Edit installer.exe files


Sheikh

Well-known member
Member
Local time
11:41 AM
Posts
138
Location
Tehran, IRAN.
OS
Windows 11 Pro 24H2
Hi again!
I have an installer.exe file which will install the Huawei pc manager and all its components on my pc.
After installation the latest version, one of the installed files in program files will cause my pc to crash, its name is "LCDassistant.exe"
So, I downloaded the older version and extracted the installer.exe file with 7Zip. searched in the folders and finally found the file I wanted. now I have the older version of LCDassistant.exe file.
After replacing the new file with the old one problem solves.
So, I have the latest version of all PC manager components except the LCDassistant on my laptop which works very well.
Do I have an option to modify the installer, so I don't have to replace it by hand after installation?
I'm just curious about these .exe installers to learn about them.
7Zip can extract .exe files but cannot modify them to replace one of sub-folders. any recommendations to modify exe installers?
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Huawei MateBook D15
    CPU
    Ryzen 5 3500U
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Vega 8
    Screen Resolution
    FHD
    Hard Drives
    256GB Samsung SSD + 1TB HDD
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge
    Antivirus
    ESET Smart Security Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 21H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    MSI GS73 6RF Stealth Pro
    CPU
    intel core i7 6700HQ
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce GTX1060 (6GB)
    Screen Resolution
    FHD
    Hard Drives
    128GB SSD + 1TB HDD
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
I think modifying the setup.exe file is a tall order. I suspect you could use a wrapper, it would install the package and then replace the offending file.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2, Build 26100.4061, Experience Pack 1000.26100.84.0
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home Brew
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 14500
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte B760M G P WIFI
    Memory
    64GB DDR4
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce RTX 4060
    Sound Card
    Chipset Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG 45" Ultragear, Acer 24" 1080p
    Screen Resolution
    5120x1440, 1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Crucial P310 2TB 2280 PCIe Gen4 3D NAND NVMe M.2 SSD (O/S)
    Silicon Power 2TB US75 Nvme PCIe Gen4 M.2 2280 SSD (backup)
    Crucial BX500 2TB 3D NAND (2nd backup)
    External off-line backup Drives: 2 NVMe 4TB drives in external enclosures
    PSU
    Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 750W
    Case
    LIAN LI LANCOOL 216 E-ATX PC Case
    Cooling
    Lots of fans!
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000
    Mouse
    Logitech G305
    Internet Speed
    Verizon FiOS 1GB
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Malware Bytes & Windows Security
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2, Build 26100.4061, Experience Pack 1000.26100.84.0
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home Brew
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 14400
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte B760M DS3H AX
    Memory
    32GB DDR5
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel 700 Embedded GPU
    Sound Card
    Realtek Embedded
    Monitor(s) Displays
    27" HP 1080p
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Crucial P310 2TB 2280 PCIe Gen4 eD NAND PCIe SSD
    Samsung EVO 990 2TB NVMe Gen4 SSD
    Samsung 2TB SATA SSD
    PSU
    Thermaltake Smart BM3 650W
    Case
    Okinos Micro ATX Case
    Cooling
    Fans
    Mouse
    Logitech G305
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000
    Internet Speed
    Verizon FiOS 1GB
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Malware Bytes & Windows Security
Most EXE installers use one of several different package formats:
- WiX​
- InnoSetup​
- WinRAR SFX​

To replace the EXE, you would have to determine the installer's format, extract its files and reverse engineer what settings it used. While a ZIP utility can read any payload files in the "archive", they can't dump whatever registry settings or installer rules which the installer may be using.

An installer is not just a self-extracting archive, the dev may have created specific install rules to block installation in some cases, possibly allow a different program files location, execute some commands, update the registry, and add uninstall entries. The reason there are no apps to modify an existing EXE installer is it's assumed the dev can easily make a replacement EXE from a previous config file.

For you, it's simpler to just replace the one file after you run the newer installer.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
👆🏻that
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Intel NUC12WSHi7
    CPU
    12th Gen Intel Core i7-1260P, 2100 MHz
    Motherboard
    NUC12WSBi7
    Memory
    64 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe
    Sound Card
    built-in Realtek HD audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell U3219Q
    Screen Resolution
    3840x2160 @ 60Hz
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 990 PRO 1TB
    Keyboard
    CODE 104-Key Mechanical with Cherry MX Clears
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
For you, it's simpler to just replace the one file after you run the newer installer.
That's why I was thinking about the wrapper that just runs the install and then copies the file. Of course, for just one file, I doubt I'd bother, but if it were a dozen in different folders, it might be worth it.

Of course, if it's just a once and done install, I certainly wouldn't bother.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2, Build 26100.4061, Experience Pack 1000.26100.84.0
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home Brew
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 14500
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte B760M G P WIFI
    Memory
    64GB DDR4
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce RTX 4060
    Sound Card
    Chipset Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG 45" Ultragear, Acer 24" 1080p
    Screen Resolution
    5120x1440, 1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Crucial P310 2TB 2280 PCIe Gen4 3D NAND NVMe M.2 SSD (O/S)
    Silicon Power 2TB US75 Nvme PCIe Gen4 M.2 2280 SSD (backup)
    Crucial BX500 2TB 3D NAND (2nd backup)
    External off-line backup Drives: 2 NVMe 4TB drives in external enclosures
    PSU
    Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 750W
    Case
    LIAN LI LANCOOL 216 E-ATX PC Case
    Cooling
    Lots of fans!
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000
    Mouse
    Logitech G305
    Internet Speed
    Verizon FiOS 1GB
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Malware Bytes & Windows Security
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2, Build 26100.4061, Experience Pack 1000.26100.84.0
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home Brew
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 14400
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte B760M DS3H AX
    Memory
    32GB DDR5
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel 700 Embedded GPU
    Sound Card
    Realtek Embedded
    Monitor(s) Displays
    27" HP 1080p
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Crucial P310 2TB 2280 PCIe Gen4 eD NAND PCIe SSD
    Samsung EVO 990 2TB NVMe Gen4 SSD
    Samsung 2TB SATA SSD
    PSU
    Thermaltake Smart BM3 650W
    Case
    Okinos Micro ATX Case
    Cooling
    Fans
    Mouse
    Logitech G305
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000
    Internet Speed
    Verizon FiOS 1GB
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Malware Bytes & Windows Security
Back
Top Bottom