Talk:Executable

Signed Executables
The article does not mention cryptographic signing of executables

Remark about email
I've removed this remark: ''Many e-mail accounts now ban the sending or receiving of files with the .exe extension since they are one of the commonest ways of spreading computer viruses. E-mail attachments containing Zip files with the .exe extension should be regarded with suspicion unless they were expected from a known sender. '' This is not relevant to executables, which are not limited to MS Windows .exe files.

Execution of a executable
With an executable on the harddisk, how is this executable executed once I want it to be executed? Which part of an operating is responsible for executing executables and how does it do it? And if a executable needs another executable to execute it, what initially executes this executor? --Abdull 20:21, 26 November 2006 (UTC)


 * Well it's a bit late, but I think what you're getting at is the concept of [Bootstrapping (computing)]. Running an executable is the act of a user (or some other program) directing the OS to load an executable from the harddrive into memory, and then follow the instructions that the program dictates. What started the OS? On the typical x86 computer, the BIOS did. What started the BIOS? Hardware. A battery is inserted, a circuit is closed, or some other physical means started a domino effect that boots everything. 64.238.49.65 (talk) 21:12, 5 August 2008 (UTC)

What Are Exe's Booted in
Hi I've had a problem, Accidently changed what my EXE boots in, and i wanted to know what does an EXE boot in on windows so i can change it back, i open'd with by accident and made it open with Mozilla, and i want it to go back to opening things like Internet Explorer, MSN, etc. anything .exe opens in mozilla now and its really just annoying.. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 76.182.73.55 (talk) 12:03, 24 December 2006 (UTC).

Needs more references
Wikipedia is usually not really a great resource, but the references are. A dictionary isn't really a great resource too. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 77.251.98.59 (talk) 09:26, 21 September 2011 (UTC)