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How to extract cab file from exe ?

hi !
Most of our software are .exe files to be run from a PC and to be installed then on the PPC.
When one wants to perform a HR away from PC, it is then hard to quickly re-install all apps.
Having cab files stored in the SD card is the solution but what to do when no cab files are available only exe ?
My question is then the following : is there a possibility to extract CAB files from .exe files ?
Thx in advance

Hi,
Often the .exe is just a self extracting archive which you can open with winrar
doesn't always work, just right-click on the .exe en choose open with winrar...
also, when you try to install an exe file, the .cab is extracted and moved to you phone, that means you should be able to find the cab somewhere and copy it...
most of the time in \program files\microsoft active sync\(appname)
also, when you install an app, some of them ask you where to install it on your pc, in that directory you can find the cabs you need
now I'm just looking for a program that can make an cab installer that can be run on my phone and installs every cab to SD...
I found one, but it doesn't work... teksoft airwizard 1.1...
Bartus

at times one can also just rename it from .exe to .zip

yes copy from activesync folder is possible but i have the same problem only with this difference. On my working computer i have administrator rights and folder Program files is blocked for me. I need a program to extract cab form exe. WinRar does not work. Sorry for my bad english

well try this: after cab transferred to your device, don't install it (and don't cancel!!) , go to Windows\AppMgr , and see if a folder with the name of that program exists with a cab file in it ...
now I'm just looking for a program that can make an cab installer that can be run on my phone and installs every cab to SD...
I found one, but it doesn't work... teksoft airwizard 1.1...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
try SettingsSaviour ... it has a silent install feature with which you can install many cabs at once, downside is silent isntall can't be used to install programs on SD, you'll have to manually choose Storage Card for each program...

Very comprehensive explanations ... thanks to all of you ! I gonna try and report if any further problems.
--------------------------------------------
After trying to change the extension of the .exe, I have to report that it works with one of the files I wanted to CABized.
To MODO : do I need to stamp this thread as SOLVED ?

Bonusbartus said:
Hi,
Often the .exe is just a self extracting archive which you can open with winrar
doesn't always work, just right-click on the .exe en choose open with winrar...
also, when you try to install an exe file, the .cab is extracted and moved to you phone, that means you should be able to find the cab somewhere and copy it...
most of the time in \program files\microsoft active sync\(appname)
also, when you install an app, some of them ask you where to install it on your pc, in that directory you can find the cabs you need
now I'm just looking for a program that can make an cab installer that can be run on my phone and installs every cab to SD...
I found one, but it doesn't work... teksoft airwizard 1.1...
Bartus
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What I did to keep installed cab files was I created a new folder in my storage card and named it "CABS", then I did a registry tweak to where the cab file was not deleted after installation. Now whenever I download a cab file, I "save as", CABS folder(from the dropdown box) on my storage card.

DR400 said:
hi !
Most of our software are .exe files to be run from a PC and to be installed then on the PPC.
When one wants to perform a HR away from PC, it is then hard to quickly re-install all apps.
Having cab files stored in the SD card is the solution but what to do when no cab files are available only exe ?
My question is then the following : is there a possibility to extract CAB files from .exe files ?
Thx in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just wants to mention a "universal" unpacker called UniExtract - http://legroom.net/software/uniextract - it can extract many .EXEs made by install tools. Also - check out MSCEInf - which can analyze an CAB-file - http://www.freewareppc.com/utilities/msceinf.shtml

Are you able to open a exe file on your device? 90% of the programs I like have exe files and I always get not a valid pocket pc application. I've even tried to rename exe to cab or zip, but doesn't work. The file extension being downloaded is shaded out in the file type box in the download dialog box and cannot be changed. I've tried programs to convert exe files to other extensions, but all they do is convert after the downloaded exe files have already been installed.

hotdog53 said:
Are you able to open a exe file on your device? 90% of the programs I like have exe files and I always get not a valid pocket pc application. I've even tried to rename exe to cab or zip, but doesn't work. The file extension being downloaded is shaded out in the file type box in the download dialog box and cannot be changed. I've tried programs to convert exe files to other extensions, but all they do is convert after the downloaded exe files have already been installed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thats because they are exe files that are supposed to be run on a normal PC. You download the exe to a PC, then when you have your Phone connected via Activesync, run the exe and it will install on your phone.
Alternativly, use WinRar on your PC to extract the exe, and copy the .cab files to your phone, then open them. (this does not always work, not all exe files are extractable)

