File extension is usually three or more characters at the end of the computer file name. File extensions are useful for computer operating systems, like Microsoft Windows or Apple MAC OS X, and basicaly tell them, what kind of data file it is and with which application associated it is.
We have collected a huge amount of informations and created searchable file extension list. At present the File-Extensions.org library contains thousands of file extensions and with each day the database is growing. A large number of file type entries have detailed descriptions, including their current use and a list of applications associated with it and which can handle the unknown file type, you were searching for.
If you encounter a file in your computer with an unknown file extension, then you are at the right place. You can check our database for informations about file extension you were looking for, including list of associated applications.
Simply use the search box at the top-left corner of each page to check our database for a specific file extension. You may also browse our database in alphabetical order using the navigation menu at the top.
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Random daily pick from file-extensions.org database.
.msi - Microsoft Windows Installer installation package file
In the past, Microsoft, along with everyone else - used simple installation methods, where an INF file was referenced for installation parameters, folder locations, options, etc. But for the past several years, Microsoft has switched to the "Windows Installer", also called MSI (MicroSoft Installer). Now the software applications come with Windows Installer package files.
The Windows Installer, formerly, known as Microsoft Installer is an engine for software installations, maintenance, and removal of software on modern Microsoft Windows systems. The installation information, and often the files themselves, are packaged in installation packages, loosely relational databases structured as OLE COM Structured Storages and commonly known as the MSI files, from their default file extension. Windows Installer contains significant changes from its predecessor, Setup API. New features include a GUI framework and automatic generation of the uninstallation sequence. Windows Installer is positioned as an alternative to stand-alone executable installer frameworks such as older versions of InstallShield and Wise (later versions of both products are based on Windows Installer) and NSIS.
Microsoft encourages third parties to use Windows Installer as the basis for installation frameworks, so that they synchronize correctly with other installers and keep the internal database of installed products consistent. Important features such as rollback and versioning depend on a consistent internal database for reliable operation.
The Installer is actually a relational database. This database consists of the Installer package (e.g. avatar.msi). This package contains information such as the installation sequence, system dependencies, destination folder paths, setup properties, component to feature relationship, and overall installation options. This database is never actually changed or written to. Instead, it uses what is called a Transform file .mst to apply customizations that you desire, to transform the database from its default state. The Installer doesn't stop there. It also is used for post-installation features such as Detect and Repair, Add/Remove programs, Run From Network and Install on First Use options. It is also used to give Elevated Rights (which is not turned ON by default) to an application on Windows NT so the user doesn't have to be a member of the local NT Administrator group. Overall, the Installer technology creates a higher level of customization than has ever been attempted before.
Windows Installer technologies are divided into two parts that work in combination: a client-side installer service (Msiexec.exe) and a package file (.msi file). Windows Installer uses the information contained within a package file to install the application. An instruction file (Microsoft Installer package) contains information about what needs to be done to install a product. Each MSI package file contains a relational-type database that stores instructions and data required to install (and remove) the program across many installation scenarios.
The Msiexec.exe program is a component of Windows Installer. When it is called by Setup, Msiexec.exe uses Msi.dll to read the package (.msi) files, apply any transform (.mst) files, and incorporate command-line options supplied by Setup. The installer performs all installation-related tasks, including copying files to the hard disk, making registry modifications, creating shortcuts on the desktop, and displaying dialog boxes to prompt for user installation preferences when necessary.
When Windows Installer is installed on a computer, it changes the registered file type of .msi files so that if you double-click an .msi file, Msiexec.exe runs with that file.
Once Microsoft included Windows Installer technology in Windows 2000, they also made it their policy to include .MSI installation packages in all applications they developed for Windows. What they didn’t include at the time was a tool of their own for repackaging traditional Setup-based applications into .MSI packages. Instead, Microsoft decided to include a “light” version of WinINSTALL called WinINSTALL LE (WinINSTALL Limited Edition) in the Valueadd folder on the Windows 2000 product CD. Administrators could then use WinINSTALL LE to repackage legacy applications into .MSI packages that could then be deployed using Group Policy. Microsoft apparently also decided to leave it to third-party vendors to develop full-featured .MSI packaging tools to meet the needs of customers who needed to deploy third-party and custom applications across their enterprise.
