let's say i have a buffer that holds the contents of an executable... what would be the best way to map that buffer inside memory and run the exe which it holds, without writing it to a file?

By writing it to a file.

Make a function pointer to the entry point and call it?

[quote author=Camel link=topic=16963.msg171706#msg171706 date=1187503234]
Make a function pointer to the entry point and call it?
[/quote]

yeah well that wouldn't work if you use other segments of the file other than the code segment, would it.

[quote author=l2k-Shadow link=topic=16963.msg171707#msg171707 date=1187504651]
[quote author=Camel link=topic=16963.msg171706#msg171706 date=1187503234]
Make a function pointer to the entry point and call it?
[/quote]

yeah well that wouldn't work if you use other segments of the file other than the code segment, would it.
[/quote]

Wow, is it really necessary to be an asshole when somebody tries to help?

This might be a related or relevant topic.