DR400 said:
hi !
Most of our software are .exe files to be run from a PC and to be installed then on the PPC.
When one wants to perform a HR away from PC, it is then hard to quickly re-install all apps.
Having cab files stored in the SD card is the solution but what to do when no cab files are available only exe ?
My question is then the following : is there a possibility to extract CAB files from .exe files ?
Thx in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My solution is:
1) keep PDA disconnected (no active sync session)
2) install exe as usual and, when standard installation dialog will appear, go on (later cab installation will begin when you'll connect phone to pc)
3) open regedit.exe
4) go to this key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows CE Services\AppMgr\Apps
5) there you'll find a list of installable cabs via active sync
6) under each application, the value ListCabFiles is the name of cab file and the value InstallDir is its position of file system.
Remember to uninstall exe after you copy/move the cab file (or delete application key) otherwise installation of cab files will start on next activesync session!!
Simple, do you agree?

yeh... sure i cant use activesync, so i just extract the exes seems easy enough

mugglesquop said:
thats because they are exe files that are supposed to be run on a normal PC. You download the exe to a PC, then when you have your Phone connected via Activesync, run the exe and it will install on your phone.
Alternativly, use WinRar on your PC to extract the exe, and copy the .cab files to your phone, then open them. (this does not always work, not all exe files are extractable)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use a program called pocketRAR like winRAR but for mobile win -extract files- get cab and run its that easy just did it with this calc.exe

Knocksock said:
Just wants to mention a "universal" unpacker called UniExtract - http://legroom.net/software/uniextract - it can extract many .EXEs made by install tools. Also - check out MSCEInf - which can analyze an CAB-file - http://www.freewareppc.com/utilities/msceinf.shtml
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have just used uniextract to unpak my Pocket informant, I think this utility will be a life saver for all those files that i can't get as CABS. I have a lot of problems with active sync but can easily transfer to SD card with card reader or WM5Storage.
Thanks you so much

exe programs which use activesync
always get cabs from the install programs
if just renaming the exe to zip don't let you extract the cab file manualy
an installation on a pc without a pda connected to active sync would leave the cab files somewhere so next time the pda is connected the cabs can be transfered
search for *.cab and find the one you're looking for on the computer

Ran the .exe, found the cab, copied it.
Thanks.
Oh and UniExtract looks like a great program so I'll probably be using that next time.

NOT ALL
Not all the apps can run on the SD... thats for sure
but always you can... use setingsaivour BTW you can edit some cabs that arent sign trusted or only read with cab manager and edit the cab to apply the default installation or tell it that you dont want to choose set default main or SD... save it and tadaaaa!
I always do that... change .exe to .rar or .zip see inside extract the cab and copy it to my Cab folder on sd... always edit the sd config... and run the User customization !

this is not only easy, but it works flawlessly,
thanks

why don't you try 7zip for pocket pc? is the best way and quick cuz you ccan estract your cab files right on your ppc
just go to menu and extract, works for executables for windows

Bonusbartus said:
Hi,
Often the .exe is just a self extracting archive which you can open with winrar
doesn't always work, just right-click on the .exe en choose open with winrar...
also, when you try to install an exe file, the .cab is extracted and moved to you phone, that means you should be able to find the cab somewhere and copy it...
most of the time in \program files\microsoft active sync\(appname)
also, when you install an app, some of them ask you where to install it on your pc, in that directory you can find the cabs you need
now I'm just looking for a program that can make an cab installer that can be run on my phone and installs every cab to SD...
I found one, but it doesn't work... teksoft airwizard 1.1...
Bartus
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not to get off subject but teksoft is just one way. I know there is a nother and I can't remember where it was, but I'll keep looking for the cab install program and let you know where it is or provide a link, if I find it.

Cab-file creation question.

Hi,
I have a question. I have for example SPB Mobiele Shell. We all now this has to be installed via a PC and i needs a serial to install. I have the program and the serial and i would like to make a cab-file of this 2. I have a program to make cab-files, WinCE CAB Manager. Can anyone explain to me how i can do this? I like to have this on my SD-card and like to install it from there in case of emergency's. I hope someone can help me with this.
Thx

many activesync install exe's
can be renamed to zip and one can out the cab files
give it a try

Rudegar said:
many activesync install exe's
can be renamed to zip and one can out the cab files
give it a try
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tried that but no luck. I think this is not what i mean. I would like to turn this exe into a CAB and the key included. So when i install the Cab i don't have to register.

