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EX_ File - What is an .ex_ file and how do I open it?
Learn about .EX_ files and view a list of programs that open them.
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Overview
What is an EX_ file? An EX_ file is a Windows executable file renamed from ".exe" to ".ex_". It contains the exact contents of an .EXE file. EX_ files are commonly found on installation CDs, where the installer must first rename the file before executing it.
More Information Renamed EX_ files are useful for preventing accidental or unwanted execution in Windows. For example, if the user accidentally double-clicks the file, it will not execute by default. To make an EX_ file executable, rename the ".ex_" extension to ".exe". You can now double-click the file like any other EXE file.
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DeveloperMicrosoft
Popularity3.7 | 19 Votes
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.EX_ File Extension
2 file types use the .ex_ file extension.
Renamed Windows Executable File
| Developer | Microsoft |
| Popularity |
3.8 | 55 Votes |
What is an EX_ file?
An EX_ file is a Windows executable file renamed from ".exe" to ".ex_". It contains the exact contents of an .EXE file. EX_ files are commonly found on installation CDs, where the installer must first rename the file before executing it.
More Information
Renamed EX_ files are useful for preventing accidental or unwanted execution in Windows. For example, if the user accidentally double-clicks the file, it will not execute by default.
To make an EX_ file executable, rename the ".ex_" extension to ".exe". You can now double-click the file like any other EXE file.
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Programs that open or reference EX_ files
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Windows
Microsoft Windows
Paid
Category: Executable Files
Updated: October 16, 2017
Compressed Executable File
| Developer | Microsoft |
| Popularity |
3.7 | 19 Votes |
An EX_ file may also be a Windows executable ( .EXE ) file compressed using some form of compression and renamed from ".exe" to ".ex_." EX_ files are used to decrease the size of EXE files so they can be included on software installation CDs and other space-limited external media. Users must decompress EX_ files using the Windows Command Prompt's expand command to transform them into installable EXE files.
More Information
EX_ files are commonly created using Makecab, a file compression utility included with Windows. Here is example syntax for creating the file program.ex_ from the file program.exe :
makecab program.exe
How to open an EX_ file
EX_ files created with Makecab can be decompressed back to their original form using the expand.exe command included with Windows. The program uses the following syntax:
expand program.ex_ program.exe
After expanding your EX_ file to an EXE file, you can double-click the EXE file to install the program it contains.
Programs that open or reference EX_ files
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Microsoft Expand
—
Discontinued
Included with OS
Microsoft Windows Command Prompt
Included with OS
Category: Executable Files
Updated: October 21, 2020