Linear Executable

File Format
Name	Linear Executable
Ontology	Electronic File Formats Executables Linear Executable
Extension(s)	.386, .dll, .exe, .sys, .vxd

Linear Executable is an executable file format in the EXE family. It was used by 32-bit OS/2, by some DOS extenders, and by Microsoft Windows VxD files. It is an extension of MS-DOS EXE, and a successor to NE (New Executable).

There are two main varieties of it: LX (32-bit), and LE (mixed 16/32-bit).

Identification

A Linear Executable file begins with the ASCII signature "MZ". At offset 60 is a 4-byte integer pointing to an "extended" header that begins with "LX" or "LE". For more information, see MS-DOS EXE.

Specifications

• LX Format Description
  • Another copy of the document
• (.vxd) LINEAR-EXECUTABLE File Header Layout (LE)

Sample files

• http://cd.textfiles.com/hobbesos29411/BIN/ → *.EXE (LX, OS/2 console)
• http://cd.textfiles.com/hobbesos2/2_X/GAMES/ → *.ZIP → *.EXE (LX, OS/2 GUI)
• http://cd.textfiles.com/silvercollection/disc4/DRIVERS/ - The *.386 files inside the archive files (for example, 19GXE.ARJ → VDDS3.386) use MS Windows LE / VxD format.
• DOOM.EXE - Example of the format used by some DOS extenders. Technically this is an MS-DOS EXE file, with an embedded LE file.

See also

• Dynamic-link library (Windows)

Links

• DOS/4G and DOS/4GW FAQ: Executable File Format(s)
• EXE Explorer utility
• Open Watcom structs with LX/LE differences