HOW TO RECOVER THE "PTE" FILE FROM RESPECTIVE "EXE" FI

[orizaba]

Dear Fellows,

The title says it all!

I lost all my PTE project! I mean: slides, music and "pte" (project) file. Everything!

Not only 1 project, but 3 projects.

I must admit that this is not too much serious because I kept respective "exe" files and so I can see and show these projects.

Anyhow, I should like now to burn DVDs with such projects and, according to my method, I must start from respective "pte" (project) files in order to create respective HD MP4 files, etc., etc..

This way, my main goal is to get back respective original "pte" (project) files.

Is there any "miracle" to perform in such circunstances?

Thanks for some help.

Jose

[Lin Evans]

Hi Jose,

The answer is complex. It could be yes, no or maybe depending on the version of PTE you used to create your original and the settings you used. Current versions of PTE have protection available from decompilers which are tools which can be used in some cases for retrieving the original images and sounds from an exe file.

As you know, an exe file in the relevant sense, consists of your original images and music, sounds, etc., as well as a set of instructions generated by the PTE file. These instructions tell the computer in real time how you want these images and sounds displayed and whether or not to construct intermediate images for pan, zoom, rotate, etc.

Decompilers consist of software which reverse engineers the executable file and retrieves the content. In most cases, the protection which is built into PTE (assuming the default of "on") will prevent someone from retrieving your images and music and instructions by using such tools. In the event that your PTE files were created with a very early version of the program before these protections were initiated, you "might" be able to ge the original images and mp3's, etc., back. To reconstruct the PTE file itself is very improbable even in such an old version.

Your best bet would be to try to recover the lost PTE files. Otherwise you could use a screen capture tool to get the images back at screen resolution (the higher the resolution your screen is set to, the closer to the original the quality) and an audio capture tool which could intercept the sound at the sound card.

Best regards,

Lin

[fh1805]

Jose,

I'm afraid that I do not know of any tool that can do what you need.

I am sure that you will be establishing a good backup system now to prevent any similar disaster occuring in future.

regards,

Peter

[orizaba]

Hi Jose,

The answer is complex. It could be yes, no or maybe depending on the version of PTE you used to create your original and the settings you used. Current versions of PTE have protection available from decompilers which are tools which can be used in some cases for retrieving the original images and sounds from an exe file.

As you know, an exe file in the relevant sense, consists of your original images and music, sounds, etc., as well as a set of instructions generated by the PTE file. These instructions tell the computer in real time how you want these images and sounds displayed and whether or not to construct intermediate images for pan, zoom, rotate, etc.

Decompilers consist of software which reverse engineers the executable file and retrieves the content. In most cases, the protection which is built into PTE (assuming the default of "on") will prevent someone from retrieving your images and music and instructions by using such tools. In the event that your PTE files were created with a very early version of the program before these protections were initiated, you "might" be able to ge the original images and mp3's, etc., back. To reconstruct the PTE file itself is very improbable even in such an old version.

Your best bet would be to try to recover the lost PTE files. Otherwise you could use a screen capture tool to get the images back at screen resolution (the higher the resolution your screen is set to, the closer to the original the quality) and an audio capture tool which could intercept the sound at the sound card.

Best regards,

Lin

Hi Lin and Peter,

Thanks very much for your help, mainly to Lin's explanations and quick reply.

Anyhow, I have some good news! I just discovered my "lost" PTE files in an old external hard drive which I have already forgotten! I am the luckiest guy of the world!

However, I would profit to clear some details with Lin.

When you say that a "decompiler" can be used for this kind of problem, would you please indicate one or two of this kind of programs?

Another point: why do you say that a decompiler can recover images, mp3, etc., but NOT the "instructions" included in PTE file? In these circunstances, what kind of decompiler is this? Am I missing something?

Thanks again and best regards,

Jose

[Lin Evans]

Hi Jose,

In order for a decompiler to completely recover information, that information must be contained in the original executable file. Things such as images, sound files, etc., are almost always contained in a slideshow executable file, but the exact source code which is used to create the executable file may not always be contained in the executable file itself. The PTE file which is used to create the executable file doesn't have to be included verbatim in the executable, just the basics of the instructions. Therefore even with the best decompiler, the precise structure of the PTE file itself may or may not be in the executable code. Having never decompiled a PTE file, I can't say whether the PTE file itself is contained within in its original form. But in any case, unless you have changed the defaults when you created your executable, the protections built in to prevent decompiling will likely prevent recovering what is there.

