Are there any programs that install .exe programs on a mac? Yes, im a new mac user. thanks in advance.
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.exe files?
- Thread starter jayeskreezy
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Well, .exe programs are Windows/dos programs. You are on a Mac. Macs can't run Windows software, and Windows can't run Mac programs. The only way to run Windows .exe programs on a Mac is to purchase Virtual PC, but this is a PC emulator, so the program will run considerably slower than it would on an x86 PC. Does this answer your question?jayeskreezy said:
Are you asking if you can run Windows applications...?
If so: There is always Virtual PC (from Microsoft) and sorts...
If so: There is always Virtual PC (from Microsoft) and sorts...
.exe files only work on windows computers so no you cannot install your windows applications on a mac.
on a mac, applications have a .app extension. you should be able to find freeware/shareware alternatives for most programs you use/d on your windows machine though.
here is a good thread to get you started: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/58101/
Edit: if you didn't know before, here is the proof that macrumor members are truly addicted
4 replies in 4 minutes
on a mac, applications have a .app extension. you should be able to find freeware/shareware alternatives for most programs you use/d on your windows machine though.
here is a good thread to get you started: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/58101/
Edit: if you didn't know before, here is the proof that macrumor members are truly addicted
4 replies in 4 minutes 
thanks for your help....i didn't know that at all...oh well, there goes a LOT of free trials out the window, but it's koo...im still adjusting to this mac environment though
I don't mean to be rude, but it *is* hard to believe that you bought a Mac without realizing that there is no software compatibility with Wondows, never was and never will be. Didn't you do any research? Again, I'm not trying to make you feel bad, but I'm just a bit amazed, for lack of a better word.jayeskreezy said:
I don't think the post was meant to be negative. The OP was vague, and I wondered how to take it. I think the post you replied to was thinking: This person got an email attachment with a .exe and wondering what to do with it. Just my take.AdamR01 said:
There is one exception to .exe files being non-mac-executable: Compressed files saved as self-extracting archives on a PC usually have the .exe extension. If you have one of these, Stuffit (or another Mac compression program) may be able to extract the enclosed files. Whether or not those files can be used on the mac depends of course on what they are.
So to sum up:
An .exe (or .scr or .pif or .zip) that you get with an unsolicited email is probably a virus.
An .exe program that you download or get from a CD is usually a Windows-only program or installer, and you can use it only with a Windows emulator.
And an .exe or .zip that you get from someone who said they were sending you some compressed data files is probably a compressed archive that you can open with Stuffit or similar.
So to sum up:
An .exe (or .scr or .pif or .zip) that you get with an unsolicited email is probably a virus.
An .exe program that you download or get from a CD is usually a Windows-only program or installer, and you can use it only with a Windows emulator.
And an .exe or .zip that you get from someone who said they were sending you some compressed data files is probably a compressed archive that you can open with Stuffit or similar.
There are two main sites for finding Mac OS X demos/shareware/freware: Apple - Mac OS X - Downoalds (accessible from your Apple Menu, click the Apple at the top left and choose "Mac OS X Software..."), the other place is Versiontracker's Mac OS X pages...jayeskreezy said: