Windows Installer Team Blog

Article
2/7/2020

How can I supress msimsp pop-up: 'Target ProductVersion is greater than the Upgraded Image; do you want to proceed anyway?'?

Question I am presently trying to automate patch builds for my product code, and I am using...

Author: zhakim Date: 08/23/2005

Folder not removed after reboot when files are in use?

QuestionWhen I uninstall with our application running, the folder that contained the app is not...

Author: zhakim Date: 08/22/2005

What's wrong with my customization of Add Remove Programs?

Question We’re trying to install our MSI without having it listed in Add/Remove Control Panel using...

Author: zhakim Date: 08/21/2005

Any tips on Troubleshooting Error 2356 Could not locate cabinet in stream: [2]. ?

QuestionI’ve got a report of error 2356 "Could not locate cabinet in stream: [2]." which says a...

Author: zhakim Date: 08/20/2005

What are some sources of: MSI error 2716: "Could not create a random subcomponent name for component '[2]'".?

Question Background For background on subcomponents, see Why does the Windows Installer log list...

Author: zhakim Date: 08/19/2005

Why does the Windows Installer log list apparently duplicate components prepended with double underscore and appended with 65?

QuestionWhy does the Windows Installer log list apparently duplicate components prepended with...

Author: zhakim Date: 08/18/2005

InstallValidate Nulled Out My Request (Part III)

QuestionUpdated build of MSI not being installed despite REINSTALLMODE=vomus property?...

Author: zhakim Date: 08/17/2005

Where is the Windows Installer SDK?

QuestionI went to the Microsoft download site and could not find a entry for the Windows Installer...

Author: zhakim Date: 08/16/2005

What are some sources of: Error 1606: Could Not Access Network Location?

QuestionWhat are some sources of: Error 1606: Could Not Access Network Location? Answer Generally,...

Author: zhakim Date: 08/15/2005

How can I tie the execution of an MSI with an enclosing Wrapper?

ProblemHow can I tie the execution of an MSI with an enclosing Wrapper? Design...

Author: zhakim Date: 08/13/2005

Can you please point me to some good documentation for creating a MSI custom action?

Custom actions provide a generalized way of extending the Windows Installer engine. Due to the fact...

Author: zhakim Date: 08/13/2005

What's wrong with the Custom ICE DLL I've built?

ProblemI’m trying to build a customized cub file to run against my MSI using msival2.exe. I built a...

Author: zhakim Date: 08/12/2005

Can I enable a particular priviledge for my NoImpersonate custom action?

QuestionCan I enable a particular priviledge for my NoImpersonate custom action? Answer No. DCOM...

Author: zhakim Date: 08/11/2005

Is there a way to surgically update the MSI with the signed binaries without having to repackage the MSI?

QuestionIs there a way to surgically update the MSI with the signed binaries without having to...

Author: zhakim Date: 08/10/2005

How do I detect that the installer is doing a repair?

QuestionHow do I detect that the installer is doing a repair? AnswerYou can check if the REINSTALL...

Author: zhakim Date: 08/09/2005

Where can I get some help parsing the Windows Installer logs?

QuestionWhere can I get some help parsing the Windows Installer logs? AnswerCheck out Wilogutl.exe...

Author: zhakim Date: 08/07/2005

How do I launch a browser after my install completes?

QuestionHow do I launch a browser after my install completes? SolutionPlease have a look at the MSDN...

Author: zhakim Date: 08/06/2005

Windows Installer 3.1 Version Confusion

A common question I have been receiving lately is about the Windows Installer 3.1 (v2)...

Author: zhakim Date: 08/05/2005

What considerations are there for obfuscating my .MSI file with say a .DAT file name?

QuestionWhat considerations are there for obfuscating my .MSI file with say a .DAT file name?...

Author: zhakim Date: 08/05/2005

How can I retain the value of a Property between install and uninstall?

Question How can I retain the value of a Property between install and uninstall? Background The best...

Author: zhakim Date: 08/04/2005

Does Windows Installer remember at uninstall the value of a property set during install?

Question Does Windows Installer remember at uninstall the value of a property set during install?...

Author: zhakim Date: 08/03/2005

With an ALLUSER=2 MSI, What will happen if the per-user install is followed by an per-machine install?

QuestionWill happen if the per-user install is followed by an install running with administrator...

Author: zhakim Date: 08/02/2005

Can a non-admin user run an msi?

QuestionCan a non-admin user run an msi? Answer If you only install to locations where non-admins...

Author: zhakim Date: 08/01/2005

MSIMSP says: "ERROR: UpgradedImages.MsiPath 'c:targetLeanMean.MSI' is not a proper MSI." Any hints?

Problem We had a report of two MSIs that operate fine independently but when using Msimsp.exe...

Author: zhakim Date: 07/24/2005

Beyond the Native Windows Installer User Interface

A frequent question on the support lines for Windows Installer is ‘how do I do UI widget X or UI...

Author: zhakim Date: 07/23/2005

Can a Type 38 custom action terminate the installation process from within the script?

No. A type 38 custom action always returns success. You can’t halt the installation with it. The...

Author: zhakim Date: 07/23/2005

InstallValidate Nulled Out My Request (Part II)

Earlier, in my blog, I digested a piece of a legacy internal troubleshooting document into the post:...

Author: zhakim Date: 07/21/2005

Which product code does MsiGetProductCode return if a component is shared by multiple products?

Design QuestionIf a component is shared by multiple products, which product code does...