CompuShow installer format
From Just Solve the File Format Problem
CompuShow installer format is a EXE-based installer file for DOS.
It was used for distribution of some software by Canyon State Systems:
- CompuShow, v8.70-9.04
- CompuShow 2000, v1.03-2.04
- CompuLog, v1.00-2.01
A typical filename is "CSHOWA.EXE", but note that not all files with this name use this format.
Format details
The format is somewhat convoluted. The main executable part is compressed with PKLITE. The overlay segment (refer to MS-DOS EXE#Special file positions) uses a tagged format of undetermined origin. The overlay starts with ASCII "FBIN". The main part of the payload is an LHA/LHarc self-extracting archive contained in an item identified by "FBEX".
Software
- Deark
- Some LHA software is robust enough that it can often handle these files.
Sample files
- CSHOW73.ZIP → CSHOWA.EXE
- 2SHOW204.ZIP → 2SHOWA.EXE
- cmplg201.zip → CMPLGA.EXE
