What is the EX file format?
.ex is a template file format used by Norton Ghost, backup software developed by Symantec. .ex files contain the settings that define a Ghost backup or cloning job - source disk or partition, destination, scheduling and other parameters - and allow the automation and standardization of the entire backup process.
Norton Ghost was a tool for performing data backups and disk cloning. It allowed users to back up entire disks or individual partitions, and full system restore was also possible. The .ex template stores predefined job settings only - the actual disk images Ghost created are separate .gho or .v2i files. Norton Ghost could also be used to clone disks and migrate systems to new hardware.
Norton Ghost was discontinued on April 30, 2013 (support ended June 30, 2014). The .ex format is a legacy artifact; its successor, Symantec System Recovery, uses its own task storage format. On a modern system, .ex files have no practical use without a legacy Ghost installation.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWA Norton Ghost .EX template is a small proprietary settings file and is not executable, so the file itself poses little risk. The practical risk is data loss confusion: people assume the .EX contains their backup and delete the real image files (.GHO/.V2I) - do NOT delete those. Be wary of 'EX file openers' found online; the format is obscure and such tools are often bundled adware (PUPs) rather than genuine viewers.
Format details
in a nutshellFULL NAMENorton Ghost Template Fileaka Ghost task template, Symantec Ghost .EX file
DEVELOPERSymantec (Norton Ghost) - now Gen Digitalsince Norton Ghost consumer line (Ghost 9-15, mid-2000s)
CATEGORYSettings Files
MIME TYPEapplication/octet-stream
TYPEApplication configuration/template file written by Norton Ghost (binary/proprietary)
This extension is also used by…
- MetaTrader 4 compiled program (.ex4) / .ex - Compiled MQL4 expert advisor or indicator for the MetaTrader trading platform; binary, runs inside MetaTrader.
- Sierra game data file - Data/resource file used by some older Sierra On-Line games.
- Euphoria include/source-related file - Associated with the Euphoria programming language toolchain (cf. the .exw entry).
Programs that open EX files
Windows2 apps
Norton Ghost (legacy)
Paid If you still have Norton Ghost 15 installed, it reads its own .EX templates. The product is discontinued (2013) - not available for new purchase.
Symantec System Recovery (successor)
Paid The supported successor to Norton Ghost; recreate the backup task here rather than reusing the old .EX template. Technical details
deep spec| Associated application | Norton Ghost consumer backup software (Symantec / Gen Digital) |
| File content | Saved backup task/job template storing job parameters: source, destination, schedule and options |
| File format | Proprietary binary; no published specification or public magic bytes |
| MIME type | application/octet-stream (no officially registered MIME type) |
| Typical file size | A few KB (settings metadata only; contains no disk image or user data) |
| Platform | Windows only (Norton Ghost was a Windows-exclusive application) |
| Related image formats | Actual disk images created by Ghost use the .gho (Ghost Image) or .v2i extensions |
| Discontinuation | Norton Ghost discontinued April 30, 2013; extended support ended June 30, 2014 |
| Successor product | Symantec System Recovery (SSR), which replaced Norton Ghost and uses its own task format |
| Automation role | Template stores predefined job parameters to automate and standardize repeated backup or cloning runs |
| Data safety note | .ex contains no user data - actual backups are in separate .gho or .v2i image files |
| Version lock | File format tied to the Norton Ghost version that created it; not forward- or backward-compatible |
| Released | Norton Ghost consumer line (Ghost 9-15, mid-2000s) |
| Latest version | Norton Ghost 15 (last consumer release); format frozen at discontinuation |
EX conversions
Not possible
Community Q&A
asked by users
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Frequently asked questions
Does a Norton Ghost .EX file contain my backup data?
No. It is only a task template (the settings of a backup job). Your actual data is in the matching .GHO or .V2I image files - those are what you restore from.
How do I open a Norton Ghost .EX file?
Only Norton Ghost itself (or its successor, Symantec System Recovery) understands it. Since Ghost was discontinued in 2013, the file is mostly obsolete; there is nothing user-readable inside.
Norton Ghost is gone - what do I use instead?
Symantec System Recovery is the official successor. For modern free/paid imaging, Macrium Reflect, Veeam Agent, or built-in Windows backup are common replacements.
Can I convert an .EX file to an ISO or GHO image?
No - it has no disk contents to convert. Images are produced by running a backup, not by transforming the template file.
Is the .ex extension always Norton Ghost?
No, it's heavily overloaded. The same extension is used by MetaTrader compiled programs, older Sierra game data and other software - check which application created your file.
References
1Wikipedia - Ghost (disk utility)en.wikipedia.org
2Veritas - Symantec System Recovery (Norton Ghost successor)www.veritas.com
