Extract files from Microsoft .CAB files

Microsoft Cabinet (CAB) files are widely used in Microsoft Windows operating system, and also on various software installations designed for Windows operating system. These files are compressed using a specific compression technology designed by Microsoft, and are usually part of self extracting installation archives. When the archive is run, the CAB files are extracted automatically and put in specific folders. Apart from the standard CAB format created by Microsoft, CAB files can also be of several other standard formats. All CAB formats usually keep some space in the file header, in order to store important information, such as tag markers. For instance, Microsoft CAB files have a tag marker in the form MSCF.

CAB files can contain almost any type of data, including textual data, program code, and images. When installed as part of a program, CAB files may contain the code necessary to run the program properly. If one or more CAB files of a program get corrupted, the program may not run at all.

You cannot extract files stored inside a CAB file by simply double clicking the file. In order to open CAB files, you need to use some third party utilities. These utilities can help you to open CAB files or to extract files stored within those. However, if you modify any file while those are still inside the CAB file, then the CAB file might not function properly again. If you have to modify any file stored inside a CAB file, it is better to extract it first.

There are several third party utilities that you can use in order to open CAB files, or to extract files stored within those. Unshield, the utility that is used to create packages with InstallShield, can be used to open or extract CAB files. Winrar is another utility that can open or extract files stored within CAB files. However, it may not be able to open files stored in all types of CAB files.

CAB files can be opened under Windows operating system using Winrar or Unshield. In order to extract files stored within CAB files under Linux, you have to use a utility called cabextract. This utility was made by Stuart Caie, and has the ability to extract files from CAB files under Linux operating system. CAB files can be opened and the contents pf those can be extracted without much problem nowadays thanks to the advanced decompression utilities available. The only thing to look out for is that the CAB file does not get corrupted in the process.