can't open .exe file using imac G5 w/ Safari

[bicycledays]

Anyone know how I can open a file?

I downloaded on online course.

It's file name is CD_Start.exe

When I open it, a box comes up that reads:

"Open Dictionary"
Unable to read the dictionary of the application or
extension because it is not scriptable.

Is there free mac software to open files? Thanks in advance!
kris
bicycledays@yahoo.com
www.ahighercreditscore.com
www.outofthewilderness.net
www.niteowldave.com

[eric2006]

.exe files can only be opened in a Windows OS. If you have an intel mac, you can download Bootcamp for free, and install Windows on your mac. You could also run Parallels and run Windows inside OS X
If you have a PowerPC mac, you'll need Virtual PC, or a PC to open the file.

(all Mac Pros, MacBook Pros, and MacBooks are intel machines. Newer iMacs are intel as well)

If it's a .zip archive of some sort, you could just point us to the download, and someone may be able to open it for you.

[barhar]

'Anyone know how I can open a file?' - drag the file(s) onto any text editor. The text editor will launch (open, run) and display the contents of the '.exe' file(s).

'Is there free mac software to open files?' - yes. There are many.

[Natobasso]

EXE files are self executing files and are pc based. They don't open on macs. Won't the text editor show the exe as raw code?

[eric2006]

Yes, a text editor by itself would open the .exe and show meaningless code. Some sort of windows emulator would be needed. One free one is Bootcamp, but you need Windows. One "real" free one would be darwine, not sure how well that'd work. If you tell us what you need this .exe for, we may be able to show you a mac equivalent.

[Natobasso]

And if it's an exe you received from someone you don't know (SPAM) then definitely don't open it.

[eric2006]

Is there any software that I can open that will read .exe files on imac G5 using Safari.

I downloaded on online course.

If you really need this for an online course, I'd recommend picking up an old PC - easily less than $50, at a goodwill or something. It'll be a lot cheaper than Virtual PC. You might need a monitor to set it up, but after that, you could use VNC to access it from the Mac, and stick the PC in the basement.