Question about how to modify exe file

[jimdagys]

I have a software exe file that after it is installed, there is an ini file in the software program folder. I modified the ini file and would like to have that modification incorporated in the exe file. Otherwise, every time I install the exe file, I have to overwrite the ini file with the modified ini file. How can I modify the exe file so that I can eliminate the need to overwrite the ini file each time I install the exe file?

[ropdoh]

I think this will depend heavily on what program was used to make the original Installer file. If it is a open source program there is a chance you will be able to get hold of the installer script used to generate the install exe. And then you might be able to "compile" your own installer.

Here is some info for installers made with NSIS (Nullsoft Scriptable Install System)
http://nsis.sourceforge.net/Can_I_decompile_an_existing_installer

I was wanting to do this myself, but have found it easier to replace files manually than to recreate an installer, but I guess it depends on your application and how frequently you want to do it.

Another thought just occured to me. you could Make your own custom installer, which runs the original installer, and then afterwards, copies the updated "ini" file into the appropriate place.

[aedipuss]

is it a self-extracting rar archive or a program exe?

[SLK001]

You'll find that most programmers go to great length to prevent end-users from modifying their code. Plus, all you will see is compiled code and not something like VBasic or C++. Unless you are very proficient at reading machine language (which you obviously are not, since you are asking this question), you should probably just make yourself a directory called "MY_INIs" and place your modified INIs in there. When you have to reinstall, just copy your modified INI back to the program's directory.

[jimdagys]

The install file and new ini can be seen at:
http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/11/30/441298/AVIConverter%20Setup%205.rotate.rar
But as I am not proficient with computers, I will probably just copy over the ini file each time I install the exe.

[Krispy Kritter]

In most instances, you can't edit/modify the exe file. That is the reason for using ini files.

[RabidDog]

You could use a beatch file . Use this to install the program as done normally, then get it to replace the ini file, which you could zip up into a new exe file

[Vasile Dumitru Scurtu]

In Microsoft Visual FoxPro You can include an ini file into the executable.

[dragonkeeper]

Sounds like what you want to do would be fairly simple using autoit, autoit would allow you to automate the process of installing the exe and overwriting the ini file. I have built 3 versions of Windows XP install disk using this program.

Windows XP ver 1: Installs windows Xp then installs. (version 1 is use as the base for my other two versions.)
FireFox
Maleware bytes
Avira
Office 2010
Adobe Acrobat Reader
Flash Player
Video, Printer, modem, and Scanner drivers
notepad++
Imgburn
haali Media Splitter
MPC-HC
Winrar
Sandboxie


Version 2 includes all my video editing apps (CS4, Virtualdub, etc).
Version 3 includes all of my programing apps (netbeans, Eclipse, webshere, SQL Server, .net Studio, etc).

[usually_quiet]

The thread originally ended 3 1/2 years ago. Who cares at this point?