Windows Installer

The Microsoft® Windows® Installer (MSI) is the application installation and configuration service for Windows. Version 4.5 of the Windows Installer has several new features, including:

• Multiple Package Transaction: In a multiple package transaction, you can create a single transaction from multiple packages. In a multiple package transaction, a chainer is used to dynamically include packages in the transaction. If any of the packages do not install as expected, you can roll back the installation.

Read the rest of this entry »

Share & Enjoy - Bookmark to:

In earlier versions of Windows, it might have been necessary to re-register the Windows Installer files in the registry (an example) if those files became damaged or corrupt. Beginning Windows Vista, damaged system files needed by Windows Installer can be repaired automatically.

Read the rest of this entry »

Share & Enjoy - Bookmark to:

This documentation contains information about the version of WiX distributed with Visual Studio Team System code name "Rosario" November CTP. It contains information about:
• What WiX is
• Using WiX on the command line
• Using WiX in Visual Studio
• WiX Schema Reference
• Advanced WiX Usage such as patch building, custom actions, and extensions
• Additional help links and resources

More Information and Download

Share & Enjoy - Bookmark to:

Application Verifier is a runtime verification tool for unmanaged code that assists in quickly finding subtle programming errors that can be extremely difficult to identify with normal application testing.

Read the rest of this entry »

Share & Enjoy - Bookmark to:

The following articles were created/updated throughout August 2007 for InstallShield Related Products - categorized based on section -

FIXES/HOTFIXES

• COM Extraction Fails on Systems Older than Windows XP SP1
• COM Extraction Causes System Corruption during Uninstall
• Unparsed Records in SdFilesInUse and SdRMFilesInUse Dialogs
• Licensing Hotfix for InstallShield 2008 Premier and Professional Editions

INFORMATIONAL

• Workflow Manager 4.04 Now Available
• Expected Behavior of Response Transform Wizard
• Updated iPlugin.dll for Microsoft Visual Studio 2005
• InstallShield 2008 Express Edition Release Notes
• Known Issues in InstallShield 2008 Express Edition
• Migrating Projects to InstallShield 2008 Express Edition

HOWTO’s

• Resolve Signtool.exe Build Error

PROBLEMS

• Your Current Security Settings Do Not Allow This File To Be Downloaded

Reference: InstallShield Support

Share & Enjoy - Bookmark to:

The following articles were created/updated throughout July 2007 for InstallShield Related Products - categorized based on section -

BUGS

• AdminStudio Phase Shows 100% Complete, but Workflow Does Not Progress
• Support Files Not Available in OnBegin Event
• AdminStudio Workflow Phase Never Reaches 100%

CODES

• Generate a GUID in the Automation Interface
• Getting the Volume Serial Number

FIXES/HOTFIXES

• Error 1001 Occurs at Run Time
• Uninstall of Developer Causes Build Errors in Microsoft Visual Studio .NET
• Error -1628 Occurs on 64-bit Machines
• Error when Adding Package via Citrix Installation Manager and Transform is Specified
• Error when Adding Package via Citrix Installation Manager and Transform is Specified
• Installing AdminStudio 8.5 on a non-English OS Causes Error -1609
• OS Conditions in DIM Files May Evaluate Incorrectly
• ‘Program Compatibility’ Dialog on Windows Vista Appears During .NET 1.1 Installation

Read the rest of this entry »

Share & Enjoy - Bookmark to:

When building a DIM reference into an InstallShield project, you may see that OS Conditions evaluate the ‘Greater Than’ conditional statement as ‘Equals’.

Applies to Product(s):

• InstallShield 2008 Premier
• InstallShield 2008 Professional

Project Type: Windows Installer, InstallScript MSI

Solution:

Per InstallShield Support, this is due to an issue present in InstallShield’s DIM Import module.

Download new DimImport.dll & Resolute

Share & Enjoy - Bookmark to:

The July 2007 edition of Macrovision’s Newsletter has the following as highlights:

•  
  • AdminStudio 8.5 prevents DLL conflicts with Citrix virtualization support
  • AdminStudio wins two 2007 Redmond Readers’ Choice Awards
  • Tip: Setting isolation options for Citrix virtual profiles
  • Save time by indentifying which applications to repacakge for Windows Vista
  • AdminStudio training special: Sign up with co-workers and save!

