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.