Extract text from Syslinux COM32 modules (C32)
To convert C32 modules to another format, you need SYSLINUX or other System software.
To convert other file formats to the "Bootloader Executable" file type, you need software like SYSLINUX or a similar tool.
A .c32 file is a Bootloader COM32 module primarily used by SYSLINUX and GRUB. These files contain 32-bit executable code that runs during the system boot process to load visual menus, hardware drivers, or other pre-OS environments. They are critical components often found on bootable USB drives and Linux installation media.
These modules are typically structured internally as ELF (Executable and Linkable Format) binaries. Users usually encounter .c32 files like vesamenu.c32 or chain.c32 when creating bootable drives with tools like Rufus or UNetbootin. The main disadvantage of this format is that it is a highly specific compiled binary. It cannot be opened, read, or edited in standard text editors or IDEs. Modifying its behavior requires changing an associated .cfg text file, not the .c32 file itself.
Converting a .c32 file to a standard document format (like TXT or PDF) is not directly possible because it consists of raw executable machine code rather than human-readable data. Standard online converters fail to process it entirely.
This file format is difficult to open or convert because it is a low-level system executable meant only for the bootloader's 32-bit protected mode. However, convert.guru can still identify the file format, inspect the file, and show embedded text strings or internal ELF headers. If our analysis detects a supported underlying or embedded format, viewing or extracting data may still be possible. Just drag and drop your file to see what it is and convert it if supported.
Convert.Guru analyzes your C32 file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
Users also converted CR2, MBR, EXT and BIN files.
If you want to convert C32 file to SYS, DLL, EXE, DRV, VXD, 386, COM, BAT, CMD, SCR, PIF or LNK, you can use SYSLINUX or similar software from the "Bootloader Executable Module" category. In the File menu, look for Save As… or Export….
To convert MSI, EXE, REG, MST, LNK, CAB, CAT, DRV, INF, SYS, MSU or DLL files to C32, try SYSLINUX or another comparable tool in the "Bootloader Executable Module" category.
The history of Convert.Guru began over 25 years ago in California with Tom Simondi’s file-format database. A former contributor to Space Shuttle development and a software pioneer of the 1980s, Simondi established a trusted resource for file type analysis that was even referenced by Microsoft Windows XP. Today, we use modern technology to process and convert thousands of file formats while continually improving our C32 converter.