New Knowledge Base Articles Added Include:

•  
  • HOWTO: Troubleshooting Major Upgrades
  • INFO: Changing the IP Address of the Workflow Manager Application Site
  • HOWTO: Configuring Job Manager to Run as a Service

Visit the July 2007 AdminLetter for links & details.

Share & Enjoy - Bookmark to:

Time Displayed - Pacific Time (US & Canada) [Convert to Your Local Time]

Share & Enjoy - Bookmark to:

AdminStudio includes a standalone, zero-footprint setup for Repackager. This allows you to install Repackager by itself on a clean machine to repackage applications. The repackaged setup can then be transferred to a build machine with AdminStudio installed or copied to a network location. The download is in the form of a setup.exe that should be launched on the clean machine.

Beginning with AdminStudio 8.5, the standalone Repackager is available on the installation DVD in the Tools folder entitled “StandaloneRepackager.exe”. 

More Information & Download

Share & Enjoy - Bookmark to:

Building an .inc file that contains certain shortcut entries can lead to an error during the build. A message indicating “An unknown error occurred” is present in the build log, after shortcut information is displayed, and an .msi file will not be created.

This is caused by a bug present in AdminStudio 6.0 with or without Value Pack 1.

Download the HOTFIX (islc.exe) & Steps for Resolution

Share & Enjoy - Bookmark to:

The installation terminates when the progress-bar dialog runs. A log of the installation indicates error 2755:1639. An error message indicating incorrect command-line parameters is also seen in the log file.

Usually the exact error message is:

Error 2755: Server returned unexpected error.
Error 1639 is a system return code indicating that Windows Installer received an invalid command line argument.

Project Type: Windows Installer, InstallScript MSI

Possible CAUSE & RESOLUTIONS 

• Macrovision Knowledge Base - Q106083

Share & Enjoy - Bookmark to:

This article explains how to determine if the current user is an administrator on Windows or the root user on Unix, and how to halt the installation and display an error dialog when this current user criterion is not met.

This article applies to the following:

Product(s):

• InstallShield X Premier, InstallShield 10.5 Premier, InstallShield 11 Premier
• InstallShield X Professional, InstallShield 10.5 Professional, InstallShield 11 Professional
• MultiPlatform 4.x, MultiPlatform 5.x, FLEXnet InstallShield MultiPlatform 11.5

Project Type: Universal Installer
Operating System(s): Windows 95/98, Windows NT, Solaris (SPARC), MAC OS, Linux, MAC OS X, AIX, Windows 2000/XP, All Windows, Windows Vista

What does this mean and how to troubleshoot?

Share & Enjoy - Bookmark to:

In this article, author Aaron Phillips goes through the process of customizing the behavior of an SVS package using WiseScript. WiseScript is a simple, yet versatile scripting language that consolidates dozens or hundreds of lines of code into predefined script actions. Phillips mentions:

Since I was introduced to WiseScript, I have to say, it’s grown on me more and more. WiseScript is a quick and easy to use tool that can bring customized control to how your SVS applications perform.

In this example, author creates a “Post Activation” event for an SVS package using WiseScript to display an End User License Agreement (EULA) and to set a registry key with its acceptance for the currently logged on user.

Visit the Article

News Source: http://juice.altiris.com

Share & Enjoy - Bookmark to:

Nominations are being accepted for Windows Installer 4.5 Beta. Windows Installer Team claims that the Windows Installer 4.5 beta will deliver new functionality for multiple package products and for servicing complex products. Windows Installer 4.5 will pull down level the features from the OS version independent features in the Windows Installer 4.0 release that shipped only in Windows Vista and will ship in Windows Server 2008. Windows Installer 4.5 is expected to ship as a redistributable down level to Windows XP SP2 and up.

The draft white paper “Agility Trends in Package Software” is posted at Microsoft Connect.  The draft is a part of the information offered to the tools vendors on the Live Meeting call last month, Robert Flaming expands.

A complete set of Windows Installer 4.5 beta documents are expected to be available on July, Binary Download of the product to be available on August 07.

