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US General Chat Thread, Help! - Deploying Google Earth as a GPO in United States (US) Specific Forums; Hello, I understand that there are posts similar to this one open already, but none answer what my questions is. ...
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    jzepeda's Avatar
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    Help! - Deploying Google Earth as a GPO

    Hello,

    I understand that there are posts similar to this one open already, but none answer what my questions is.
    This is my scenario,

    I need to install the newest version of Google Earth (Free Version) on several student computers. I tried developing a MSI package using WinInstall LE, but no luck. I've deployed other programs through AD as a GPO, but usually the MSI packages are already built for me. Anyone know where I could find a MSI package for the latest version of Google Earth? If not, a good free program to create MSI packages? Thanks very much in advance.

  2. Thanks to jzepeda from:

    Trapper (17th November 2009)

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    1. Go to Google Earth - Advanced setup
    2. Pick your version
    3. Untick 'Allow Google Earth to automatically install recommended updates.' (Optional, but recommended IMO)
    4. Click 'Agree and Download' and save the .exe file that you are offered.
    5. Extract the contents of the .exe using 7-Zip (other package extractors probably do it but I always use this one
    6. The MSI is in the extracted files, ready to deploy.

  5. 4 Thanks to AngryTechnician:

    akidosaint (24th May 2012), Heebeejeebee (7th November 2009), rh91uk (18th August 2010), Trapper (17th November 2009)

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    Quote Originally Posted by AngryTechnician View Post
    1. Go to Google Earth - Advanced setup
    2. Pick your version
    3. Untick 'Allow Google Earth to automatically install recommended updates.' (Optional, but recommended IMO)
    4. Click 'Agree and Download' and save the .exe file that you are offered.
    5. Extract the contents of the .exe using 7-Zip (other package extractors probably do it but I always use this one
    6. The MSI is in the extracted files, ready to deploy.
    We're not interested in updating yet. But are there similar issues in the MSI that there were in the 5.0 edition? Numerous people I know had to edit the MSI with a transform to make it work.

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    jzepeda's Avatar
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    I will try your solution using 7-Zip. Thank you! I will reply again once I have tested to see how it worked out.

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    Quote Originally Posted by willv28 View Post
    But are there similar issues in the MSI that there were in the 5.0 edition? Numerous people I know had to edit the MSI with a transform to make it work.
    No issues whatsoever that I encountered. The only transform I used was one to move the shortcuts to a different folder on the Start Menu than the default, purely for cosmetic reasons.

  9. Thanks to AngryTechnician from:

    dwhyte85 (10th November 2009)

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    Hi AngryTechnician,

    First. Thank You! for your quick reply. I tried your suggested solution for two programs that I need to deploy, Google Earth 5.0 and Google Sketch-up. Your solution worked flawlessly for Sketch-up, but not for Google.

    The error I am getting is when selecting the package under the group policy object and it states,

    'Add operation failed. Unable to extract deployment information from the package. Run validation on the package to ensure that the package is correct.'

    Any help is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

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    You can download the Google Earth 5.1 MSI here from my website

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    joe90bass (13th April 2010)

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    Quote Originally Posted by Michael View Post
    You can download the Google Earth 5.1 MSI here from my website
    Thank You! Very very much! This is kind of what I was looking for. Unfortunately, the same issue still persists. any ideas on what could be wrong?

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    jzepeda...

    This part is lifted from:

    appdeploy.com]packages]detail.asp?id=1482

    (replace the ] with /)


    (I can't post URLs)


    by AngryTechnician

    To deploy the .msi package using Group Policy, a minor modification is needed. If you attempt to deploy the original .msi, you may receive the error message "Unable to extract deployment information from the package. Run validation on the package to ensure that the package is correct."

    This appears to be because of erroneous data in the Languages field in the .msi Summary Information. I had to open the .msi in Orca, go to the "View" > "Summary Information menu", and edit the Languages field so that it only contained 1033 (the language ID for US English). Only then would it successfully deploy.


    Alternatively, I use:

    msiexec /i "Google Earth.msi" TRANSFORMS="1033.mst" - don't know if that's applicable to GPO (we don't use that).

    Any help?

    Gerard

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    jzepeda (2nd December 2009), OverWorked (30th January 2012)

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    Gerard,

    Thank You so very very much! Your strategy worked! I was able to add the package to the GPO and deploy it successfully. Thank You again! and thanks to everyone who replied to this post with your suggestions!

    Happy Holidays!

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    Intructions

    If anyone still having problem with this, you can find full instructions here:
    mysysadmintips.com[index.php[active-directory[4
    (Replace [ with /)

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    I've also made an MSI you can deploy for Google Earth 6.0 here

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    MSI

    Here's what I did to deploy the latest version:

    Download the latest version of Google Earth from Here: dl.google.com/earth/client/advanced/current/googleearthwin.exe
    Open the Exe with 7-zip and extract the following files and folders:
    LocalAppData
    program files
    1033.mst
    Google Earth.msi
    Setup.ini

    Edit google earth.msi with orca
    (I made the following changes, so it would be installed for All Users, suppress the Google toolbar, won't launch after install and auto-accept the EULA.)

    Transform -> new transform
    Select Property from the sidebar, add a row titled ALLUSERS with a value of 1
    INSTALLTOOLBARNOW 0
    ISCHECKFORPRODUCTUPDATES 0
    LAUNCHPROGRAM 0
    AgreeToLicense Yes
    generate & save the transform
    Transform -> close transform
    view -> summary information
    Delete everything except for 1033 in the Languages field (1033 is english)
    save and exit

    then push the MSI & MST using your weapon of choice.

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    Quote Originally Posted by gerardsweeney View Post
    jzepeda...


    by AngryTechnician

    To deploy the .msi package using Group Policy, a minor modification is needed. If you attempt to deploy the original .msi, you may receive the error message "Unable to extract deployment information from the package. Run validation on the package to ensure that the package is correct."

    This appears to be because of erroneous data in the Languages field in the .msi Summary Information. I had to open the .msi in Orca, go to the "View" > "Summary Information menu", and edit the Languages field so that it only contained 1033 (the language ID for US English). Only then would it successfully deploy.


    Gerard

    Just to update, I found that this fix works with Google Earth 6.2.

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    Quote Originally Posted by OverWorked View Post
    Just to update, I found that this fix works with Google Earth 6.2.
    If I get a chance, I'll also have a go at seeing if specifying 1033.mst still works.

    Regards,
    Gerard

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