothing comes out, use an anti-virus utility to recover data. If the EXE does not start after running this utility, try reinstalling the operating system on your computer. Before performing this procedure, save all important information to a disk that will not be formatted.
Understand the process. EXE files do not support OS X, so you need special software to make them work. To do this, install the free Wine utility, in which you can work with Windows files. Remember that not all EXE files can be opened with this utility, and some programs will work better than others. You don't need a Windows installation disc to install Wine.
Download and install Xcode from the Mac App Store. This is a free developer's tool needed to compile code. You will not be using this tool, but it is required to work with other utilities that open EXE files.
- Launch Xcode and open its menu. Select "Settings" - "Downloads". Click Install (next to Command Line Tools).
Download and install MacPorts. This is a free utility that simplifies the compilation process and which you will use to install Wine. You can download MacPorts from macports.org/install.php. Click the link for the version of OS X you are using, and then double-click the downloaded .pkg file to install MacPorts.
Open Terminal to configure some MacPorts options. You can open a terminal from the Utilities folder.
Copy and paste the following command into your terminal window, and then press Return:
Echo export PATH = / opt / local / bin: / opt / local / sbin: \ $ PATH $ "\ n" export MANPATH = / opt / local / man: \ $ MANPATH | sudo tee -a / etc / profile
Enter the administrator password to enable execution of the command. When entering the password, no characters will be displayed. After entering your password, press Return. If you do not have an administrator password, the process will not start.
Copy and paste the following command. This command will notify MacPorts if you are using a 64-bit system. Paste in the following command and hit Return:
If [`sysctl -n hw.cpu64bit_capable` -eq 1]; then echo "+ universal" | sudo tee -a /opt/local/etc/macports/variants.conf; else echo "n / a"; fi
Enter Accept the Xcode License Terms to be able to compile the code. After running this command, close and reopen the terminal:
- sudo xcodebuild -license
Enter the command to install Wine. You may be prompted to enter your administrator password again. The installation process may take some time.
- sudo port install wine
Navigate to the folder with the EXE file. To do this, use the cd command in the terminal.
Using Wine to run an EXE file. Enter the following command to run the EXE file located in the current directory. Replace filename with the name of the selected EXE file.
- wine filename.exe
Use the program as usual. If the EXE file runs the program, you can start working with it. If it's a setup file, follow the onscreen instructions to install the program (just like you do on Windows).
- Not every program will work in Wine. For a complete list of compatible software, visit appdb.winehq.org.
Run the installed program (if you used an EXE file to install it). To do this, use Wine.
- Enter cd ~ / .wine / drive_c / Program \ Files / to open the Program Files directory where the programs in Wine are installed.
- Enter ls to see a list of all installed programs. Enter cd program_name to open the program directory. If there is a space in the program name, enter \ before the space. For example, for Microsoft Office, enter cd Microsoft \ Office.
- Enter ls to find the EXE file.
- Enter wine program_name.exe to run the program
Install the Mono libraries if the program requires .NET. It is a software library required by many Windows programs, and Mono is the free counterpart of such a library supported by Wine. Install Mono only if your programs require .NET.
- Enter sudo port install winetricks and press Return.
- Enter winetricks mono210 and press Return to install Mono.
In some cases, it happens that after starting the computer, shortcuts or programs become inaccessible or cannot be opened for the user. This most often happens with shortcuts, which are usually located on the desktop. After double-clicking on the required program, such a window pops up.
This can happen in several cases. First, if the user deleted the file, which was referenced in the label. Secondly, it is possible that at the last start of the system, the user himself changed the program to open files, for example, I set it so that video files should be opened through notepad, of course, the system is not capable of doing this and gives an error. Thirdly, this may be due to failure in associationsWindows, which is often caused by viruses.
Solving the problem on Windows 7, 8, 10
The easiest way is to search the global network for files that will change the registry and fix the problem. Easily found on request Fixexe andfixlnk... But, if you use little-known sites, there is a chance to download malicious programs instead, so the following will show you how to do everything yourself.
First thing worth trying roll back the system to one of the restore points when all programs were running. The easiest way to do this is by entering “ System Restore"And choosing one of the early points. They are usually created automatically when you install programs and drivers, so at least a few must be present. If this does not work out, you will have to go a long way. In case. Exe files do not work:
If shortcuts themselves do not work, then in the third paragraph it will be necessary to write commands. 
How to troubleshoot Windows XP
Restoring shortcuts in XP is to open the registry by pressing Win + R and entering regedit.exe, and then follow the path HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ FileExts \ .lnk and delete the .lnk folder.