Sign-Up for Beta Nominations

Share & Enjoy - Bookmark to:

It appears a new version of Windows Installer 4.1 is on the horizon. On May 04, Windows Installer Team at Microsoft posted Invitation to Windows Installer Tools Vendors for a Live Meeting Event at their blog web site saying, “At this event we’ll discuss the next step for the Windows Installer so you can consider the fit to your plans”. Couple of days ago at MSDN pages for Windows Installer, I found the following:

Windows Installer 4.1 updates Windows Installer 4.0 without adding any new features and is available in Windows Vista SP1 and Windows Server 2008. [Link]

So when can we expect the new version of Windows Installer 4.1 to be available (also obviously as a redistributable upgrade to current Windows Installer 4.0 on Vista)? Microsoft hasn’t issued a press release with that pronouncement. Instead, it notified its Technology Adoption Partner testers of it via an e-mail regarding the imminent start of the Vista SP1 testing program where they mention:

The Technology Adoption Program (TAP) is looking for customers and partners actively test and provide feedback on Windows Vista SP1 to help us prepare for its release in the second half of CY07.

There will definitely be sessions as like Webcasts, blogs, documentation’s etc from Windows Installer Team at Microsoft about the new release, I will keep them posted as soon as I find more details. For now, either subscribe for RSS feeds or bookmark this site.

Versions of Windows Installer & Downloads

Share & Enjoy - Bookmark to:

1. Windows Installer custom action code must be compatible with Data Execution Prevention in Windows Vista

2. Notification message when you remove or repair a program in Windows Vista: “An unidentified program wants to access your computer”

These articles were discussed earlier by Windows Installer Team as future candidates to be included at Microsoft Knowledge Base. As the team explains, a future scheduled to be published Knowledge Base article titled “ElevationShield will not show during maintenance mode on a Windows Installer native UI PushButton control” is already on it’s queue.

Share & Enjoy - Bookmark to:

As a latest addition for “tutorials” for how to create Windows Installer Packages using Visual Studio, author Prabhakar Manikonda at CodeGuru has simplified some steps involved to help .NET programmers get used to this easy-to-setup program that allows to deploy applications even without any knowledge of writing setup scripts.

With screenshots and detailed 5-step process, author concludes, “I hope that many of the .NET developers who use traditional setup script programs will find this an easy and simple way to deploy your software. More than that, if you got the licensed Visual Studio .NET with you, there is no need to purchase setup applications from other companies because Visual Studio .NET itself offers it to you.”

Visit the Article

Share & Enjoy - Bookmark to:

Previously, DevInstall had posted an Event relating to Webcast: 10 More Commandments for Software Packaging: Focus on Vista Migration. If you missed the live Webcast which was on October 25, Macrovision has now made that available on-demand. Building on the popular 20 Commandments for Software Packaging, this new set of commandments apply to migration projects, and will show you which tools can help you perform these tasks. If you are getting ready for a Vista migration today, take the time to view this Webcast.

10 More Commandments include:

1. Plan your Project
2. Learn the New Feature Set
3. Create your Team
4. Build your Test Network
5. Filter Features
6. Analyze Application Compatibility
7. Package for Production
8. Rely on Workflows
9. Test, Test, Test
10. Learn your Lessons

Ofcourse, the speakers expand and present these bullets in greater detail with demos.

Speakers:

Nelson Ruest
Wes Day
Michael Snyders

Visit the Webcast

Share & Enjoy - Bookmark to:

Previously, DevInstall had posted an Event relating to Webcast from MSDN: Designing Application Installations for User Account Control with Windows Installer 4.0 in Windows Vista. If you missed the live Webcast which was on October 18, MSDN has now made that available on-demand.

What does the Webcast talk about? Some highlights?

1. User Account Control (UAC) in Vista and Windows Installer 4.0 Integration
2. Signing Your Package - some new dialogs
3. Credential Prompt-Free Patching
4. Adding the “Shield” to your User Interface
5. When does elevation happen?
6. Precautions when using AdminUser
7. A word about Custom Actions (CAs)
8. ALLUSERS Property Under UAC
9. Creating a True “Per-User” Package
10. Using a Setup.exe Bootstrapper
11. Testing your Package

In addition, the on-going Q/A session during the presentation was highly informational. Some highlights from the session:

…

Question: We don’t want to make the customer go through the UI and then abort in the Execute sequence if Privileged is False. What can we check in the UI sequence to abort?

