In Windows, OS/2, and DOS, .exe is the filename extension for a file that is runnable as a native executable computer program. Such a file is sometimes referred to an EXE as one historical way to identify a file extension is without the dot prefix and capitalized.

File formats

Although the EXE file format has a common lineage across related operating system (OS) versions, the format was enhanced over time. Some amount of backward compatibility was supported in later versions but earlier versions cannot run an EXE formatted for a newer version. Formats include:

;DOS MZ executable: The DOS MZ executable format is used by MS-DOS compatible operating systems. This format is 16-bit.

;New Executable: The New Executable (NE) format was introduced with the multitasking MS-DOS 4.0 and also used by 16-bit OS/2 and Windows. This format is 16-bit.

;Linear Executable: The Linear Executable (LE) format is mixed 16/32-bit and was introduced with OS/2 2.0. VxD drivers on Windows 3.x and Windows 9x also use this format. There is a 2-bit only version identified as LX was also introduced with OS/2 2.0 and runs on OS/2 2.0 and higher.

;Portable Executable: Introduced with Windows NT, the Portable Executable (PE) format is a fat binary consisting of both a DOS and a Windows part. The DOS stub is runnable on a DOS system but is ignored by Windows. The Microsoft C++ linker, by default, adds a small DOS program that prints the message: "This program cannot be run in DOS mode" and exits.

See also

References

Further reading

  • Second reply
  • Dependency Walker
  • MZ EXE header format
  • PE Explorer