ACDLabs ChemSketch Freeware Deployment nightmare

[JSpaced]

I've been asked to update ACDLabs Chemsketch software for our Science Department: https://www.acdlabs.com/resources/freeware/index.php

 

I've found reference on this Forum to running the installation software with a response file

 

setup.exe response.txt

 

Running the command once will create the "response.txt" file.

 

Running the command a second time will install the application using the response file.

 

Putting this command line into an SCCM deployment is NOT working. I'm getting memory access violation errors on Event Viewer.

 

Also has anyone figured out the uninstall command?

 

setup.exe -uninstall

 

This just runs the step-by-step uninstaller, no sign of a silent installer.

 

Honestly who makes software like this? What's wrong with wrapping everything in an MSI?

 

Any help given gratefully received.

[DaveWaters]

Hi JSpaced,

I'm in the same predicament as you were trying to get this shitty piece of software deployed on our network.

I got excited when I saw your post thinking "I'm not alone" but you didn't get any help from anyone -

I'm wondering if you came up with a way of resolving.

Regards

Dave

Edited February 1, 2022 by elsiegee40
Edited for language by moderators

[rogerdnixon]

I'm a chemist and teach A-Level Chemistry - we just use https://molview.org/ - works great. Not used Chemsketch for years.

[JSpaced]

Hi JSpaced,

I'm in the same predicament as you were trying to get this shitty piece of software deployed on our network.

I got excited when I saw your post thinking "I'm not alone" but you didn't get any help from anyone -

I'm wondering if you came up with a way of resolving.

Regards

Dave

The Chemistry teacher decided she didn't need it in ALL labs, so we installed it manually in the two labs and one laptop she specified.

Absolute PoS software, designed by idiots who've never encountered other idiots that you can't trust with admin credentials (like a LOT of software that teachers keep bringing you with "I spent the budget for this year on this. Make work. Make work now. Make work for TEACHING and LEARNING now.")

[aersik]

Try running setup.exe /a

 

Last time I packaged this (in 2018) this gave an option to create an msi. Hopefully they haven't removed it.

[LRSFC_DanJ]

Try running setup.exe /a

Last time I packaged this (in 2018) this gave an option to create an msi. Hopefully they haven't removed it.

This was super helpful, thank you! I too was casting around trying to figure out how to do a silent install and this saved my bacon. This still works with the current version downloaded freshly from ACD's website today.

[Lojyk]

Thanks to this thread I've spent the afternoon experimenting with, and documenting for my colleagues, ChemSketch installation and uninstallation. Thought it fair I share what I learned.

This is based on me using "ACDLabs202121_ChemSketchFree_Install.zip" which I downloaded yesterday. Unzip it to a folder, open a command prompt there.

 

Creating Unattended Installers

At the command prompt, enter

setup.exe /a

The installer starts up, but after the "Welcome" page you get to choose from 3 options.

• Install without creating a silent script
  
• Install and create ACD silent script (this generates a .TXT answer file, e.g. "silent.txt")
  
• Install and create MSI silent script (this generates a .MSI file and a .CAB file, e.g. "script.msi" and "script_0.cab")
  

Choose ACD or MSI, chose where you want to save the output files and what you want to call them, then continue as normal.

 

 

Installing Unattended

ACD silent script (e.g. "silent.txt")

At the command prompt, enter

setup.exe silent.txt

NB: The ACD unattended script file contains the absolute path to the "setup.exe" file, so generate the script fresh for each location you're running the install from.

 

MSI silent script (e.g. "script.msi") with MSIEXEC.

At the command prompt, enter

msiexec /i script.msi /quiet /norestart

 

NOTE: no matter what method is used to install, at the end it always opens an explorer window to show you the shortcuts in "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\ACDLabs Freeware" so it's not truly "silent".

Not seen that kind of thing for years. If anyone ever finds a way to suppress this please post it here.

 

 

UN-Installing Unattended

If Chemsketch was installed manually, or by ACD silent script, unattended uninstallation does not seem to be an option.

You have either a shortcut in the program group, or the entry in Programs & Features, which both start the interactive uninstaller.

Part way through you have the option to remove the program group shortcuts, and the registry entries.

 

If Chemsketch was installed by MSI silent script, then unattended uninstallation is possible. At the command prompt, enter

msiexec /x script.msi /quiet /norestart

However, it leaves behind the program group folder and registry entries. Bit messy.

 

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