Self-extracting Archives for Windows?

Trey395 · 02-19-2004, 12:16 PM

I'm trying to create a self-extracting, encrypted zip archive on a RH9 box for use on a MS machine. (yes, I know these are not as secure as a key-exchange, encrypted file)

The command line I'm using is...
zip -A file.zip -e file.txt

it creates the encrypted file, but when I rename it to .exe on the win machine it does not try to unpack itself? is this even possible?

acid_kewpie · 02-19-2004, 12:29 PM

you can't turn a zip file into an exe just by changing it's name....

that's a feature of WinZip or whatever...

Trey395 · 02-19-2004, 01:13 PM

That's what the -A is supposed to do, make it a self-extracting archive. It doesn't appear to work though...

acid_kewpie · 02-19-2004, 01:47 PM

well yes but unix code and windows code are not interchangable.... once you've create it you will be able to run it "./myarchive.zip" and it will do exactly as it is supposed to... won't do a thing on windows though.

Trey395 · 02-19-2004, 01:56 PM

got it, thanks...

are there any other programs that will allow you to make win32 sda's?

acid_kewpie · 02-19-2004, 02:05 PM

to be honest i can't see any reason why anyone would bother making one... seems like it's basically none of linux's business making executable programs for a totally different operating system.

mikshaw · 02-19-2004, 04:10 PM

I agree with acid_kewpie there...it is rather pointless.

As an alternative, you could install WinZip or WinRAR under Wine and that should allow you to make them.

under...on top of...within...whatever...

2damncommon · 02-20-2004, 01:58 AM

Quote:

it's basically none of linux's business making executable programs for a totally different operating system.

I would disagree, as there are times one may need to zip a file for a system without a zip program, but M$ would just make it incompatable if there was one, so you are entirely right.
I have used Linux unzip to unzip those self-extracting .exe files (like at bootdisk.com, then you can just "dd" the image to a floppy). Linux knows a zip file when it sees it.

Allen614 · 02-20-2004, 04:28 AM

I use rar and unrar all the time in both OS's. Especially when mucking around in iso's.

mikshaw · 02-20-2004, 06:40 AM

zipping and unzipping isn't the issue...just wanted to clarify that. The concern is whether you can create a self-extracting archive intended for windows use. Pretty sure a Windows environment is the only way at this point.

acid_kewpie · 02-20-2004, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 2damncommon
I would disagree, as there are times one may need to zip a file for a system without a zip program, but M$ would just make it incompatable if there was one, so you are entirely right.
I have used Linux unzip to unzip those self-extracting .exe files (like at bootdisk.com, then you can just "dd" the image to a floppy). Linux knows a zip file when it sees it.

you are confusing what you might want, once ever with what makes logical sense. might be handy if your dvd player could take answer phone messages too... it probably could with the right coding and modification, but why would you expect it to?

2damncommon · 02-20-2004, 09:50 AM

Quote:

might be handy if your dvd player could take answer phone messages too...

...in reference to (?) wanting to create a self-unzip for another operating system rather than just the zip file in the first place?