File extension COM
| File type | Command Executable Format |
| Developer | Microsoft |
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What is a COM file?
COM filename extension is associated with files used in various Microsoft operating systems, from to MD-DOS to Windows Millennium.
COM is an executable file. COM files are smaller than EXE files (usually around 65 KB) and contain no metadata or headers. COMMAND.COM is the name of the standard MS-DOS shell and Windows interpreter. Some other standard COM files are FORMAT.COM, EDIT.COM, or MODE.COM.
Program(s) that can open the .COM file
Windows
Mac OS
How to open COM files
If you cannot open the COM file on your computer - there may be several reasons. The first and most important reason (the most common) is the lack of a suitable software that supports COM among those that are installed on your device.
A very simple way to solve this problem is to find and download the appropriate application. The first part of the task has already been done – the software supporting the COM file can be found in the table. Now just download and install the appropriate application.
Possible problems with the COM format files
The inability to open and operate the COM file does not necessarily mean that you do not have an appropriate software installed on your computer. There may be other problems that also block our ability to operate the Command Executable Format file. Below is a list of possible problems.
- Corruption of a COM file which is being opened
- Incorrect links to the COM file in registry entries.
- Accidental deletion of the description of the COM from the Windows registry
- Incomplete installation of an application that supports the COM format
- The COM file which is being opened is infected with an undesirable malware.
- The computer does not have enough hardware resources to cope with the opening of the COM file.
- Drivers of equipment used by the computer to open a COM file are out of date.
If you are sure that all of these reasons do not exist in your case (or have already been eliminated), the COM file should operate with your programs without any problem. If the problem with the COM file has not been solved, it may be due to the fact that in this case there is also another rare problem with the COM file. In this case, the only you can do is to ask for assistance of a professional staff.
Updated 07/30/2022
Similar extensions
| .a6p | Adobe Authorware Application Format |
| .action | Mac OS X Automator Action Format |
| .actm | Autodesk AutoCAD Action Macro Format |
| .ahk | AutoHotkey Script Format |
| .air | Adobe AIR Rich Internet Applications |
| .apk | Google Android Package Format |
| .app | MAC Application Package Or Core System Service Format |
| .applescript | AppleScript Script Format |
How to associate the file with an installed software?
If you want to associate a file with a new program (e.g. my-file.COM) you have two ways to do it. The first and the easiest one is to right-click on the selected COM file. From the drop-down menu select "Choose default program", then click "Browse" and find the desired program. The whole operation must be confirmed by clicking OK. The second and more difficult to do is associate the COM file extension to the corresponding software in the Windows Registry.
Is there one way to open unknown files?
Many files contain only simple text data. It is possible that while opening unknown files (e.g. COM) with a simple text editor like Windows Notepad will allow us to see some of the data encoded in the file. This method allows you to preview the contents of many files, but probably not in such a structure as a program dedicated to support them.