one would think the program maker took precautions to make that impossible otherwise your cab could be distributed as a pretty easy free version
you can try to single out what files it depend
on and make a cab file from cratchs
and if the exe or dll files got alter when the serial was given
that cab would be reg'd
otherwise you would have to find out what registries was altered in the
serial process and make a reg which which did those alterations
and get the cab file to run it

Most installations that require you to install through activesync end up leaving a cab file behind. Check Program Files\Activesync\SPB... for the cab file. If it is not there restart the installation but after you have executed the setup file leave it alone and search for the cab file again. I hope this is what you were looking for

ALL exe that install via activesync have a cab, some are hidden in the profiles temporary files, some auto-delete once installed, so leave the application hanging in the install and do a search for recent files and sort by date/time (remember to allow it to scan hidden and system folders). a lot go into the activesync directory, some go into program files, i have even found some that go into the internet explorer temp files, install, and then delete themselves. The most common hiding place is your computers profile temp folder --- typically found under
C:\Documents and Settings\PROFILE\Local Settings\Temp
just dig around, its not to difficult once you find the 3 most basic hiding places.
good luck.

Sponzert said:
Hi,
I have a question. I have for example SPB Mobiele Shell. We all now this has to be installed via a PC and i needs a serial to install. I have the program and the serial and i would like to make a cab-file of this 2. I have a program to make cab-files, WinCE CAB Manager. Can anyone explain to me how i can do this? I like to have this on my SD-card and like to install it from there in case of emergency's. I hope someone can help me with this.
Thx
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can simply download the CAB files from SPB site directly.

Sponzert said:
Hi,
I have a question. I have for example SPB Mobiele Shell. We all now this has to be installed via a PC and i needs a serial to install. I have the program and the serial and i would like to make a cab-file of this 2. I have a program to make cab-files, WinCE CAB Manager. Can anyone explain to me how i can do this? I like to have this on my SD-card and like to install it from there in case of emergency's. I hope someone can help me with this.
Thx
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have run into a similar situation where my installation was failing due to the huge size of a CAB file.
In my case, the size of the CAB was nearly 23mb and the free storage left was around 26mb. This made the installer fail as it ran out of space midway during the install.
I know one thing for sure was that the PC installers (Exes that would run on the PC that would extract the CAB on the device) would extract the CABs and put them in \windows\appmgr\install folder and would trigger the installer on the device.
So during my second attempt, when the device prompted for installation location "device or storage card", I opened up the explorer on the device (guess you can do the same thing with Windows Explorer since your would stay connected over USB using Activesync) and went into \windows\appmgr\install folder and made a copy of the cab to the storage card (you can copy to your PC as well).
Exited the installer and then installed the cab from the storage card and the installation went fine.
Not sure about how the SPB apps work since there are two options during the PC install. Trail or Registered version. Based on the option chosen, it would either extract the necessary CAB (either trial or registered). I hope it creates a "Registered" version of the app in the CAB after you follow the above steps.
Hope this helps.
PS: I wish that the standard install location on the device "\windows\appmgr\install" be changed to the storage card by some tweaks. So far not successful in finding/getting one.

vprabu said:
I have run into a similar situation where my installation was failing due to the huge size of a CAB file.
In my case, the size of the CAB was nearly 23mb and the free storage left was around 26mb. This made the installer fail as it ran out of space midway during the install.
I know one thing for sure was that the PC installers (Exes that would run on the PC that would extract the CAB on the device) would extract the CABs and put them in \windows\appmgr\install folder and would trigger the installer on the device.
So during my second attempt, when the device prompted for installation location "device or storage card", I opened up the explorer on the device (guess you can do the same thing with Windows Explorer since your would stay connected over USB using Activesync) and went into \windows\appmgr\install folder and made a copy of the cab to the storage card (you can copy to your PC as well).
Exited the installer and then installed the cab from the storage card and the installation went fine.
Not sure about how the SPB apps work since there are two options during the PC install. Trail or Registered version. Based on the option chosen, it would either extract the necessary CAB (either trial or registered). I hope it creates a "Registered" version of the app in the CAB after you follow the above steps.
Hope this helps.
PS: I wish that the standard install location on the device "\windows\appmgr\install" be changed to the storage card by some tweaks. So far not successful in finding/getting one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you, this did the trick for me. Installed en included the registration.

