How Setup Determines a File Version (82773)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows 3.11
This article was previously published under Q82773

SUMMARY

The Windows version 3.1 Setup program, SETUP.EXE, can extract file version information from Windows and from some MS-DOS executable files.

MORE INFORMATION

Windows Setup does not use the file date or the file size to determine file version information. Windows is now able to extract file version information from Windows or MS-DOS executable files through a new VER API (Application Programming Interface), which is built into Windows 3.1.

The VER API exists in VER.DLL for Windows applications and is also available as a static link library for MS-DOS applications. The version information is physically stored as a resource for Windows binary files. Version information for MS-DOS binary files is simply stored as additional binary information appended to the executable file.

Note: This does not allow for "version stamping" of MS-DOS device drivers (*.SYS files).

All "stampable" files that ship with Windows 3.1 are "version stamped" at Microsoft. The version stamp contains the following information:

  • Date the file was built
  • An actual file version
  • The languages the file supports
  • The manufacturer of the file
  • Other optional information
Setup, or more precisely VER.DLL, decides whether or not to update a file based on the files version stamp. If a file does not have a version stamp, it is assumed to be older than a file of the same name that has a version stamp. If neither the new file or the existing file have a version stamp, VER.DLL always copies the file.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/15/2003
Keywords:KB82773
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.