How to Make an Exe File
This wikiHow will teach you 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...
Part 1 of 2:
Creating an EXE File
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Open StartHow to Make an Exe File Picture 2
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Type notepad into Start. This will search your computer for the Notepad app. -
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Click Notepad. It's a blue-and-white, notebook-shaped icon at the top of the Start window. -
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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. -
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Click Save As…. It's in the File drop-down menu. -
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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. -
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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. -
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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.
Part 2 of 2:
Creating an EXE Installer
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Open StartHow to Make an Exe File Picture 14
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Type iexpress into Start. This will search for the iexpress command.- 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. -
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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. -
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Click Next. This is in the bottom-right corner of the window. -
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Check the "Extract files only" box. It's in the middle of the page. -
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Click Next. -
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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. -
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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. -
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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.- 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. -
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Check the "Default" box, then click Next. This box is at the top of the window. -
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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. -
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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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