Here's a link where you might find more information about decompiling in general:

http://boomerang.sourceforge.net/

Best regards,

Lin

[orizaba]

Hi Jose,

In order for a decompiler to completely recover information, that information must be contained in the original executable file. Things such as images, sound files, etc., are almost always contained in a slideshow executable file, but the exact source code which is used to create the executable file may not always be contained in the executable file itself. The PTE file which is used to create the executable file doesn't have to be included verbatim in the executable, just the basics of the instructions. Therefore even with the best decompiler, the precise structure of the PTE file itself may or may not be in the executable code. Having never decompiled a PTE file, I can't say whether the PTE file itself is contained within in its original form. But in any case, unless you have changed the defaults when you created your executable, the protections built in to prevent decompiling will likely prevent recovering what is there.

Here's a link where you might find more information about decompiling in general:

http://boomerang.sourceforge.net/

Best regards,

Lin

Hi Lin,

Again, thanks for your reply.

I understood, and I had a look on the BOOMERANG link. It seams a complex process to me...

Anyway, one of these days I will make a short testing PTE project "prepared" to allow decompilation, and I will try to use BOOMERANG on its EXE file, just to see what happens...! I will let you know the result.

Best regards,

Jose

[aplman]

Hi Lin,

Again, thanks for your reply.

I understood, and I had a look on the BOOMERANG link. It seams a complex process to me...

Anyway, one of these days I will make a short testing PTE project "prepared" to allow decompilation, and I will try to use BOOMERANG on its EXE file, just to see what happens...! I will let you know the result.

Best regards,

Jose

Hello Jose ...

May I suggest you do not waste your time on the "decompile" exercise.

Decompiling is a computer programming concept that attempts to recreate a source language file (probably assembler language) from an executable file ( a ".exe file"). The decompiling process has absolutely no information about the meaning of the informaton being processed.

The source language file which originally caused an exe file to be created (in other words, the computer language in which PicturesToExe is written) did have some knowledge of the types of data that the program was dealing with.

However, all that knowledge is lost (I believe) when PTE generates an exe file.

The .pte file, which is the definition of the project you have created, is not a source language file ... it is simply a data file that PTE uses to create your exe file that runs your slideshow.

I have done my best to express this from the point of view of a programmer. If another forum member can elaborate in a more useful manner, you may be more effectivly helped.

Best Wishes ...

Ken T (APLman)

[orizaba]

Hello Jose ...

May I suggest you do not waste your time on the "decompile" exercise.

Decompiling is a computer programming concept that attempts to recreate a source language file (probably assembler language) from an executable file ( a ".exe file"). The decompiling process has absolutely no information about the meaning of the informaton being processed.

The source language file which originally caused an exe file to be created (in other words, the computer language in which PicturesToExe is written) did have some knowledge of the types of data that the program was dealing with.

However, all that knowledge is lost (I believe) when PTE generates an exe file.

The .pte file, which is the definition of the project you have created, is not a source language file ... it is simply a data file that PTE uses to create your exe file that runs your slideshow.

I have done my best to express this from the point of view of a programmer. If another forum member can elaborate in a more useful manner, you may be more effectivly helped.

Best Wishes ...

Ken T (APLman)

Hi Ken,

Thanks for your suggestion and explanations. In fact, I myself was not too much enthousiastic trying to decompile a PTE test file in a near future, as I was convinced that it would be a hard task for experts only. Anyhow, after your comments on the subject, I will not waste my time with this anymore! Thanks.

Have you already tested my "method" to burn a DVD?

By the way: I can see from your profile (and present explanations) that you are an expert in programming.

Would you care to give me some help trying to solve a "problem"? It has nothing to do with PTE, so I think this is not the right place to discuss.

My problem is related to "preparing/programming a SDK software". I already asked for help to all possible instances but nobody seams to be interested...!

In case you may be available to give me your kind support, my e-mail is: josesa@netcabo.pt

Thanks.

Best regards,

Jose

[xahu34]

Jose,

At least for older versions of PTE it should be possible (for WnSoft only?) to recover the .pte-file from the .exe-file; see here.

Regards,

Xaver