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Questions tagged [windows-installer]

Windows Installer is the installation service provided with Windows, based on the creation and installation of MSI files. In practice there will be a tool you're using to generate the MSI files, and you should tag your question with Windows Installer and that tool (WiX, Visual Studio Setup Project, InstallShield, Advanced Installer etc). Your issue may be with building, designing, or installing MSI files.

From the MSDN documentation:

Microsoft Windows Installer is an installation and configuration service provided with Windows. The installer service enables customers to provide better corporate deployment and provides a standard format for component management. The installer also enables the advertisement of applications and features according to the operating system.

Installer also handles registry related changes.

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What are the advantages of installing programs in AppData like Google Chrome?

I just noticed that Chromium was installed in AppData in both Vista and XP. If Google does that and if other applications does this, than is that becuase there is some form of protection? Should we write installers that does the same thing as…
Ravi Chhabra
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How do I avoid common design flaws in my WiX / MSI deployment solution?

How do I avoid common design flaws in my WiX / MSI deployment solution? Deployment is a crucial part of most development - failed deployment means your end user will never get to evaluate your product. This could easily be the most expensive error…
Stein Åsmul
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How can I check .NET framework 4.5 prerequestics in WiX

I'd like to validate both .NET framework 4.0 and 4.5 should be installed at server before proceeding a installation. Hence I used the following snippet, but I don't know about 4.5 validattion, which was not listed in the link Reference
Smaug
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Wix toolset: create directory in root disk (system disk or c:\) and copy files inside

I'm aware of similar questions inside stackoverflow: WIX:default directory in WixUI_InstallDir, WIX installer root directory and versioning, Is it possible to have two root directories in WIX, copy file to custom dir in another partition, How to…
dendini
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Use cx-freeze to create an msi that adds a shortcut to the desktop

I am using cx-freeze to create an MSI installer for a Python application. How can I install a link to the application from the desktop?
joshuanapoli
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How to intelligently install .NET 4.x using WiX Burn

When installing an application that can use either .NET 4.0 or 4.5, what is the best practice when installing the prerequisites .NET framework? And how do you implement it using Burn in WiX? These are the options and trade-offs that I am aware…
Edward Brey
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How to include wxi file into wxs?

Following the excellent suggestion I have moved some variables to WXI file. How do I include it in WXS file?
Juozas Kontvainis
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Virtual Directory in Web Setup Project

I have a web setup project which by default shows the virtual directory in the textbox installer screen. I wish that the virtual directory name cannot be edited by the user and always defaults to the one I have setup in my msi. How can this be…
chugh97
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MSI does not install all files when RemovePreviousVersion is run

I have a MSI build using WiX version 3. All previous installers for the product we are deploying worked fine with the configuration specified (that is: if previous version exists, remove, then install the new version) - however, the new MSIs we…
Matthew Savage
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"Create Shortcut" Checkbox

I'm using the WiX Tool to create an installer. I need the installer to make it optional, when creating Start Menu and Desktop shortcuts. Something like: [   ] Do you want to create a start menu shortcut? Is that possible?
JakobJ
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How to make better use of MSI files

As you might know, msiexec is a command line application that you can use to install an MSI file. As you might know, you can run it in silent or invisible mode. If the installer requires the user to answer specific questions about what parts to…
xarzu
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Are Visual Studio Setup projects suitable for complex setups?

Are "Visual Studio Setup" projects suitable for complex setups in different versions? The application is rather large (> 500,000 lines of code) and is under continuous development. Every 6 to 10 months a new version gets released. We have multiple…
Robert
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DIRCA_CHECKFX Return Value 3 - VS 2013 Deployment Project

I have the dreaded issue from my attempted installation of an MSI: MSI (c) (98:B0) [18:01:22:818]: Invoking remote custom action. DLL: C:\DOCUME~1\sspencer\LOCALS~1\Temp\1\MSI19.tmp, Entrypoint: CheckFX MSI (c) (98:FC) [18:01:22:833]: Cloaking…
Spence
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detect msi parameters for unattended install

I have a msi package that have option to install two different languages , is there a way to detect the parameter responsible for selecting the language so I can use the command prompt to install the package silently (unattended installation)…
zac
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Where the MSI file is copied after the installation?

I have to replace it because of a bug that blocks the software uninstallation, but Windows can't find the MSI file if I use the file search utility, but I think the MSI is stored somewhere where the Add or Remove Programs utility can use it.
Jader Dias
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