Renaming a file

[mdw]

I downloaded a software file and my security software changed the file type
from *.exe to *.efw. I need to rename the file to an exe file but have not
been able to do so. If I right-click on the file and click rename, I can
change the name by adding .exe but the file type does not change. Am looking
for suggestions. I am using a new computer running Vista with sp1.

 

[Bob]

You can prevent EFW files from being created by temporarily disabling
your antivirus software when downloading legitimate zipped or executable
files.

 

[mazorj]

You can prevent EFW files from being created by temporarily
disabling your antivirus software when downloading legitimate zipped
or executable files.

It would be better if that feature of the AV software could be
disabled from within it. I would check for that before going
unprotected on the Internet even for a few minutes. If it can't be
disabled, maybe it's time to shop for a new AV program. Otherwise,
you're going to be exposing yourself every time to want to download a
zip or executable file.

 

[DL]

You are not exposing yourself to anything within a zip or exe unless you run
it.

 

[DL]

When you downloaded this software are you selecting 'run' if so select save,
the extension should not then be changed

 

[mazorj]

You are not exposing yourself to anything within a zip or exe unless
you run it.

I was talking about being online if you shut down your security
programs in order to do the download as Bob suggested. It only takes
a minute or two of being online without security to get zapped. Any
security program that makes you shut down your online protections in
order to to download a zip or executable is fatally flawed.

Ideally you would locate and turn off only the security feature that
wants to rename downloaded zip/executable files. Then do the download
of the zip or executable to its proper filename and extension (type).
Turn the "renaming protection" feature back on if you want. Now click
on the zip or executable file to run it.

While your statement is correct, if the file is malware, you don't
want to be executing it while your security is turned off, which could
happen if you disabled security to do the download and forgot to
reactivate it before running the zip/executable.

 

[Luis Armelin]

Good Morning,

Don't disable your anti-virus!
Try this:
Open CMD prompt with administrative privileges. On CMD line, type: ren
filename.exe filename.efw
With this command you can change the file name and the file extension like
*.exe => *.efw

Sorry by my english.
Bye...
Luis

 

[Bob]

Most likely the OP is running Computer Associates (CA) AV.

An alternative to temporarily disabling the AV is to change the file
extension to ".zip".

 

[DL]

An Av doesnt prevent anything when online, a suitable firewall does

 

[mazorj]

Most likely the OP is running Computer Associates (CA) AV.

An alternative to temporarily disabling the AV is to change the file
extension to ".zip".

The OP already said he couldn't rename an .efw file to .exe, which
suggests that the security software still has some kind of hold on the
downloaded file, perhaps a quarantine.

 

[mazorj]

Right, but if you have to close down an entire integrated suite
including the firewall to disable the AV then the app is fatally
flawed. If you can disable the AV (or whatever component is doing the
renaming and is blocking attempts to rename the .efw file to .exe)
while keeping the firewall up, but the user doesn't know that, he may
shut down the whole suite. Definitely a bad idea if you're still
online! The OP didn't give any specifics about his software, which is
why my first comment was a hypothetical suggestion to disable only the
renaming feature and not the whole suite of protections.

 

[Bob]

My suggestion was to rename it as a zip file.

The OP already said he couldn't rename an .efw file to .exe, which
suggests that the security software still has some kind of hold on the
downloaded file, perhaps a quarantine.

 

[mazorj]

My suggestion was to rename it as a zip file.

Okay, that works - assuming that the same security nanny that won't
allow a rename to .exe will allow a rename to .zip, and that Windows
knows to handle it as an executable like an .exe when you double-click
on it as a .zip file. I wouldn't be surprised at the latter but if
the security nanny allowed the former, it's got a potential hole in
it! Ditto if it allows the renamed .zip file to then be further
renamed as an.exe file.

However, since the OP hasn't yet had the courtesy to provide us any
feedback, we're all just poking around in the dark.

 

[Bob]

The OP would be better served with the free Avast AV.