Have you ever come across a file with the extension .com and had no idea what it was? You probably know what file it is, but you’re not sure how to open it. Fear not; in this post, we’ll show you how to open a .com file on a variety of operating systems in just a few simple steps.
COM files are usually associated with MS-DOS. In MS-DOS compatible operating systems, a COM file is an executable file. The file extension’s name is. The word COM stands for Command (“command”). Under Windows, COM files can also be run. A virus is usually a COM file sent as an e-mail attachment.
What is COM File?
The content of a COM file, also known as DOS command files, is encoded in binary format and can carry up to 64 Kb of code. These COM files are likewise categorized as executable files, however unlike EXE files, they do not contain any metadata or file headers.
A .com file often contains directives or commands that are used by built-in DOS resources to conduct certain tasks. The Windows Command Prompt is typically used to execute these directives and commands. Microsoft Notepad, among other text editing programs, can be used to examine and edit the content of these.com files.
These COM files are likewise categorized as executable files, however, unlike EXE files, they do not contain any metadata or file headers. A.com file often contains directives or commands that are used by built-in DOS resources to conduct certain tasks. The Windows Command Prompt is typically used to execute these directives and commands. Microsoft Notepad, among other text editing programs, can be used to examine and edit the content of these.com files.
What is COM File Typically Used for?
This com file type entry has been declared as obsolete, meaning it is no longer supported. This file type is no longer in use and is almost certainly obsolete. This is common with system files in older operating systems, file types from long-defunct software, and older versions of particular file kinds (such as documents, projects, and so on) that were superseded in later versions of their original programs.
Command files are commonly seen with the com extension. It’s a software executable file format used by the MS-DOS operating system.
The COM file extension is used for programs that may be run on a Microsoft Windows machine using MS-DOS. Even though COM files are substantially smaller and hence contain less data than EXE files, they can be compared. Unlike EXE files, which execute whole programs, COM files typically just execute a set of instructions.
How to Open a COM File?
Different programs may use files with the COM file extension for different purposes, therefore you may need to try a few different apps unless you know which format your COM file is.
To open a COM file, you’ll need software like MS-DOS. You’ll get a Windows message like “How do you wish to open this file?” or “Windows cannot open this file” or a similar Mac/iPhone/Android alert if you don’t have the right software. If you’re having trouble opening your COM file, try right-clicking or long-pressing it. Then select an application by clicking “Open with.” A COM file can also be viewed directly in the browser. Simply drag and drop the file into this browser window.
Double-click a .com file, or any other file on your computer, to open it. The application that is supposed to open your.com file will open it if your file associations are set up correctly. It’s conceivable that you’ll need to download or buy the appropriate program.
It’s also conceivable that you have the necessary application installed on your computer, but it isn’t yet associated with.com files. When you try to open a .com file in this situation, you can inform Windows which application is appropriate for that file. Opening a.com file will now launch the relevant application.