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What Program to open a file called code.exe?

R

RedStar

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Oct 22, 2003
17
0
San Diego
As stated in the title, I have no idea as to what program to use to open a file called code.exe on my cd that came w/ my school book. I have to install it on my computer in order to do class work. When I click on it, a window pops up and says no default application to open this file, and gives me an option to choose, but I'm not sure what to pick. Yes, I'm a newb, but help would be appreciated.
- thanx :)
 
It's a PC program (aka, x86 code), stick it in your handy dandy little PC.

PPC machines don't do x86 code unless you have Virtual PC or some sort of PC emulation.

---

However if it's some sort of compressed file, some of the programs similar Stuffit can extract the stuff inside.
 
Virtual PC!

As Sun Baked said, Microsoft's Virtual PC is the most commonly used pc emulator for mac. It wont run cutting edge games or be as fast as a real pc, but it gets the job done for basic applications. A new version, Virtual PC 7, was announced at Macworld SF and should be shipping soon. From my expeirences with Virtual PC 6, it ran decently for basic UI apps and ran the game Roller Coaster Tycoon at a playable speed.
 
I had a similar experience yesterday - an online class I am taking through my university required me to download an .exe that was basically a self-executing zip file. I had my girlfriend download it on her computer and then send the files inside to me.
 
Originally posted by Toppa G's
I had a similar experience yesterday - an online class I am taking through my university required me to download an .exe that was basically a self-executing zip file. I had my girlfriend download it on her computer and then send the files inside to me.
Click to expand...

Yes, Exactly,...I too am taking an online course.
Thanks for the rapid response guys!:D
 
Start StuffIt Expander (it's in /Applications/Utilities). It'll pop up with "Drag your files here". Try dragging the code.exe into that box and see whether it can open it.

Alternatively, it might be easier to rename the file to code.zip then try double-clicking it.

I haven't tested either of these methods but they'll probably work.
 
Originally posted by Nermal
I haven't tested either of these methods but they'll probably work.
Click to expand...

Fortunately, most Zip handlers know how to extract self-extracting ZIP archives. You could even try unzip on the Terminal.

And then go and educate your instructor not to distribute self-extracting archives. Everyone should have ZIP support by now, and distributing EXEs is a wonderful opportunity to distribute viruses.
 
Originally posted by bensisko
... not that .zip files are a whole lot better...
Click to expand...

I have no issues with zip files. I no longer use stuffit, since moving to panther. With zip creation/extraction support built right into panther i've long since forgotten about other compression formats.

Besides, I compressed a folder using drop stuff, and then used panther's 'create archive' and the panther zip was actually smaller...

I know stuffit now has a supposedly better compression with '.sitx' but i have not used it and the receiver needs the latest version of stuffit expander.

Being in a windows world I don't think we'll get away from 'zip' anytime soon.
 
Originally posted by bensisko
... not that .zip files are a whole lot better...
Click to expand...

Oh, I think a zip file is a whole lot better. Distributing binary executables is irresponsible. It's been looked down upon since the 1980's, among the responsible parts of the computing community. A university teacher, of all people, should know better.

And I love the wonderfully descriptive filename, too: "code.exe" :rolleyes:
 
Originally posted by cubist
And I love the wonderfully descriptive filename, too: "code.exe" :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

c'mon, code.exe just sounds like a virus. i mean, i'm sure it's legit and all, coming from a prof. but if i received something called code.exe in an email and i wasn't already expecting it, i'd automatically assume it was a virus.
 
Originally posted by cubist
Distributing binary executables is irresponsible. It's been looked down upon since the 1980's, among the responsible parts of the computing community. A university teacher, of all people, should know better.
Click to expand...

Absolutely - but I find it odd that people automatically assume that everyone is using a PC - you might mention to your prof that you're on a mac and can't run .exe files. You probably aren't the first and certainly not that last to have this issue.

Good luck,

D
 
try calling the textbook company?

you could try the textbook company. I used to work in software support for a textbook company, and we were very responsive--though that was many years ago--things may have changed by now!
 
Originally posted by cubist
Oh, I think a zip file is a whole lot better. Distributing binary executables is irresponsible. It's been looked down upon since the 1980's, among the responsible parts of the computing community. A university teacher, of all people, should know better.

And I love the wonderfully descriptive filename, too: "code.exe" :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

I actually meant in the way of keeping virii away. A .zip will distribute a virius just as well as a zip delivered as an exe.
 
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