Increase the size of an .exe file
 

Is it possible to pad out an .exe file so that it is bigger but still works?

If so, how?

Cheers.

Re: Increase the size of an .exe file
 

Why would you want to do that?

Re: Increase the size of an .exe file
 

Do you have access to the source code? If so you could put in some random rubbish and recompile. I too am perplexed as to why you want to do so.

Re: Increase the size of an .exe file
 

In short no, the exe only contains that actual code that does the work so the only way that I know that would pad it would be to add a lot of redundant code. Why you would want to do this I don't know* and its very naughty to waste space.

Scarlett.
* The evil overlord list does give a good reason though ;

My master plan for taking over the world will be in a file 1.45 mb in size.

Re: Increase the size of an .exe file
 

The only reason I can think of is to make it look like it is some other file, which can hardly be a legitimate reason...

Re: Increase the size of an .exe file
 

Like Daniel said....

If you can give me one decent legitimate reason for doing it, then I will tell you how to do it, without needed access to the source code. (I know it works because I just did it).

Re: Increase the size of an .exe file
 

I think I know too, will keep schtum though.

Re: Increase the size of an .exe file
 

I know 2 hehehehe

Re: Increase the size of an .exe file
 

Well,
Isnt this a big great love-in. :D

Re: Increase the size of an .exe file
 

There are legitimate reasons you can do this (and I have done in the past). I caught a user running port scans (which, while it's not, strictly speaking, against the rules, it is bending them ). I wrote a little program that when run, displayed "Access Denied", padded it out to the same size as the program he was using, overwrote the program he was using (making sure to preserve the date stamp). Then watched as he tried to do a port scan.

Re: Increase the size of an .exe file
 

Fair enough, though I'd call that a semi-legitimate use :)

Re: Increase the size of an .exe file
 

True..It was, however the only thing that comes near to being a legitimate use that I could think of.

I wouldn't normally do it anyway. The only reason I dd it in this case was that we knew the user was involved in hacking activity and he had been warned multiple times not to run port scans.

Normally, I just remove the user's access to the program.

Re: Increase the size of an .exe file
 

Well I don't know how legitimate you call this but it's to get a nocd to work.

Re: Increase the size of an .exe file
 

Do you own the program licence?

Re: Increase the size of an .exe file
 

Of course, will post pics to prove if necessary.

Re: Increase the size of an .exe file
 

What is it that you want the nocd for?

Re: Increase the size of an .exe file
 

Basically, I have nearly £300 worth of MS Flight Sim software. One of the addons stops my nocd working.

I actually think the hassle of padding the exe file will not be worth it.

Re: Increase the size of an .exe file
 

I have nocd cracks for all my games (that need the cd/dvd) but mainly because I can't be bothered to take the discs with me when I go to work.

I don't have any flight sim games tho - sorry....

p.s. I'm presuming that you've looked on game copy world . com

Re: Increase the size of an .exe file
 

Yes, I have nocds for all my other games too.

The problem is, this addon expects the .exe file to be a certain size and of course nocds are always different sizes.

Re: Increase the size of an .exe file
 

You should have kept a copy of the original exe before you brought in the nocd version.

You have to be careful though. This addon could directly write to the exe, which is why it is checking the filesize. If the exe is differently sized due to the nocd patch, and you trick it, it could write to it anyway, corrupting it.

Re: Increase the size of an .exe file
 

It's ok, I have an original exe and have now decided to just leave the disc in the drive.

Re: Increase the size of an .exe file
 

I don't know if this is possible, could you not install the game, or any game for that matter on a virtual drive useing Isobuster>mount image>virtual drive ....... for arguements sake.

Just a thought

Re: Increase the size of an .exe file
 

Thought about that but I think it's a waste of disk space.

Re: Increase the size of an .exe file
 

If your disk space is that low ( your saying only the one game ) could you put it onto a gmail virtual hd, then its not really your space so to speak, don't know if it would work though :shrug:

Re: Increase the size of an .exe file
 

If it's refusing to patch the EXE because the size is different, that probably means the content is different as well!

Re: Increase the size of an .exe file
 

Out of interest, are they any bad things you could do by making a file bigger?

Re: Increase the size of an .exe file
 

Let's say I write a virus.....

I pack my virus into an executable file (ends in .exe).....

I now call that file "notepad.exe" (which happens to be the name of the file that runs the Windows notepad application.....

I then substitute my file for the original file on the user's machine.....

The observant user will spot the difference in file size.....

Not if I can pad it out and make it bigger </me Evil Grin>

Re: Increase the size of an .exe file
 

Just put the bloody CD in!
Jesus...it can't be that difficult.

Re: Increase the size of an .exe file
 

Re: Increase the size of an .exe file
 

If you made the virus, you just put some time wasting in the source code - easy!