How to Install A Program Using a .cab File

[Brad Isaac]

One of the most overlooked ways of installing a programs to your Pocket PC is a .cab file. "What is a .cab file"? You ask? A cabinet (CAB) file is a compressed file that holds all of the items necessary for installing a program on your Pocket PC. .cab files are extremely portable because you do not need Activesync in order to install a program on your Pocket PC. As long as the .cab file is on your device, then you can perform the install.
We'll install Battery Pack using a .cab installer.
For the purpose of this walk-through, you should see what a .cab file looks like. Below, you can see a picture of what a cab file looks like on the typical Windows desktop PC. It is the file labelled batt.arm:


I have WinRar Archiver compression on my desktop PC so my .cab files look like a small bundle of books (WinRar is not required or recommended for this tutorial):

Step 1: First step is to copy the .cab file on your Pocket PC. If you have a memory card reader, you can copy it to the card and insert it into your Pocket PC. If you simply download the .cab file from the Web you can get it that way. However, for the sake of this tutorial, we'll copy the file via Activesync.
So open Activesync on your desktop PC and hit the Explore Button.

Step 2: You should now see an Explorer type of window that lists the contents of your "My Documents" folder.

Step 3: Drag and drop the .cab file from the folder on your desktop computer to your Pocket PC.

Step 4: Go to your Pocket PC and Find File Explorer in your Programs directory:

Step 5: Navigate to your My Documents folder on your Pocket PC and you'll see the batt.arm file listed.

Step 6: Tap the .cab file one time and it will install!

You may be thinking "That's great! But where do I get .cab files?" The answer is often on your desktop computer. When the desktop installer runs on a Windows machine, it creates a directory with .cab files to install through Activesync. So try looking in your Program Files directory for the PPC program installers you want. Mac users can usually write the developer for .cab files.
Conclusion
.cab files are an extremely portable way of transporting the installers of the most used programs on your device. Many travelers use them in the case of an accidental hard reset where the backup fails. Mac users are almost required to use them because there is no Activesync for Mac. And finally, what about those programs that throw errors during desktop install? Try the .cab files - they always work! 8)

[jkendrick]

Brad,
Good tip and I would add that you can find the latest versions of many popular programs in CAB format from FreeCabs. I keep the CAB files for my main programs on my SD memory card in case I am on the road and need to rebuild my device.
http://people.freenet.de/FreeCabs/

[Brad Isaac]

Hey, thanks for the link! I forgot all about freecabs

[tobor96]

I recently got a ppc 2003 with built-in WiFi, I've discovered CAB files and have an installer so that I choose where I want to put the executable. Nothing gets me more worked up than having to depend on a laptop/desktop to install programs onto my ppc. Some sites have started posting cab files, but unless they are zipped, I don't seem to be able to download them.
Is there some trick/hack to downloading CAB files directly to me ppc using PocketIE?
Any advice is much appriciated. Thanks.

[vicott]

Nice and detailed tip there. Anyway I would like to add that CABInstl is a must-have program for those who are thinking of installing CAB programs to Storage Card or "non-default" installation folder

[Brad Isaac]

I agree, CABInstl is a good one to have on your PPC. Very handy.

[murduck]

You might also consider CABackup, its a good addition to your collections.

[pakcikkantin]

Very good explaination, thanks

[zeypxun]

I just put the cab file on my card and just click on it there and it installs fine on my 8125. That is way faster than using activesync which takes forever to upload or download files. After it installs though, it deletes the cab file from wherever it is either way. So if you want to keep it as a backup you need to copy it first. Or is that what CABackup does? I have SPB pocket plus and it lets me install to the card or device, so no need for another program like cabinstl.

[Degga_D]

i GOT A FAIR FEW OF THESE AND THOUGHT THEY WERE WINRAR FILES AS THATS WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE

SO CHEERS AND I WILL BE TRYING THIS OUT NEXT TIME

[BoxWave]

What a brilliant write up -- someone should make this a sticky . It'll change the way I use Pocket PCs/SmartPhones for sure.

[billy_witch_doctor.com]

that is one of the most useful things i've seen

[Pegleg Pete]

Originally Posted by jkendrick

Brad,
Good tip and I would add that you can find the latest versions of many popular programs in CAB format from FreeCabs. I keep the CAB files for my main programs on my SD memory card in case I am on the road and need to rebuild my device.
FreeCabs

So, that was YOU!

Once upon a time, not so long ago, I was the ONLY person on airplanes with a "mobile" computer. It was a Texas Instruments Portable Pro (8088 processor, 20 megs HD, 640K) weighing 34 pounds.

Then, one day, SHAZAM!
Another guy with a luggable.
You, no doubts. <grn>

In those days, airport security folks were awed, "Look, Hank, a Komputor!" They were neither required to operate nor subjected to machine inspection.

BUT, for some of us programmer geeks, those ancient boat anchors made buckets, barrels and tons of money. . .

[yankeejeep]

To download directly to your device, you need to get past PIE's predisposition toward opening all website links as pages. You can get a PIE add-on like PIE Plus, which brings 'save as file' functionality to PIE. Or you can install an alternate browser. There are several choices; Webby Mobile has 'save as file' and has a free version and Minimo (freeware) keeps adding features as it continues through the development process. For commercial software, you could check out NetFront and Opera browsers.

[lakerhater4]

I'm with Zeypxun, I just copy to my card and install that way. No frills and quick.

[yankeejeep]

When I have a desktop host available, I also find the download-and-copy method the easier choice. But I find myself more and more frequently needing to handle the whole process with just my device. Having a WM option to download and save a .cab or .zip archive file without desktop assistance is an absolute must-have for me. Cabinstl completes the solution by giving the same install location control as installing through ActiveSync.

[segsalertyo2]

i really love the freecab site, its quite lovely, i got all i need for my o2 xda2 installed... but I'm only unable tu download the yahoo messanger .cab software, pls kindly get me another site 2 get my messanger pls.. either in .cab or zip format.........

[princess_latonya]

Thanks for the information. I've been trying to install a new game for days and now i've got it!! Thanks again.

[da_tsohg]

that's whats up thanks for the help

[atmdoc]

Outstanding Tip - Worked like a charm! Thanks

[captainjack]

Thats too much tricky yah but got a lot of information ....thanks

[captainjack]

Can any body tell me is .cab file suported Palm devices

[F2504x4]

Quick question, once I have installed the cab file and opened it,installed it, can I then delete the zip file on my device?

I keep a copy of the zip on my laptop for future needs.

[dis_dj_sin]

Originally Posted by F2504x4

Quick question, once I have installed the cab file and opened it,installed it, can I then delete the zip file on my device?

I keep a copy of the zip on my laptop for future needs.

you can delete the zip and the cab file, once you installed it, from your phone. Just like you, I keep a backup of all the cab's on my comp.

[Hank54]

Thanks for the great info. This is my first time on this site and I'm glad I stumbled upon it.