Extract text from EX_ files
To convert your EX_ file to another format, you need Microsoft Windows or other Compressed software.
To convert other file formats to the "Windows System File" file type, you need software like Microsoft Windows or a similar tool.
An .ex_ file is a compressed or renamed version of a standard Windows Executable (.EXE). Historically, this format was the standard for saving space on installation media (like floppies and CD-ROMs) used by Microsoft Windows and InstallShield wizards. The trailing underscore is a specific convention indicating the file is incomplete or packed; it cannot be executed directly by double-clicking. Users often encounter these files when digging through driver folders, older system recovery disks, or when attempting to email an executable file that was renamed to bypass aggressive security filters.
The main issue is that .ex_ files are useless in their current state. To use the software inside, the file must be "expanded" back to its original size and format. While Windows includes a command-line tool (expand.exe) to handle this, most users are uncomfortable using the Command Prompt to process files. Furthermore, different compression algorithms (like MS-ZIP vs. Quantum) can make manual expansion trial-and-error. For restoration, the goal is converting back to EXE. If you simply need to inspect the contents without running potential malware, converting to a container like ZIP or just extracting the raw data is the safer workflow.
Convert.Guru analyzes your EX_ file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
Users also converted EX, EXE, ZIP, XAPK, 7Z, AIP and DB0 files.
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 EX_ converter.