Welcome. I am happy that I could be of some help

vprabu said:
Welcome. I am happy that I could be of some help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now i have everything in registered Cab-files on my SD-card. Now i can make the switch to WM6. I'm dutch and have a P3300 and i guess it will take some time before HTC wil come with a dutch WM6 upgrade, so maybe not the place to ask but do you now where i can find a original English WM6 for the P3300?

Stupid folders/shortcuts whens installing .exe

Hi,
Some programs for Windows Mobile come in .exe and not .CAB. So when I install the .exe on my computer it install the program on my smartphone (htc s730). when when i install the .exe on my computer, many folders (under program file etc.) are created. also shortcuts are created in the start on my computer. all this is really annoying. it trashes my computer.
how can i install .exe programs without all those stupid things installing on my computer? i love CAB but hate EXE
thanks

First look at the homepage of the program. Many software sompanies also releases standalone cab's.
Try extracting files from the exe installer (using WinRAR) and you may get the cab (only works with some installers).
Make a collection of your programs yourselfs. Before the installation of the program on the device is finished, the cab is copied to Windows\AppMgr\Install. So just get it from there.

Okay that's good help-
I thank you moneytoo

WinCE Cab Manager or other program with wich I can modify contents

The title says everything.
Only thing with WinCE Cab Manager is that I installed it and after a reboot it says that my trial is over - darn i havent started it before in my life in my computer and it says that trial is over
Damn.
Are there any alternatives or where could i get a working version? (version lower than 2.0 eg: 1.1)

I use Pocket PC Installation Creator, it's not free but a hell of a lot cheaper then WinCE Cab manager (http://www.aperitto.com/index.php)
Or if you are handy with making .inf files and using cabwiz try the utils in the zip: MSCEInf.exe to extract contents from a cab (including .inf file) and cabwiz.exe to make cab from .inf file
You can edit the inf or use it as an example for your own inf and than use cabwiz to make new cab. Disadvantage is that it is a lot of work if you have cabs with a lot of registry keys and files
good luck

Extracting CAB file from PC .exe installer

I tried searching, found this thread:http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=310788&page=2 but it's not answering my question.
My Kaiser came with SPB GPRS Monitor and Sprite Backup. Both came as an installation disk (exe format) to be installed through a PC. Now, I'm looking at a way to make CAB for carrying both so that anytime I do a hard reset or reflash ROM, I can re-install both without using PC. Looking at the thread, I tried opening up the .exe and able to get the Cab files (there're 2, named 1 and 2 for each setup executable extracted), but copying the Cab and running it on my Kaiser won't work.
Is there any way? I try avoiding using 'cracked' cab apps .. I have it as bundled for the Kaiser, there should be a legit way for me to have it as cabs ..

There is a way.
run the installer from your PC. when the installation screen comes up asking you to choose between storage card and device, DONT CHOOSE. instead, run a file manager and search for the cab file. it usually goes either in windows/appmgr or in application data/volatile

What if in this case, it doesn't ask, it immediately says check your WM device, there's further instruction.
Second question: is the search done on the PC or the WM?
I'll definitely give it a try .. and thanks!

if u got activesync installed on your PC, run the exe files and find the .cab files on program files/microsoft activesync folder
semoga berhasil

Thank you. Terima Kasih Will give it a try

the cab file doesn't always appear on your PC.. but it does always appear on your PPC
look for it in your PDA when it tells you to look for further instructions..

WinRAR (rarlabs.com) is free and will extract most files from EXE installer archives. However, if WinRAR won't then UniversalExtractor will. You can search for it on google and download a demo.

THANK YOU
Thanks to all who has responded.
I managed to find the CAB files under PC's respective folders (Some are under Active Sync, some like Holux, created it's own folder). Tested some of the CABs found there and it worked. Now I'm a happy camper, got all of the CABS that I need (especially GPRS Monitor )
Last question:
the cab file doesn't always appear on your PC.. but it does always appear on your PPC
look for it in your PDA when it tells you to look for further instructions..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Under which folder I should be looking? I tried TEMP but it's empty (that's before I confirming the install process)

nir36 said:
There is a way.
run the installer from your PC. when the installation screen comes up asking you to choose between storage card and device, DONT CHOOSE. instead, run a file manager and search for the cab file. it usually goes either in windows/appmgr or in application data/volatile
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I always do this to extract cab files from a exe installer and most of the time the cab file can be found at windows/appmgr/install

very useful and a serious time saver

Sticky or Wiki?
Thanks again for responses. I'm able to get what I need and believe this can be put as part of FAQ, Wiki or Sticky?

Sticky no.. but i will add it to the guides thread soon..