HEIC Images, deploying the codec/licence to Windows 10

[Mike_ITDept]

Hi All,

I am the sole IT department at a school and I need some help please! When opening HEIC images without the right codec/licence installed from the Microsoft Store, it will not display the image and you will be unable to view it. I am looking to get HEIC images viewable inside the default photo viewer on Windows 10 for all endpoints (300+).

The solution needs to work with these factors in mind:

• The HEIC licence needs to install automatically on all domain joined machines for all users without any user interaction
  
• Intune / SCCM cannot be used (we don't hold the licencing for these services)
  
• Cannot run via Powershell on endpoints as powershell.exe is blocked via software restriction gpo for obvious reasons.
  
• Cannot use Microsoft Store for Business as this is being retired in 2023
  
• It must be free
  

 

I am trying to install the following Microsoft Store packages as I have determined that these are what is required to display HEIC images in the Windows 10 Photo Viewer:

https://apps.microsoft.com/store/detail/hevc-video-extensions-from-the-device-manufacturer/9N4WGH0Z6VHQ

https://apps.microsoft.com/store/detail/heif-image-extensions/9PMMSR1CGPWG

 

Attempt #1:

 

• winget install --id 9N4WGH0Z6VHQ --silent --scope machine --accept-package-agreements

  
  

  • The above commands uses the built in Windows Package Manager to install an app directly from the store. This gives me the error:
    

    No applicable installer found; see logs for more details.

    Checking the logs shows the reason:
    

    Installer [X64,msstore,User,] not applicable: Installer scope does not match required scope: User != Machine

    So it can't find an installer for the machine option. Even if I try:
    

    winget install --id 9N4WGH0Z6VHQ --silent --accept-package-agreements

    
    I get this error:
    

    Verifying/Requesting package acquisition failed: server error

     
    Although, Winget will install the other package (9PMMSR1CGPWG) using the above second command.
    

Attempt #2:

 

• DISM.EXE /Online /add-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackagePath:S:\PathHere /SkipLicense

  
  

  • The above command calls on the "add-ProvisionedAppxPackage". This command will provision the .appx file to be installed for all users who login to the machine. I have downloaded the entire package using https://store.rg-adguard.net/ . Ideally, this is the solution that I like, however I am facing this error message: "Error 5 Access is denied."
    Checking the DISM logs shows this:
    

  • 2022-11-14 10:22:30, Error DISM DISM Appx Provider: PID=11832 TID=17984 onecore\admin\appmodel\utilities\provisionhelper\msixpackageadapter.cpp(1352)\AppxProvider.dll!00007FFB7C1773D1: (caller: 00007FFB7C16CE63) ReturnHr(1) tid(4640) 80070005 Access is denied. Msg:[Failed to open 'S:\PathHere'.] - CAppxManager::ResultLoggingCallback
     
    2022-11-14 10:22:30, Error DISM DISM Appx Provider: PID=11832 TID=17984 onecore\admin\appmodel\utilities\provisionhelper\msixprovisioningrequest.cpp(649)\AppxProvider.dll!00007FFB7C16CFA2: (caller: 00007FFB7C171F3F) ReturnHr(2) tid(4640) 80070005 Access is denied. Msg:[Failed to create adapter for 'S:\PathHere'.] - CAppxManager::ResultLoggingCallback
     
    2022-11-14 10:22:30, Error DISM DISM Appx Provider: PID=11832 TID=17984 onecore\admin\appmodel\utilities\provisionhelper\msixprovisioningmanager.cpp(920)\AppxProvider.dll!00007FFB7C171F73: (caller: 00007FFB7C148A87) ReturnHr(3) tid(4640) 80070005 Access is denied. Msg:[Failed to add package 'S:\PathHere' to adapter set for processing.] - CAppxManager::ResultLoggingCallback
     
    2022-11-14 10:22:30, Error DISM DISM Appx Provider: PID=11832 TID=17984 Failed to initialize package set - CAppxManager::AddAllUserAppxPackageWithOptionalPackagesAndRegionAndStubPackageOption(hr:0x80070005)
     
    2022-11-14 10:22:30, Error DISM DISM Appx Provider: PID=11832 TID=17984 Failed to add Appx package - CAppxManager::ProcessCommandAddAllUserAppxPackage(hr:0x80070005)
    2022-11-14 10:22:30, Error DISM DISM Appx Provider: PID=11832 TID=17984 Failed processing command to add Appx package - CAppxManager::ExecuteCmdLine(hr:0x80070005)

 

Note that all my test commands are being run whilst logged into an a domain administrator account and running command prompt as admin. The folder that I have the Appx file in is readable by "Everyone".

 

At this point, I'm not even working on the deployment to multiple machines, just running the commands on a test machine to get the package installed. I need the package to install successfully on a machine, once that hurdle is completed, I can work on a script that will run at boot and run the working command.

 

I can install any AppX package using the powershell command "add-appxpackage S:\PathHere", however this isn't the solution as it only installs the package to the currently signed on user.

 

I'm sure that I can find some 3rd party program and deploy it super easily that will allow HEIC images to be viewed, I just wanted the solution to be cleaner than this.

 

It seems insane to me that it's so difficult to merely deploy a Microsoft Store package. If anyone has any suggestions, please share!

[andy_b]

MSI?

 

http://www.edugeek.net/forums/how-do-you-do/222548-opening-heic-windows-10-a-4.html

[DavR]

Yeah, I wouldn't even bother with the appx package. I used to preload it into my Windows images, even then, it was pretty patchy.

 

The MSI does the job perfectly.

[Mike_ITDept]

Wow, thank you very much! I had been Googling to no end and just couldn't find anything that worked. MSI Deployment worked instantly, really apprecaite the quick response and link to the thread.

 

Hopefully anyone googling the same errors as me might come across this thread!