As a result of this decision, the marketplace has a number of competing .MSI packaging tools and .MSI authoring environments available at present, and the remainder of this article looks at three popular packaging tools that are available. Some of these tools are free while others are commercial products with varied pricing and licensing requirements, check out their websites for details. Using any of these tools can make your life easier as an administrator of a large, Windows-based network, since they save you the time of having to visit desktops to install the applications that make your business work.
Mime: application/x-ole-storage
Mime: text/mspg-legacyinfo
Associated application: Windows Installer, Microsoft Windows
Help how to open: MSI Microsoft Windows Installer packages are automatically detected by Microsoft Windows Installer service and after double-click on MSI package, Microsoft Windows Installer runs installation procedure.
In older versions of Microsoft Windows is not installed Microsoft Windows Installer service. It must be downloaded from Microsoft Internet servers.
Help how to convert this file type: It is no way, how to convert MSI Microsoft Windows Installer packages in to another file format.
Help how to backup this file type: not available
Database contains 3 records with the same file extension name.
Last update on August 20, 2010.
Recently updated file extensions:
Existing and new file extensions are updated or added very often.
file extension shm - Corel WordPerfect shell macro library file
file extension itl - Apple iTunes music database file
file extension m4p - Apple iTunes Music Store audio file
file extension cdda - Apple iTunes AIFF audio file
file extension hkdb - Apple iTunes database file
file extension hplg - Apple iTunes device plugin file
file extension hvpl - Apple iTunes visual plugin file
file extension itpc - Apple iTunes podcast subscription file
file extension itms - Apple iTunes store URL file
file extension itlp - Apple iTunes LP file
file extension ite - Apple iTunes extras
file extension nsq - NScheduler Qlikview schedule file
file extension scptd - AppleScript script bundle file
file extension spn - Corel WordPerfect distribution file
file extension saver - Mac OS X Screen Saver
file extension savedsearch - Spotlight Saved Search
file extension safariextz - Apple Safari extension file
file extension rwtheme - RapidWeaver theme file
file extension rwstyle - RapidWeaver style file
file extension rwsnippet - RapidWeaver snippet file
file extension vw3 - Volkswriter 3 text file
file extension rwplugin - RapidWeaver plugin file
file extension rt - RealText subtitle file
file extension rmvb - RealMedia variable bitrate file
file extension rmp - Internet audio playlist file
file extension vw - Volkswriter text file
file extension vrs - Corel WordPerfect video resource device driver file
file extension rmi - MIDI-sequention music (RIFF RMID format)
file extension rm - RealMedia
file extension spm - Corel WordPerfect file
file extension rec - Topfield TF5800 record file
file extension ram - Real Audio metafile
file extension r - Sound Designer 2 file
file extension s03 - Corel WordPerfect distribution file
file extension s02 - Corel WordPerfect distribution file
file extension pet - Corel WordPerfect
file extension q2renderer - Quake 2 for Mac renderer plug-in file
file extension nb - Corel Word Perfect notebook file
file extension pxr - Pixar picture file
file extension pvm - Parallels Desktop virtual machine file
file extension lnm - Corel WordPerfect SGML alias file
file extension hwl - Corel WordPerfect hared Writing Tools 9.0 file
file extension frs - Corel WordPerfect screen font resource file
file extension ix2 - Corel WordPerfect Office address book file
file extension ix2 - Corel WordPerfect Office template file
file extension psm1 - Microsoft Windows PowerShell script module file
file extension psdownload - Apple Mac OS X PubSub agent enclosure download file
file extension psd1 - Microsoft Windows PowerShell file
file extension psc1 - Microsoft Windows PowerShell console file
file extension ix - Corel WordPerfect Office template file
file extension proofingtool - Microsoft Office proofing tool file
file extension prfpset - Adobe Premiere Pro effect preset file
file extension prefs - Adobe Soundbooth preference file
file extension pref - Adobe Device Central preferences document file
file extension fmb - WordPerfect for Win File Manager Button bar
file extension irs - Corel WordPerfect IRS resource file
file extension 3rf - Advent 3B2 extensions script cross reference file
file extension tmf - Corel WordPerfect tagged font metric file
file extension ths - Corel WordPerfect Thesaurus dictionary file
file extension tv9 - Corel WordPerfect overflow file
file extension tv8 - Corel WordPerfect overflow file
file extension tv7 - Corel WordPerfect overflow file
file extension tv6 - Corel WordPerfect overflow file
file extension tv5 - Corel WordPerfect overflow file
file extension tv4 - Corel WordPerfect overflow file
file extension tv3 - Corel WordPerfect overflow file
file extension tv2 - Corel WordPerfect overflow file
file extension tv1 - Corel WordPerfect overflow file
file extension tst - Corel WordPerfect printer test file
file extension shw - Corel Presentations Slide Show
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For an overview of common file types,
visit the common file extensions page, which includes a list of the most important computer file formats you should know.
