windows-installer interview questions
Top windows-installer frequently asked interview questions
I have been receiving this error for a while when using devenv on an automatic build. I have gone through every website I can find, and the usual answers mention refreshing dependencies (Which I believe fixes it for manual deployment, but not for automatic) and removing the source control coding from the projects, which hasn't helped me.
The error does not occur every time I build, but it seems random on different deployment projects each time.
Does anyone have any advice on why exactly this error occurs and how to go about fixing it?
Source: (StackOverflow)
I have a MSI package that I need to install if the package is not already installed. Also I need to install it silently. The package prompts user for:
- Installation location (C:\Program Files\Foobar)
- Install type: minimal and full (minimal)
I need to override these two parameters using command line parameters or some other method. So how do I go about these two issues. I'll use VBScript for scripting.
Source: (StackOverflow)
I have 3 projects in my VS solution. 1 is a web app, the other is a windows service and the last one a setup project for my web app.
What i want is by the end of the installation of the web app in my setup project, within my custom action to try and install my windows service given that i have the location of the assembly by then.
Thanks for all the help in advance.
Source: (StackOverflow)
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)
When I reinstall the AppFabric 1.1, Why I'm getting this error "AppFabric installation failed because installer MSI returned with error code : 1603".?
I did run it with administrative rights.
Below is the error log.
2012-06-26 18:20:07, Information Setup ===== Logging started: 2012-06-26 18:20:07+08:00 =====
2012-06-26 18:20:07, Information Setup File: c:\a0ddcd54d09ca070ef\setup.exe
2012-06-26 18:20:07, Information Setup InternalName: Setup.exe
2012-06-26 18:20:07, Information Setup OriginalFilename: Setup.exe
2012-06-26 18:20:07, Information Setup FileVersion: 1.1.2106.32
2012-06-26 18:20:07, Information Setup FileDescription: Setup.exe
2012-06-26 18:20:07, Information Setup Product: Microsoft(R) Windows(R) Server AppFabric
2012-06-26 18:20:07, Information Setup ProductVersion: 1.1.2106.32
2012-06-26 18:20:07, Information Setup Debug: False
2012-06-26 18:20:07, Information Setup Patched: False
2012-06-26 18:20:07, Information Setup PreRelease: False
2012-06-26 18:20:07, Information Setup PrivateBuild: False
2012-06-26 18:20:07, Information Setup SpecialBuild: False
2012-06-26 18:20:07, Information Setup Language: Language Neutral
2012-06-26 18:20:07, Information Setup
2012-06-26 18:20:07, Information Setup OS Name: Windows 7 Ultimate
2012-06-26 18:20:07, Information Setup OS Edition: Ultimate
2012-06-26 18:20:07, Information Setup OSVersion: Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1
2012-06-26 18:20:07, Information Setup CurrentCulture: en-US
2012-06-26 18:20:07, Information Setup Processor Architecture: x86
2012-06-26 18:20:07, Information Setup Event Registration Source : AppFabric_Setup
2012-06-26 18:20:07, Information Setup
2012-06-26 18:20:07, Information Setup Microsoft.ApplicationServer.Setup.Upgrade.V1UpgradeSetupModule : Initiating V1.0 Upgrade module.
2012-06-26 18:20:07, Information Setup Microsoft.ApplicationServer.Setup.Upgrade.V1UpgradeSetupModule : V1.0 is not installed.
2012-06-26 18:20:33, Information Setup Microsoft.ApplicationServer.Setup.Upgrade.V1UpgradeSetupModule : Initiating V1 Upgrade pre-install.
2012-06-26 18:20:33, Information Setup Microsoft.ApplicationServer.Setup.Upgrade.V1UpgradeSetupModule : V1.0 is not installed, not taking backup.
2012-06-26 18:20:33, Information Setup Enumerating Windows features
2012-06-26 18:20:36, Information Setup Executing c:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\aspnet_regiis.exe with commandline -iru.
2012-06-26 18:20:46, Information Setup Return code from aspnet_regiis.exe is 0
2012-06-26 18:20:46, Information Setup Windows features successfully enabled.
