MS-DOS EXE

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'''MS-DOS EXE''' is an executable file format used mainly by [[MS-DOS]]. It is the successor to [[DOS executable (.com)|COM]]. A number of other [[EXE|EXE formats]] are based on it.
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'''MZ''' (also called by its extension '''EXE''' and by other names) is an executable file format used mainly by [[MS-DOS]]; the format is a successor of [[DOS executable (.com)|COM]].
  
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Its name has many variations, such as '''DOS MZ executable'''. It is also called '''MZ''', though that name might include hybrid formats ([[NE]], [[PE]], etc.) that also use the "MZ" signature.
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Many other executable formats are extensions of MZ, including [[New Executable]] (used by 16-bit Windows), [[Portable Executable]] (newer Windows versions) and [[Linear Executable]] (OS/2). Files in these formats usually begin with a short MZ program (called a DOS stub) which, when executed by DOS, prints a message like "This program cannot be run in DOS mode" or "This program requires Microsoft Windows" and immediately exits. Some programs contain a more functional DOS stub, e.g. the Windows 9x registry editor.
  
 
== Identification ==
 
== Identification ==
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An MS-DOS EXE file begins with an ASCII signature of {{magic|'M' 'Z'}} or, rarely, {{magic|'Z' 'M'}}. The 16-bit integer at offset 24 (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.
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An MZ file begins with an ASCII signature of {{magic|'M' 'Z'}} (or, rarely, {{magic|'Z' 'M'}}), 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.
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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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== Links ==
 
== Links ==

Revision as of 16:17, 12 September 2016

File Format
Name MS-DOS EXE
Ontology
Extension(s) .exe
PRONOM x-fmt/409

MZ (also called by its extension EXE and by other names) is an executable file format used mainly by MS-DOS; the format is a successor of COM.

Many other executable formats are extensions of MZ, including New Executable (used by 16-bit Windows), Portable Executable (newer Windows versions) and Linear Executable (OS/2). Files in these formats usually begin with a short MZ program (called a DOS stub) which, when executed by DOS, prints a message like "This program cannot be run in DOS mode" or "This program requires Microsoft Windows" and immediately exits. Some programs contain a more functional DOS stub, e.g. the Windows 9x registry editor.

Identification

An MZ file begins with an ASCII signature of 'M' 'Z' (or, rarely, 'Z' 'M'), 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.

Links

Retrieved from "http://fileformats.archiveteam.org/index.php?title=MS-DOS_EXE&oldid=26414"
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