For an overview of unknown file extension,
visit the unknown file extensions page, which includes a list of the unknown file formats. If you know function of any unknown extension, please click on Submit button at the top of page and contact us.
Unhide file extensions in your Windows operating system
By default, the file extensions in Windows operating systems, are hidden. What you can't see and have no idea about, can be for your computer very harmful one day. This can allow virus and other malicious software programmers to distribute executable files disguised as something non-executable. For example, an .exe file may, with hidden file extensions, appear as common text file with name like file-name.txt[.exe], where the true .exe extension is to the user not visible.
There have been a large number of malicious programs or viruses exploiting this default setting of Windows operating systems, which is hiding file extensions from the user. This "feature" can be used to fool users into executing malicious or damaging code by making a file appear to be something it is not.
Multiple email-borne viruses are known to exploit the fact that Microsoft Windows operating systems hide certain file extensions. The first major attack incorporating an element of file extension obfuscation was the VBS/LoveLetter worm. ILOVEYOU or LOVELETTER is a computer worm that successfully attacked tens of millions of Windows computers in 2000. The worm contained an email attachment named "LOVE-LETTER-FOR-YOU.TXT.vbs". The vbs extension was hidden by default, which caused that many users just opened it, thinking it was a common text file. Other malicious programs and viruses have ever since incorporated similar naming schemes.
For very those reasons we believe, that hidding file extensions by default, is wrong decision by Microsoft, yet they are still hidden in the new Windows 7. For more informations about executable files, please visit the program executable files section.
Popular file extensions:
List of the file extensions you should know.
file extension torrent - BitTorrent information file
file extension aspx - Active Server Page Extended ASP.NET script File
file extension rar - WinRAR compressed archive
file extension flac - Audio files encoded by Flac - free lossless audio codec
file extension 002 - Compressed file from a multi-volume archive (part 2)
file extension uccapilog - Microsoft Windows Live Messenger UCC API log file
file extension cbr - Comic Book Archive file or ComicBook Reader File
file extension part - Partial download file
file extension xls - Microsoft Excel 97 to 2003 workbook file
file extension srt - Movie subtitle file format (SubRip format)
file extension xlsx - Microsoft Excel 2007/2010 Open XML workbook file
file extension pages - iWork Pages document file
file extension nrg - Nero-Burning ROM CD or DVD image file
file extension pub - Microsoft Publisher document file
file extension dwg - AutoCAD Drawing Database file
file extension m2 - World of Warcraft model object file format
file extension bin - Binary file
file extension dlc - JDownloader download link container
file extension wps - Microsoft Works document file
file extension themepack - Microsoft Windows 7 theme pack file
file extension odt - OpenOffice.org Writer text document
file extension gadget - Windows sidebar gadget file
file extension z01 - Split Multi-volume ZIP compressed file archive (part 2)
file extension djvu - DjVu file bitmap image
file extension 7z - 7-ZIP compressed 7z archive file
file extension menc - Microsoft Windows Mobile encrypted file
file extension vmdk - VMware virtual disk file
file extension uif - MagicISO Universal Image Format - UIF file
file extension pps - Microsoft PowerPoint 97 to 2003 complete slide show file
file extension cdr - CorelDRAW vector image
file extension 003 - Compressed file from a multi-volume archive (part 3)
file extension mp4 - MPEG-4 video file format
file extension daa - PowerISO Direct-Access-Archive file
file extension mpqe - Starcraft 2 encrypted game data file
file extension m4v - MPEG-4 video file format