Solved Extracting files

[5Clint7]

I have downloaded the driver file for my HP printer. It is one .exe file, 119 meg. How do you extract the files to make an installation CD without installing it? I know you can just run the .exe file to install it.

Thanks Clint

 

[Mark Phelps]

In my experience, these files are self-extracting archives. I simply have doulbe-clicked them, after copying them to a folder, and they expand into another folder they create. Inside that folder are the individual files.

 

[endeavor]

Mark is right many times they are self-extracting files, but many times these will install themselves at the same time after you run them, however if you wanted to extract the ...exe separately you could use a program like 7 Zip which will give you that unique option on those kinds of exe's without installing it, or a few others will do it too but 7 Zip is the most common.

 

[5Clint7]

I found out how to do it. I called HP. The first guy said I had a computer problem. Wouldn't let me talk to his supervisor. I waited and called back later and got a nice guy that told me exactly how to do it. You double click on the .exe file. After it finishes extracting the files don't click on next or it will install, click on cancel. The files will be extracted to a sub folder named starting with 7z... under The temp folder. Then just copy all those files to a CD. Worked great. Hope this helps some one else.

Clint

 

[endeavor]

That may be true for the HP install that you have, and is a good idea yes, but a proper installer when you click Cancel will automatically Delete all it's temp files.

Anyway, glad that you have accomplished your goal.

 

[5Clint7]

"but a proper installer when you click Cancel will automatically Delete all it's temp files."

I'm glad that it didn't delete the files. It did exactly what I wanted.

 

[endeavor]

I'm glad that it didn't delete the files. It did exactly what I wanted.

I agree, and am happy that you received what you were looking for.

Sometimes I extract the installer and point the Device Manager at that folder to update drivers to do an install from that, that way I don't get the extra MB of an extracted folder that I don't need beyond the actual install drivers themselves, also leaving out the extra 32 or 64 bit version files I don't want or need anyway; this way it saves on space. Since then I have come to realize that even if I don't do it that way and install the drivers .exe as it is, that afterwards I can delete those unneeded extracted installer folders to save the space anyway; either way it works a treat for MB space savers who want to keep a trim and lean OS partition.

 

[5Clint7]

I don't get the extra MB of an extracted folder that I don't need beyond the actual install drivers themselves, also leaving out the extra 32 or 64 bit version files I don't want or need anyway; this way it saves on space. Since then I have come to realize that even if I don't do it that way and install the drivers .exe as it is, that afterwards I can delete those unneeded extracted installer folders to save the space anyway; either way it works a treat for MB space savers who want to keep a trim and lean OS partition.

I deleted the folder after I coped the files to a CD.