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Executable Formats
Microsoft
16 bit: COM MZ NE Mixed (16/32 bit): LE 32/64 bit: PE COFF
*nix
a.out ELF
Apple
Mach-O

NE

Introduction

The WIN-NE executable format, designed for Windows 3.x, was the "NE", or "New Executable" format. Again, a 16bit format, it alleviated the maximum size restrictions that the MZ format had.

Support

Operating Systems that use it: Windows 1.01 through 3.xx. The format can be run on later 32 bit windows systems (in a VDM), but is not the native format.
Because of 64 bit lack of v8086, support is discarded on 64 bit windows.

Inside the NE file

Overview

DOS Stub

The DOS stub is a valid MZ exe. This enables the develper to package both an MS-DOS and Win16 version of the program, but nromally just prints "This Program requires Microsoft Windows". The e_lfanew field (offset 0x3C) points to the NE header.

NE Header

The NE header is a relatively large structure with multiple characteristics. The structure is as below:

struct NE_header {
    char sig[2];               //"NE"
    uint8 MajLinkerVersion;    //The major linker version
    uint8 MinLinkerVersion;    //The minor linker version
    uint16 EntryTableOffset;   //Offset of entry table, see below
    uint16 EntryTableLength;   //Length of entry table in bytes
    uint32 FileLoadCRC;        //

};

NE

Contents

NE