2012-06-26 18:20:46, Information Setup Process.Start: C:\Windows\system32\msiexec.exe /quiet /norestart /i "c:\a0ddcd54d09ca070ef\Packages\AppFabric-1.1-for-Windows-Server-32.msi" ADDDEFAULT=Worker,WorkerAdmin,CacheClient,Setup /l*vx "C:\Users\COMPUTER-Name\AppData\Local\Temp\AppServerSetup1_1(2012-06-26 18-20-46).log" LOGFILE="C:\Users\COMPUTER-Name\AppData\Local\Temp\AppServerSetup1_1_CustomActions(2012-06-26 18-20-46).log" INSTALLDIR="C:\Program Files\AppFabric 1.1 for Windows Server" LANGID=en-US
2012-06-26 18:21:46, Information Setup Process.ExitCode: 0x00000643
2012-06-26 18:21:46, Error Setup AppFabric installation failed because installer MSI returned with error code : 1603
2012-06-26 18:21:46, Error Setup
2012-06-26 18:21:46, Error Setup AppFabric installation failed because installer MSI returned with error code : 1603
2012-06-26 18:21:46, Error Setup
2012-06-26 18:21:46, Information Setup Microsoft.ApplicationServer.Setup.Core.SetupException: AppFabric installation failed because installer MSI returned with error code : 1603
2012-06-26 18:21:46, Information Setup at Microsoft.ApplicationServer.Setup.Installer.WindowsInstallerProxy.GenerateAndThrowSetupException(Int32 exitCode, LogEventSource logEventSource)
2012-06-26 18:21:46, Information Setup at Microsoft.ApplicationServer.Setup.Installer.WindowsInstallerProxy.Invoke(LogEventSource logEventSource, InstallMode installMode, String packageIdentity, List`1 updateList, List`1 customArguments)
2012-06-26 18:21:46, Information Setup at Microsoft.ApplicationServer.Setup.Installer.MsiInstaller.InstallSelectedFeatures()
2012-06-26 18:21:46, Information Setup at Microsoft.ApplicationServer.Setup.Installer.MsiInstaller.Install()
2012-06-26 18:21:46, Information Setup at Microsoft.ApplicationServer.Setup.Client.SetupWorkflow.StartActionPhase()
2012-06-26 18:21:46, Information Setup at Microsoft.ApplicationServer.Setup.Client.ProgressPage.StartAction()
2012-06-26 18:21:46, Information Setup
2012-06-26 18:21:46, Information Setup === Summary of Actions ===
2012-06-26 18:21:46, Information Setup Required Windows components : Completed Successfully
2012-06-26 18:21:46, Information Setup Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5.1 : Completed Successfully
2012-06-26 18:21:46, Information Setup Windows Communication Foundation Non-HTTP Activation : Completed Successfully
2012-06-26 18:21:46, Information Setup IIS Management Console : Completed Successfully
2012-06-26 18:21:46, Information Setup AppFabric 1.1 for Windows Server : Failed
2012-06-26 18:21:46, Information Setup Hosting Services : Failed
2012-06-26 18:21:46, Information Setup Cache Client : Failed
2012-06-26 18:21:46, Information Setup Hosting Administration : Failed
2012-06-26 18:21:46, Information Setup Microsoft Update : Skipped
2012-06-26 18:21:46, Information Setup Microsoft Update : Skipped
2012-06-26 18:21:46, Information Setup
2012-06-26 18:21:46, Information Setup ===== Logging stopped: 2012-06-26 18:21:46+08:00 =====
Source: (StackOverflow)
msiexec is command prompt software that installs an MSI program. But I have found that you can install an MSI file from the command line by just typing in the name of the MSI file on the command line.
But in order to uninstall the MSI file, it seems you have to call the msiexec program and give it a /x or /uninstall.
How can I uninstall an MSI from the command line without using the msiexec routine?
Source: (StackOverflow)
Is there a simple way to hook into the standard 'Add or Remove Programs' functionality using PowerShell to uninstall an existing application? Or to check if the application is installed?
Source: (StackOverflow)
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)
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)
My Wix project creates install.msi and cab1.cab. How can I have it bundle everything into the msi? I will likely use 7-zip SFX to work around this but I have seen other apps with only a single msi.
Source: (StackOverflow)
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)
After using InstallShield on many projects (over many years), I am throwing in the towel: Recent versions of InstallShield are too hard to use, slow to develop with, too complex, and too buggy.
I'm looking for recommended alternatives to write Windows installers with. I have a preference to make MSI installers, but I am open to alternatives on that.
Source: (StackOverflow)
I've given up trying to apply lipstick to the pigs of installers that come out of Visual Studio and have decided to look at WiX.
What resources would you recommend to learn and reference?
(Note - this is not a which-installer-technology-do-you-use question - it's specific to WiX.)
Source: (StackOverflow)
Should I wrap all the files I want to install in individual components?
What is the advantage of putting several files in one component?
Source: (StackOverflow)