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This wikiHow will teach you how to create a basic EXE file on a Windows computer, as well as how to create a container for that file that will install it on another computer. EXE files are used to install programs or add files to a Windows computer. To create an EXE installer, you'll use a built-in Windows feature called IExpress.
Steps
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Open Start. Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen. [1] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source
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Type notepad into Start. This will search your computer for the Notepad app. [2] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to sourceAdvertisement -
Click Notepad . It's a blue-and-white, notebook-shaped icon at the top of the Start window. -
Enter your EXE's program code. Type in the code one line at a time, or copy and paste it into the Notepad document if you already have it typed out somewhere else on your computer.- If you don't know how to code , you may want to have someone else perform this step for you.
- You can also find EXE file code for basic programs online.
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Click File . This option is in the top-left corner of the Notepad window. Doing so prompts a drop-down menu. -
Click Save As… . It's in the File drop-down menu. -
Click the "Save as type" drop-down box. You'll find this near the bottom of the window.- The current "Save as type" drop-down box should read Text Documents (*.txt) .
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Click All files . It's in the drop-down box. -
Enter a name for your EXE file. In the "File name" text box, type in a name followed by .exe . This will save your file as an EXE.- For example, to name the EXE file "bananas", you would type in bananas.exe .
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Select a save location. Click a folder on the left side of the window to select it as the place where your file will be saved. -
Click Save . It's in the bottom-right corner of the screen. This will save your EXE file in your selected location under the specified name.
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Open Start. Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
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Type iexpress into Start. This will search for the iexpress command. [3] X Research source- You have to fully type out iexpress in order for iexpress to appear.
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Click iexpress . It resembles a grey filing cabinet. You'll find this at the top of the Start window. [4] X Research source -
Check the "Create new Self Extraction Directive file" box. It's in the middle of the page. This option should be checked by default, but if it isn't, check it. -
Click Next . This is in the bottom-right corner of the window. -
Check the "Extract files only" box. It's in the middle of the page. -
Click Next . -
Enter a name for your EXE file. Type the file's name into the text field in the middle of the window, then click Next . -
Decide whether or not you want to use a text prompt. Click Next to skip using a text prompt, or check "Prompt user with" and then type a word or phrase into the text box before clicking Next .- Using a prompt will cause a window with your typed text to appear to the user of the EXE file.
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Decide whether or not to use a license. If you don't want to show the EXE user a license agreement that they have to read and agree to, just click Next . If you want to use a license agreement, check the "Display a license" box, then click Browse , select a text document that contains the license agreement, and click Open . You'll have to click Next to proceed. -
Click Add . It's below the box in the middle of the window. Doing so will open a new File Explorer window in which you can select files to add to your EXE installer.- Files that you add to the EXE installer will be installed for whoever opens the EXE installer.
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Select files to add. Click a file location on the left side of the File Explorer window, then select files by clicking and dragging the mouse across a group of files you want to use. [5] X Research source- You can also select files independently by holding Ctrl while clicking individual files.
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Click Open . It's in the bottom-right corner of the window. Doing so adds your files to your EXE installer.- You can also add more files after this point by clicking Add again and then selecting more files to add.
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Click Next . -
Check the "Default" box, then click Next . This box is at the top of the window. -
Decide whether or not to include a final message. Once your EXE installer finishes running, you can choose to display a message for the user. To do so, check the "Display message" box, type in the message you want to use, and click Next .- If you want to skip the final message, just click Next .
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Add the program that you want to install. This is the EXE program that you created earlier. Click Browse , navigate to the file's location, click the file, and click Save .- You can also check the "Hide File Extracting Process Animation from User" box to ensure that the EXE installs without much visual input.
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Click Next three times. This will create the EXE installer. Depending on how many files you're adding to the EXE installer, this process can take anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. -
Click Finish . It's at the bottom of the window. Doing so will save the file. Your EXE installer is now ready for use.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionHow do I add a task to a download a definition package and run it?Community AnswerIn the first step (with the three options), choose the one that lets you run a command (top one). Then, use the proper "schtask" command to do this.
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QuestionCan I add WinRAR files to the Exe file?Community AnswerYes, any file extension will work. However, the user would still need to install a program to open that file.
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QuestionWhen I test out IExpress, where will I be able to access my package from?Community AnswerSearch your .exe program in the Windows search, and click on it, or drag it to the desktop.
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Tips
- You don't need an EXE installer to run an EXE, but an EXE installer will install the EXE file and any supporting documents (e.g., the ReadMe file, necessary folders, etc.).Thanks
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Warnings
- If you don't know how to program your EXE file, consider having someone who knows how to program take care of the programming portion of this process.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/help-in-notepad-4d68c388-2ff2-0e7f-b706-35fb2ab88a8c
- ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/help-in-notepad-4d68c388-2ff2-0e7f-b706-35fb2ab88a8c
- ↑ https://www.c-sharpcorner.com/UploadFile/bd6c67/iexpress-in-windows/
- ↑ https://www.c-sharpcorner.com/UploadFile/bd6c67/iexpress-in-windows/
- ↑ https://www.c-sharpcorner.com/UploadFile/bd6c67/iexpress-in-windows/
About This Article
Article Summary
X
1. Type your code in Notepad.
2. Go to File
> Save As
.
3. Select All Files
from the "Save as type" menu.
4. Name the file "filename.exe" and click Save
.
5. Open iexpress
.
6. Select "Create a new Self Extraction Directive file" and click Next
.
7. Select Extract files only
and click Next
.
8. Name and configure the file.
9. Add the .exe file you created.
10. Follow the on-screen instructions to create the package.
Did this summary help you?
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,161,023 times.
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