Microsoft Makecab

Microsoft Makecab is a lossless data compression tool from Microsoft Corporation. This method of filer compression allows the exact original file to be reconstructed from the compressed data. This is in contrast with the other method of file compression (lossy data compression) wherein the reconstructed file approximates the original. Important documents like source codes, executable programs, and text documents require lossless compression to avoid deviations and probable deletions from the original data. Microsoft MakeCab creates a single cabinet (.CAB or “Cabinet” files) for multiple compressed files, performs file compression across boundaries, and has a feature that allows files to span cabinets. CAB is the computer file extension that represents Microsoft compressed archive format. A feature called Folder allows MakeCab to compress into a single entity contents of several CAB files. Data compression methods allowed by the CAB file format are DEFLATE, LZX, and Quantum compression. Microsoft MakeCab supports self-extracting archives by simply concatenating EXTRACTEXE with any cabinet file.

Microsoft Expand

Microsoft Expand is a command tool (Expand.exe) from Microsoft that is used to retrieve compressed files from distribution disks. It is a command from the recovery console that is used to extract a file or multiple files from a compressed file. The retrieved file is usually for the replacement of damaged files in the operating system. The command-line option in executing Expand follows the convention expand [-r] source [destination] [-d source.cab [-f:files]] [source.cab [-f:filesdestination]. The parameter [-r] renames the expanded files, [-d] displays the list of files in the compressed source, and [-f] specifies the .cab file for expansion. The destination for a the expanded file must be a directory and is composed of a drive letter and colon, a directory name, a file name, or a combination. Expand.exe supports opening of updates for early versions of Windows and Windows Vista, and can be used to examine updates for Windows Vista on a Windows XP or Windows Server 2003 operating system.