Difference between and hex editor and a memory editor?

[apo clan]

What is the difference between a hex editor and a memory editor. I know the memory editor edits the game memory but doesnt a hex editor do the same thing?
Where would it be more feasable to use the hex editor over the memory editor?

[Shard]

A hex editor edits the actual files.

[BlackDove]

To embelish on what shard is saying, you can only hex edit a file when it is not actively running. Changing the data this way is permanent and you should create a backup so you won't be screwed if you mess up.

Memory editing is only temporary. This can be done when the program is running. As soon as the program is launched again, it acts as if it were never edited by you.

The only similiarity is that both may look similiar because of the hexadecimal number system that you usually see when editing.

[Gregsy]

a memory editor scans the memory of a game, a hexeditor is used to edit the file its self

[apo clan]

k so you get a hex editor and you open up any type of file with it right? Such as saved, exe, and dll, but not limited to that. It then displays the binaries of the file. Then on the side it usually displays the ascii equivalents of the binaries, but where do you go from there? Do you usually use a memory editor to find an address then edit that address in the hex editor, cuz some of that hex lines are rather cryptic or is it better to use a decryter like softice? This way you at least get a better sense of the code. Any good tutorial links would be greatly appreciated with practice files.

[tweester2]

hex editor is nothing like a memory editor like gregsy said with hex editor u only edit the file itself so it's different from editing values from offsets while the file is runing and it's not binaries it's hexadecimal.

[BlackDove]

Tutorials:

http://www.gamehacking.com (in articles section)

http://pc.nanobot2k.org/?articles (Primal Secrets)

http://www.ghu.as.ro/ (Game Hacking University)