Answer: The UAC credential prompt is a one way door. There is no way to tell in advance whether the user will approve the credential prompt. Once the credential prompt is approved you are running as administrator. This is a constraint of UAC.

…

Question: On Vista, is there a way to run an elevated install silentley? i.e: When using /qb Vista do shows the elevation dailog request - but also shows the progress bar. When using /qn - nothing happens … Is’nt a way of metigation between the two switches ??

Answer: The UAC functionality does not allow elevate silently. The recommendation from the UAC team is to 1) run from a managability tool such as SMS, Altiris, Tivoli, etc 2) run from an elevated command line 3) (for automated testing in development only) write a service that elevates a command line when passed.

…

Question: There’s some confusion about whether the “no impersonate” bit can be used in the UI sequence. Docs imply it only applies to deferred custom actions.

Answer: NoImpersonate can not be used in the UI Sequence or in the InstallExecuteSequence outside of the script. To have a custom action run inside the script, one needs to mark their custom action deferred.

…

Question: So where does ALLUSERS=2 bounce to?
Answer: ALLUSERS==1.

…

And many more?This is a strong recommendation to Application Developers, Installation Developers and also for Application Packagers. 

Presenter: Tyler Robinson, Lead Program Manager, Microsoft Corporation
Session Q/A: Robert Flaming, Program Manager, Microsoft Corporation

Watch this on-demand Webcast ||| Read the Full Session Chat Transcript

Windows Installer Team has also scheduled next similar webcast for October 30, 2006 Designing Software Installations for Windows Vista Using Windows Installer 4.0.

Additional Resources:
If you are more interested to learn about UAC in Vista and Windows Installer 4.0, Robert Flaming published a series of articles earlier: Understanding UAC in Vista and Windows Installer. Uday Shivaswamy’s earlier webcast about Modifying Your Applications to Run on Windows Vista is an additional support to understand in the sequence. There is also an upcoming event about 10 More Commandments for Software Packaging: Focus on Vista Migration, you may find it more helpful in the context.

Share & Enjoy - Bookmark to:

On Friday November 3 2006,  PDS, Macrovision and Altiris is organizing the annual Packaging Event in the Amsterdam Arena for their customers in Belgium, Netherlands & Luxembourg. On this unique (free) event speakers from Macrovision, Altiris, Microsoft and Novell will be presenting the latest developments in the field of Application packaging and Windows installer technology.

At the exhibition space, various packaging organizations will present their solutions to the visitors. The event highlights are detailed as below:

Speakers at the Event

9.30 AM: Windows Installer past, present, future & Microsoft Vista
Tyler Robinson, Windows Installer Program Manager , Microsoft
Exploring the windows Installer elements from a system administrator perspective. How will Vista influence the packaging process & application management.

11.15 AM: Wise Package Studio and SVS
Andre De Meijer, Senior Consultant, Altiris
Wise Package Studio and Altiris Software Virtualization Solution (SVS) are two keys components of a successful application management process; both solutions help organizations manage their applications throughout their lifecycle, including preparation, deployment, management and support, patching, upgrading and retiring.

1.30 PM: FLEXnet AdminStudio
Nica Faustino, Sales Engineer Manager, Macrovision EMEA
Macrovision will host an interactive session during a software demonstration to cover the  complete application repackaging lifecycle from application request through quality assurance and  integration with distribution tools. It will be followed by a questions and answers session

3.15 PM: Novell ZENworks
Roel van Bueren Consultant, ROVABU Networks
How to deploy MSI packages with Novell ZENworks: Past, Present , Future.

You can find the complete details about the event here.

Share & Enjoy - Bookmark to:

Previously, DevInstall had posted an Event relating to Webcast from MSDN: Modifying Your Applications to Run on Windows Vista. If you missed the live Webcast which was on October 06, MSDN has now made that available on-demand.

