Can I decompile an existing installer?: Difference between revisions

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Currently NSIS installers cannot be fully decompiled. We understand the need for secrecy of source code in many modern programs and thus NSIS does not store any code in the installer that can be completely decompiled back to the point where you have the original script. It is the developer's choice whether the source code for the installer is available to the public or not.
Currently NSIS installers cannot be fully decompiled. The installer itself doesn't provide any method to extract files or the script without installation. It is the developer's choice whether the source code and/or the files for the installer are available to the public or not.


[http://www.7-zip.org 7-zip] (version 4.40beta at the time of this writing) supports decompressing NSIS installers compressed with LZMA, but the source code is still partially compiled and requires extensive modification before the script can be compiled by MakeNSIS.
There are, however, external tools that allow this. [http://www.7-zip.org 7-zip] (version 4.40beta at the time of this writing) supports decompressing NSIS installers compressed with lzma or bzip, but the source code is still partially compiled and requires extensive modification before the script can be recompiled. A decompression plug-in is also available for ''TotalCommander''.


As a general note to software developers, you should use a plugin like [[DcryptDll : Adding Encryption to NSIS|DCryptDll]] if you need to protect certain files in your installer.  
As a general note to software developers, you should use a plugin like [[DcryptDll : Adding Encryption to NSIS|DCryptDll]] if you need to protect certain files in your installer.  


[[Category:General FAQ]]
[[Category:General FAQ]]

Revision as of 09:24, 2 June 2006

Currently NSIS installers cannot be fully decompiled. The installer itself doesn't provide any method to extract files or the script without installation. It is the developer's choice whether the source code and/or the files for the installer are available to the public or not.

There are, however, external tools that allow this. 7-zip (version 4.40beta at the time of this writing) supports decompressing NSIS installers compressed with lzma or bzip, but the source code is still partially compiled and requires extensive modification before the script can be recompiled. A decompression plug-in is also available for TotalCommander.

As a general note to software developers, you should use a plugin like DCryptDll if you need to protect certain files in your installer.

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