When we sit in front of a PC, there are several elements that we have so that everything works as we need. Here an operating system such as Windows comes into play, the programs that we install on it, or the data that we handle, among other things.
In this way we find a set that allows us to work on the computer every day, play games, visit social networks , etc. As with the aforementioned operating system, the programs that we install on it are essential. Despite the fact that Windows itself includes a series of software solutions that try to solve many modes of use, most users opt for other solutions. Thus, they download programs from the Internet or from the Windows 10 store that meet their needs.
In the same way, through them we generate and work with a multitude of files of all kinds that we can save, print, share, etc. As a general rule, for many of these tasks we use the File Explorer that Windows includes, for example.
The format of the files, differential sign for their use
As most of you probably already know, from this section we work with a huge number of file types. These differ basically, in addition to their name, by their extension. Depending on the program or devices with which we have created it, it will have one format or another. This is one of the basics of computer science in general. And we must bear in mind that there are many file formats that have been accompanying us for years.
Thanks to them we can work with a multitude of programs and carrying out tasks of all kinds. We find this both on computers based on Windows systems and on other platforms such as macOS or Linux . As most of you already know, these formats or file extensions are associated with the applications that we install and use on a daily basis. Likewise, depending on their type, they are associated with a certain type of data or mode of operation. But in the same way, many of these formats are generic for many different uses.
We tell you all this because in these same lines we want to focus on a specific type of file. In particular we refer to a type that could be said to be one of the most important that we are going to find. We refer to executables, which are those that allow us to launch the programs we use on a day-to-day basis. And it is that among the many formats with which we deal on the PC , we can find two of which it could be said that they are the most important, the aforementioned executables .
The importance of executable files
We say this because in reality these are the ones that are generated to allow us to install the programs that we will later make use of on the system . In fact, below we want to talk about two of these formats that you have surely seen on countless occasions. In particular we refer to the popular msi and exe. These two file formats are very popular and in similar use. That is why at first many users may come to think that they serve the same purpose. But in reality it is not like that, since they have important differences that we are going to talk about next.
The .exe files are perhaps the most common when it comes to installing programs on a Windows system, but we can also run into .msi. Well, first of all and as a curiosity, we will tell you that the .msi files began to be used in 1999. Their nomenclature is based on the technology initially called Microsoft Installer and currently known as Windows Installer.
Actually with this we are talking about a service that is installed as standard with all versions of Windows . To give us an idea, here we talk about a Windows API that can be used to create installations. Likewise, this is used for both maintenance and repairs of applications in the Redmond operating system .
Differences between exe and msi files
Therefore, once we know this, we could say that these files in msi format can be considered as databases. All the information necessary to install the desired program has been stored there. It can also host other related tasks such as repairing those applications. In fact these are Windows installation formats widely used in more business environments. The main reason for this is because of the possibilities they offer when working with many computers on the same network.
Also, on the other hand, we find the popular executable files in exe format. Well, we must know that these can reach us in two ways, on the one hand we find those that are compressed files that host an MSI and that call Windows Installer. This way this function takes care of the installation process as such in the system. But with everything and with it there is another type of exe that are executable by themselves. With this we want to tell you that these are the ones that take care of the installation process without using the aforementioned msi and Windows Installer.
One of the advantages that exe files present us is that they allow us to install several applications simultaneously. Keep in mind that if we refer to msi, this specific format is only capable of handling one installation at a time. But on the assumption that what we need is to carry out an unattended installation , the mentioned msi are perfect. Hence precisely its use in more corporate environments, since msi are the most appropriate to automate these tasks.
This is achieved because most of the time the msi run without user questions or interruptions.
