MS-DOS EXE
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|subcat=Executables | |subcat=Executables | ||
|extensions={{ext|exe}} | |extensions={{ext|exe}} | ||
| + | |pronom={{PRONOM|x-fmt/409}} | ||
| + | |kaitai struct=dos_mz | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | '''MS-DOS EXE''' is an executable file format used mainly by [[MS-DOS]]. It is the successor | + | '''MS-DOS EXE''', also known as '''MZ''' format, is an executable file format used mainly by [[MS-DOS]]. It is the successor of [[DOS executable (.com)|COM]]. A number of other executable formats are extensions of it; see [[EXE]] for those formats. |
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== Identification == | == Identification == | ||
| − | An MS-DOS EXE file begins with an ASCII signature of " | + | An MS-DOS EXE file begins with an ASCII signature of "{{magic|MZ}}" (or, rarely, "{{magic|ZM}}"), followed by a series of 16-bit fields. The field at offset 24 (the ''relocation table offset'') is ''usually'' (but apparently not always) less than 64, and at least 28. A value of 64 or more, or 0, suggests the format may not be MS-DOS EXE. |
It's not clear whether there is any completely reliable way to identify an MS-DOS EXE, except in the negative (i.e. it begins with "MZ", and is not a valid [[NE]], [[PE]], etc., file). | It's not clear whether there is any completely reliable way to identify an MS-DOS EXE, except in the negative (i.e. it begins with "MZ", and is not a valid [[NE]], [[PE]], etc., file). | ||
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* [http://wiki.osdev.org/MZ MZ], from the OSDev Wiki | * [http://wiki.osdev.org/MZ MZ], from the OSDev Wiki | ||
* http://www.delorie.com/djgpp/doc/exe/ | * http://www.delorie.com/djgpp/doc/exe/ | ||
| + | * [http://www.textfiles.com/programming/FORMATS/exefs.pro DOS EXE format] | ||
| + | * [http://www.mitec.cz/exe.html EXE Explorer utility] | ||
| + | * [http://www.ctyme.com/intr/rb-2939.htm Ralf Brown's Interrupt Reference] has an extensive list of (mostly older) MZ-based executable formats | ||
[[Category:Microsoft]] | [[Category:Microsoft]] | ||
| + | [[Category:MS-DOS]] | ||
Revision as of 15:02, 30 June 2017
MS-DOS EXE, also known as MZ format, is an executable file format used mainly by MS-DOS. It is the successor of COM. A number of other executable formats are extensions of it; see EXE for those formats.
Identification
An MS-DOS EXE file begins with an ASCII signature of "MZ" (or, rarely, "ZM"), followed by a series of 16-bit fields. The field at offset 24 (the relocation table offset) is usually (but apparently not always) less than 64, and at least 28. A value of 64 or more, or 0, suggests the format may not be MS-DOS EXE.
It's not clear whether there is any completely reliable way to identify an MS-DOS EXE, except in the negative (i.e. it begins with "MZ", and is not a valid NE, PE, etc., file).
Links
- Wikipedia article
- MZ, from the OSDev Wiki
- http://www.delorie.com/djgpp/doc/exe/
- DOS EXE format
- EXE Explorer utility
- Ralf Brown's Interrupt Reference has an extensive list of (mostly older) MZ-based executable formats
