NetPE

An application doesn’t necessarily have to contain a large variety of resource files, and can only be composed of a single application. These are enough to hold all functions and variables you need. Chances are you need to edit source code inside such files, case in which NetPE provides the necessary set of tools.

With no installation required, the application is good to go from the moment download is done. This also means that you’re able to carry it around on a thumb drive to take advantage of its features on other computers besides your own. All you need to check is whether or not .NET Framework is on the target PC.

The application is straightforward, and only consists of the basic means to navigate through target file elements, and modify corresponding value fields. Unfortunately, dropping files over the main window has no effect, but using the browse dialog isn’t that difficult. You can work on Portable Executable (PE) files, under types like EXE and DLL.

Once a file loads, all items appear in the navigation panel, some also containing multiple subitems. Almost all value fields can be changed for different sections like headers, data directories, and additional sections. Unfortunately, there’s no search function, so you need to manually identify items of interest.

Most values are shown in a table format. Depending on the type of value, chances are you can directly edit, or write new values in the cell, but there are some which let you select from a list of characteristics. You can encounter a built-in HEX editor, which is also found when selecting the Virtual Space section.

In conclusion, NetPE might seem like a simple edit environment for Portable Executables, but it’s straightforwardness is key to fast, and efficient editing. Even if there’s no search function, it’s easy enough to use the navigation panel, with intuitive selection, view, and multiple edit tools to pick values, or edit binary code.