GUIDE: Promethean ACTIV software MSI conversion steps

[ZeroHour]

I will have a look and post if I find the change.
Thanks for the tip Big-Jon

[PEO]

Hi ZeroHour

just created the msi package with the new info. cheers for the little tutorial. I have a quick question how did you know to add COMPANYNAME, PIDKEY etc and not COMPANY or PRODUCTKEY. just i'm sure some point I will come across a smiliar task and would like to know how you found out the correct information to add to the msi file.

cheers bud

[PEO]

*bump*

[ZeroHour]

Hi
Sorry for the belated reply.
Basically I just sniffed around the msi using orca to see what was checking what.
For this I viewed the dialogues and then had a look in the "Control" table after I got the invalid serial dialogue to appear. Look at the keys titled "CustomerInformation" and you will notice a property of one of them is PIDKEY which was a big clue. Its been a while since I made the guide but basically trial and error and reading the msi logic gives you clues. Anything thats a property can be set in the properties table so I just tried adding it in there.
You will also notice that the property "COMPANYNAME" is used in that "Control" table as well so I tried that.
Its not guaranteed to work for all but I hope it gives you some idea how it works.

Cheers

[FatBoy]

Hi People,

Just wanted to say thanks for all the help in creating this mst file I have just finished it and it works great. Many thanks Zerohour and all others that contributed

[hit]

FYI,

It appears that the shared resources for ActivPrimary 3.5.27 should be...

ACTIVPRIMARY31 = {UNC OF SHARED RESOURCES DIRECTORY}
instead of
ACTIVPRIMARY3 = {UNC OF SHARED RESOURCES DIRECTORY}

Took me a day or so to notice! DOHHHH!

[cromertech]

Just thought i'd drag this thread up again as I'm having issues with this.

I can't get the shared resources to work. We have just got a load of new promethean boards and I really don't want to fork out the network install when i've just paid loads of money for a site licence. Version 3.7 was shipped with the boards we have and the rest of the procedure above works fine.

I've set the property for the shared resources but it does not pick it up. I get no error from the group policy deployment but when i open the settings of activstudio the shared resources are pointing to the All Users document folder not the UNC path I specified.

Do you know of any other fix I can use maybe copying the settings file post install to set some global settings

[cromertech]

Ok got it working problem was with me not reading carefully enough

[walkerr6]

Thanks for the write up on how to do a network installation. I'm trying to Deploy the software now through Altiris and not having a good time. I don't see an exe file to use so I'm using the MSI but the MSI won't find the MST and do a unattended installation. The script that I'm using is: msiexec /i "\\eaums04\Activstudio v3.7\Distribution Point\ActivstudioPE3\ActivstudioPE3.msi" /quiet What else could I be doing wrong and how do I get it to install the software. If I remove the /quiet it does allow me to install it but I need to prompt it on the workstation.

Thank you for your help
Bob Walker

[hit]

I don't know Altiris, but can you not just set up a group policy object (GPO) on the server?

Create a GPO in Group Policy Management, then edit it
Computer Configuration -> Software Settings -> Software Installation
Action -> New -> Package
Point to the MSI
In the deploy software box, check Advanced then OK
On the Modifications tab add the MST
Thats about it, OK out then close the policy

[Little-Miss]

My turn to revive an old thread.

I created my very first software install using GPO, feeling pleased my self, although i've yet to check it!

So now it's ActivPrimary 3's turn....so just wanted to see if there were any other updates or tips to this before i go ahead with the install?

Also gonna give ActivInspire a go too, see if i can shove the staff into the present.

Thanks!

[alextreadwell]

Hi has any one been able to install active studio 3.7 on a CC4 network when I install it, it if fails as I can't apply a transform file to the msi as cc4 won't let you has any one got any ideas?