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I have an EXE file which I want to convert into ISO to a bootable image. Like an OS which may run on a VM.

Is this possible?

My system is:

  • Windows 7 SP1.
  • On an x86 laptop.
Giacomo1968
  • 58,727
whmsft
  • 101

2 Answers2

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Since windows has been specified, this refers to Windows. As mentioned before, an EXE is not an OS. So it cant by itself be a bootable image.

  1. You could make it a bootable image by creating a bootable disk with the OS on it, copy the exe and an autostart file. And then extract an image.

    • However this is unlikely to work as a normal Windows program can refer to registry entries, paths, dlls, fonts etc.
    • If you have written it then this process could work, as you would know what the exe requires.

  2. You just want to autostart a program when you plug in a USB (for instance), then you can have an autostart script to launch the exe that's installed on your system.

  3. Some applications have a portable install mode. These will work from the USB drive

Rohit Gupta
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Yes, but not easily. Your .exe likely refers to DLLs and file systems provided by Windows. You would need to provide those yourself - either by building a CD that loaded Windows and then your code, or by compiling equivalent functions into your code. Developers who need to do this often compile on Linux because they can use it for free on their CD.

For personal use you might be able to create a system repair disk and change what it runs at boot. That's not public information, though, so you'd have to reverse engineer it... or find someone who has.

user3486184
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