I have an .exe file i was wanting to look at the code. How would I go about this? If it matters any I know the programming language used. TIA
Mike

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SOLORED -1988 Fiero 2.5 auto awaiting a 3800
LT -1987 Ford Ranger 31x10x15 DD
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It's been years since I've done anything like this (so I don't remember the programs I used, sorry), but the process was called reverse engineering. Also some hex editors will allow you to view some code / function.

I figured possibly a decompiler might work? I havent had time to research it enough. Studying for finals >_< I'll do some looking into some hex editors and see what I can find. Thanks

For the most part, you're out of luck. A hex editor will give you a little peek inside, but it's not the same as actually having the source code.
What language is it in?

Its C+ or C++ if I recall correctly.

yeah but most programs that are compiled have some sort of decompile protection so people can't steal their source code and sell their same product with a different name. Reverse engineering actually runs the program and produces the source code as it runs, it wont be 100% code but it'll be most of it.

I have used Wdasm32 and softice. What do you plan on doing with the code once you decompile it. But I will tell you there is absolutely no way to get it back to source code. You can only decompile it to the point to where you can see the functions of the program and all of the program calls and traps.

I just wanna know how it works. A buddy got it from a professor and gave it to me and its got me intrigued. He calls it the magic square or something weird like that. I got the basics down I think just wanna see how the code works out.

Ok I stand corrected, I just found a program that might actually do what you are looking to accomplish. It's called DCC32, here is a link that talks about what it does. It looks like it will decompile it back to C source.

old dos tools are great for this. most have hex viewers, so you can view it that way. but, I expect what you really want is to look at the actual "program", not the hex values. for that, you need to know what it was compiled with. not in. there are usually several different compilers for any given language. luckily, these days w version stamps & auther stamps - theres usually a compile stamp too. and, many copyrighted software will hide this to prevent reverse engineering.

You want a disassembler like gdb. The source is going to be straight x86 assembly.

If you want the computer to try to decompile it, you can use Boomerang or REC.

Sometimes you can view what is going on if you force the computer to dump with the program running. You can then read the dump. You will not get full source, but it will give you an idea of what is going on.
Sean

I use hex editors and watch what values are changing with movement, change in time, etc... It doesn't really help with the source but its fun to edit