How to Install ActiveX CAB Files

You can install ActiveX CAB files.

ActiveX files are files that are used by Microsoft Windows and certain other Microsoft software. These files contain special instructions that can expand the capabilities of Windows, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Office applications and others. Sometimes, ActiveX installation files are compressed as CAB files, which is a proprietary file compression format used by Microsoft. To install these ActiveX controls, you must first expand the CAB file, and then open the executable (EXE) file contained within it.

Instructions

1. Locate the CAB file on your hard drive. If you already know where it is located, you can skip this step. Otherwise, click the Start button in Windows and then click "Search." In the Search window, click "All files and folders," type the name of the CAB file in the search field and click the "Search" button. When the file appears in the search results, look at the file path specified to determine its location.

2. Click the Start button in Windows and then click "Run." Type "msconfig" in the Run window and click "OK." This will open the Windows Configuration Utility, which can be used to decompress CAB files.

3. Click the "Expand File" button on the "General" tab of the Windows Configuration Utility.

4. Click the "Browse file" button next to the "File to restore" field. This will open up a small file browsing window. Navigate to the location of the CAB file in this window, then click the CAB file. Click the "Open" button to select it.

5. Click the "Browse file" button next to the "Save file in" field. This will open another small file browsing window. Click "Desktop" in the file browser, then click the "New Folder" icon at the top of the window. Type in whatever name you want for the folder, which will be temporary, and press "Enter." Double-click the new folder, then click the "OK" button.

6. Click the "Expand" button. Windows will expand the contents of the CAB file into the folder you just created.

7. Double-click the new folder on your desktop. There should be several files within the folder, one of which should have an EXE file extension. This file is often called setup.exe. Double-click the EXE file to open the ActiveX control installation utility.

8. Follow the on-screen prompts to install the ActiveX control. The installer will use the collection of files stored in the temporary folder to install it. At the end of the process, click the "Finish" button on the installation utility.

9. Drag the new folder on your desktop into the Recycle Bin, as you no longer need it after installing the ActiveX control.

Tips & Warnings

• Not all ActiveX controls are created and distributed by Microsoft; many are created by third-party publishers. Only install ActiveX files from publishers you trust.

References

• FileXT: .CAB File
• Microsoft: Introduction to ActiveX Controls

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Read this Article in Spanish