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installer interview questions

Top installer frequently asked interview questions

InnoSetup: How to automatically uninstall previous installed version?

I'm using InnoSetup to create installer. I want the installer to automatically uninstall the previous installed version, instead of overwriting it. How can I do that?


Source: (StackOverflow)

Free software for Windows installers: NSIS vs. WiX? [closed]

I'm need to choose a software package for installing software. NSIS and WiX seem promising. Which one would you recommend over the other and why?

Feel free to offer something else if you think it's better than these two.


Source: (StackOverflow)

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Get installed applications in a system

How to get the applications installed in the system using c# code?


Source: (StackOverflow)

How to automatically start your service after install?

How do you automatically start a service after running an install from a Visual Studio Setup Project?

I just figured this one out and thought I would share the answer for the general good. Answer to follow. I am open to other and better ways of doing this.


Source: (StackOverflow)

Removing files when uninstalling WiX

When uninstalling my application, I'd like to configure the Wix setup to remove all the files that were added after the original installation. It seems like the uninstaller removes only the directories and files that were originally installed from the MSI file and it leaves everything else that was added later in the application folder. In another words, I'd like to purge the directory when uninstalling. How do I do that?


Source: (StackOverflow)

How to implement WiX installer upgrade?

At work we use WiX for building installation packages. We want that installation of product X would result in uninstall of the previous version of that product on that machine.

I've read on several places on the Internet about a major upgrade but couldn't get it to work. Can anyone please specify the exact steps that I need to take to add uninstall previous version feature to WiX?


Source: (StackOverflow)

How to prevent "This program might not have installed correctly" messages on Vista

I have a product setup executable that copies some files to the user's hard drive. It's not a typical installer in the normal sense (it doesn't add anything to the Start Menu or Program Files folders).

Each time the setup program is run on Vista, after the exe terminates, Vista produces a task dialog:

  • This program might not have installed correctly
  • Reinstall using recommended settings
  • This program installed correctly

Is there a function I need to call from the exe or registry entry to set, to indicate to the operating system that the program installed correctly (or to at least supress this message)?

Related questions: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1069135/this-program-might-not-have-installed-correctly-message-in-windows-7-rc (for Windows 7-specific issues)


Source: (StackOverflow)

How to build a minimal WiX installer UI without a license page?

I would like to use the WixUI_Minimal installer, but I don't want the license page. How can I do this?


Source: (StackOverflow)

What are the specific differences between .msi and setup.exe file?

I searched a lot, but all are guessed answers. Help me to find the exact answer.


Source: (StackOverflow)

What is the wix 'KeyPath' attribute?

What is the Wix 'KeyPath' attribute? In particular, how does it apply to the following:

<Component Id="ProgramMenuDir" Guid="*">
  <RemoveFolder Id="ProgramMenuDir" On="uninstall" />
  <RegistryValue Root="HKCU" Key="Software\CompName\AppName" 
                 Type="string" Value="" KeyPath="yes" />
</Component>

Source: (StackOverflow)

Installing git on Windows: Git Bash Here or git-cheetah shell extension?

I'm installing Git on Windows XP. During the setup, the installer asks whether I want:

1: Context menu entries: "Git Bash Here" (and the "Git GUI Here" option)

or

2: "git-cheetah shell extension (32-bit only)"

Basically, which should I do? I can't do both.

More specifically, what is the most commonly used version? Is the Git Bash tool the same as the shell extension?


Source: (StackOverflow)

How to make a .NET Windows Service start right after the installation?

Besides the service.StartType = ServiceStartMode.Automatic my service does not start after installation

Solution

Inserted this code on my ProjectInstaller

protected override void OnAfterInstall(System.Collections.IDictionary savedState)
{
    base.OnAfterInstall(savedState);
    using (var serviceController = new ServiceController(this.serviceInstaller1.ServiceName, Environment.MachineName))
        serviceController.Start();
}

Thanks to ScottTx and Francis B.


Source: (StackOverflow)

How to execute custom action only in install (not uninstall)

I'm sure this is fairly easy, but I've kind of had a hard time with it. I've got a custom action that executes a different (non-msi) installer on installation. Unfortunately, I've noticed that it also executes the installer on UNinstallation!

I've looked through the options but I cant' seem to find out how to stop this. If anybody could help me I would be incredibly grateful.

Also, how do I set a custom action to go off only during UNinstall? Any help is greatly appreciated guys!


Source: (StackOverflow)

Create MSI or setup Project with visual studio 2012

I create a small application and i would like to create 1 msi file.

In visual studio 2010 you have this project type under: Other Project Types > Setup and Deployment > Visual studio Installer > Setup Project

But the only thing you got in vs 2012 is "Enable InstallShield Limited Edition"

You can change the .net Framework but nothing changes.

My question is why is it not there anymore ? And how can i get it back ? Is there a new way to do this ?


Source: (StackOverflow)

Does Android keep the .apk files? if so where?

After android installs an application from the Marketplace, does it keep the .apk file?

Is there a standard location where Android would keep such files?


Source: (StackOverflow)