.EX_ File Extension

Windows executable file compressed using some form of compression and renamed from ".exe" to ".ex_;" stores compressed version of an .EXE executable file; often found on software installation CDs, where the installer must first rename the file and decompress it before execution.

Compressed EX_ files are useful for decreasing the size of an EXE file when packaging installers onto external media or within downloadable archives.

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

EX_ file created with Makecab can be decompressed back to their original form using the expand.exe program included with Windows. It uses the following syntax:

expand program.ex_ program.exe

Windows executable file renamed from ".exe" to ".ex_"; contains the exact contents of an .EXE file; commonly found on installation CDs, where the installer must first rename the file before executing it.

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.