What does the Webcast talk about? Some highlights…

1. Innovation and Compatibility of applications for Vista
2. What is Microsoft doing about application compatibility?
3. Typical Compatibility Failures
4. User Account Control: Why might application break?
5. Windows Resource Protection: What’s changed? Include it in your application package?
6. Mitigation: What is Redirection? Is it per user or per machine? How can you avoid redirection?
7. Application Updates: Who has the privileges?
8. Service Isolation
9. Networking, Version Checking, Microsoft GINA, Graphics Device Interface (GDI) and Dots per Inch (DPI)…
10. Removed Components while going to Vista

And many more…This is a strong recommendation to Application Developers, Installation Developers and also for Application Packagers. 

Presenter: Uday Shivaswamy, Program Manager, Microsoft Corporation

Watch the on-demand Webcast

Share & Enjoy - Bookmark to:

The history of UAC, User Account Control, dates back to as early as Windows 95 Operating System. With the ‘intense’ requirement in the corporate world to have employees their own ‘user profile’, Microsoft implemented profiling concept many years earlier however reaching Windows Vista, the concept has taken a major and bold changes. Introduction of Windows Installer Technology and it’s continuing evolution makes UAC as one of the secure form of application installation and management services.

Robert Flaming, product manager at Windows Installer Team, has recently published a series of articles relating and concerning “User Account Control and Windows Installer”. His articles discusses some of the very important concepts that are MUST to understand to create applications in Windows Vista. Windows Installer 4.0 is the latest version available and currently only compatible with Windows Vista.

Flaming’s articles (ascending order):

Added October 01, 2006:

• UAC in MSI Notes: Answers to questions in comments from earlier blog posts.
• UAC in MSI Notes: What are the Hurdles in Windows Vista Logo compliance related to UAC and MSI?
• UAC in MSI Notes: How do I get one credential dialog for a multiple package install?
• UAC in MSI Notes: Easier for my current custom installer to support UAC than switch to MSI?
• UAC in MSI Notes: How to Build Packages that work for both Standard User and Per-Machine?
• UAC in MSI Notes: Is “this” intentional? If so, why?
• UAC in MSI Notes: Do I need to consider “this” when I’m designing for UAC in MSI? Generally, no.

Added September 30, 2006:

• UAC in MSI Notes: how do I troubleshoot UAC in MSI via the log?
• UAC in MSI Notes: How do I get the shield on the advertised shortcut?
• MSI in UAC Notes: When General Custom Action Mitigation Fails
• MSI in UAC Notes: Should I write my installer as a Standard User install? If yes, how?
• MSI in UAC Notes: Read the Friendly Manual

Earlier Posts:

• MSI in UAC Notes: O Whitepaper, Where Art Thou?
• UAC in MSI Notes: Challenges for a Beautiful Custom Action
• UAC in MSI Notes: My “Four Square” Diagram
• UAC in MSI Notes: The NoImpersonate Bit Mistake
• UAC in MSI Notes: Modifying System in InstallExecuteSequence outside of Script
• UAC in MSI Notes: Modify System with InstallUISequence Custom Action
• UAC in MSI Notes: The AdminUser Mistake
• UAC in MSI Notes: Credential Prompt and Permissions
• UAC in MSI Notes: The “Saw Tooth” Diagram
• UAC in MSI Notes: A Relief Providing Framework
• UAC in MSI Notes: Jagged Edge to User
• UAC in MSI Notes: Just Like Managed Installs
• UAC in MSI Notes: Conficting Definitions of Per-User
• UAC in MSI Notes: How I Root Cause The Problem
• UAC in MSI Notes: Introduction

These articles should be helpful and ‘may be’ the key discussions of forth coming Webcasts at MSDN about Designing Application Installations for UAC with Windows Installer 4.0 in Windows Vista scheduled on Wednesday, October 18, 2006 10:00AM Pacific Time. If you have any concerns reading these articles and would like to understand more about UAC features in Vista and ‘know-hows’, you can follow the link and register for the event.

NOTES
Robert Flaming is adding a series of articles in the same list once in a while. They will be updated here once available with update date stamp of this article.
Original Post: September 24, 2006
Edited Post: October 01, 2006

Share & Enjoy - Bookmark to: