For Microsoft Windows, OS/2, and DOS, .exe is the filename extension that denotes a file as being executable – a computer program – containing an entry point.[1]
| Filename extension |
.exe
|
|---|---|
| Internet media type | application/vnd.microsoft.portable-executable |
| Magic number | 0x4d 0x5a |
| Developed by | Microsoft |
| Type of format | Executable file |
| Container for | MZ, NE, LX, LE, PE, PE32+, W3, W4, DL, MP, P2, P3 |
| Open format? | No |
In addition to being executable (adjective) such a file is often called an executable (noun) which is sometimes abbreviated as EXE.
The file format of an EXE file varies by operating system version.
An operating system cannot use an EXE file unless it is formatted for it. Note that some formats support multiple operating systems.
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).[9]
Windows 95 includes a Registry Editor program (Regedit.exe) that runs in both the real-mode MS-DOS environment and in the protected-mode Windows environment. When you need to modify the registry without starting Windows 95, use Registry Editor in real mode. Note that the switches listed in this article only work in real-mode.