MSI creation packages for small budget?

[contink]

I've already read a few pointers on this and it seems that a few of you hold WinInstallLE in the same "high" regard that I've come to see it in so I'm asking for a little assistance on finding a suitable alternative.

 

Usage is for a Server 2003 environment with XP on all the other PC's so I can do deploys but because this is a small school of 200+ children the budget is in the £10k mark for everything.

 

Primary's don't get the same money as the secondarys much as I wish they did

 

So, any suggestions out there?

[_Bob_]

WiX is free. Microsoft's first open-source app believe it or not. Not massively easy to use though. Theres a tutorial here:

http://www.tramontana.co.hu/wix/

[contink]

WiX is free. Microsoft's first open-source app believe it or not. Not massively easy to use though. Theres a tutorial here:

http://www.tramontana.co.hu/wix/

Thanks for that... just realised though that I need to be a little more specific.

 

I'm looking for software that will help me to transform various old school setup.exe type installations into MSI's so I can use them as part of a GPO installation.

[Geoff]

You could use the MSI wrapper on the wiki?

[wesleyw]

@Geoff is the MSI Wrapper easy to use or will it take time to get to grips with?

I'm looking at a few of our old installations here and they could do with a new MSI.

 

Wes

[ChrisH]

Its easy to use, just a couple of screens of next next next.

[Norphy]

WinInstall LE will do what you want I think. It works by taking a snapshot of the hard drive and registry, installing the program, taking another snapshot and comparing the difference. It then compiles it into an MSI and Robert is your father's brother.

[contink]

You could use the MSI wrapper on the wiki?

Perhaps I'm being dense here but which wiki where?

 

I've tried the one on here but had no luck finding any mention of a MSI wrapper...

[Netman]

It's in the essential software list.... 8)

[plexer]

http://www.russdev.com/edugeek/doku.php?id=the_essential_software_list

http://www.appdeploy.com/downloads/detail.asp?id=415

 

Ben

[contink]

Ah... ok thanks folks... no idea why the wiki didn't find that when I did the search then...

 

Thanks again for the assist.

[pmassingham]

WinInstall LE will do what you want I think. It works by taking a snapshot of the hard drive and registry, installing the program, taking another snapshot and comparing the difference. It then compiles it into an MSI and Robert is your father's brother.

 

I have tried WinInstall LE and whilst it seems OK for simple applications, it can't cope with more complex installations, such as SIMS or Mcafee v8.

[ajbritton]

@Geoff is the MSI Wrapper easy to use or will it take time to get to grips with?

I'm looking at a few of our old installations here and they could do with a new MSI.

 

Wes

 

Using WIWW is very easy, compared to repackaging which can range from trivial to horribly complex depending on the application. The only tricky part about using WIWW is working out how to do a 'silent' command line install of your application so that WIWW can create the MSI wrapper for you. If the app won't install silently then WIWW is no use. You can of course use something like AutoIT to automate an awkward installation which insists on interacting with the user, then compile the AutoIT script to an EXE and wrap the whole caboodle in an MSI. Yuck! but it does work, I've had to do it a couple of times (thanks Clicker 4), when initial attempts at repackaging failed.

[contink]

On the back of this topic I'm realising very quickly that what I now need is a decent reference book or "How to" guide that deals with all aspects of MSI's and especially the issues that arise when trying to debug an MSI so you can get it working.

 

Any assist, as always, gratefully received..

[meastaugh1]

On the back of this topic I'm realising very quickly that what I now need is a decent reference book or "How to" guide that deals with all aspects of MSI's and especially the issues that arise when trying to debug an MSI so you can get it working.

 

Any assist, as always, gratefully received..

 

I was looking for something similar a while ago, but couldn't really find anything that sounded appropriate.

 

I usually use appdeploy.com and msdn for most things windows installer.

 

I find running an ICE validation will usually point you in the right direction.

[ajbritton]

On the back of this topic I'm realising very quickly that what I now need is a decent reference book or "How to" guide that deals with all aspects of MSI's and especially the issues that arise when trying to debug an MSI so you can get it working.

 

Any assist, as always, gratefully received..

 

Assume you have already got ORCA, which is THE essential MSI utility. It's part of the Microsoft Windows SDK but may be available as a standalone .exe elsewhere if you look around...

 

EDIT

I would add that MSIs are horribly complex and the logic is by know means clear even if you read everything on MSDN. I went on a Wise Package Studio course which by necessity included a fair bit of MSI stuff and it was hugely useful. If you possibly can, get on some kind of Windows Installer course. Other than that, go to AppDeploy, DesktopEngineer and InstallSite and scour the site for MSI info and links to other site with MSI info. It is mostly out there if you can find it!/EDIT

[contink]

Assume you have already got ORCA, which is THE essential MSI utility. It's part of the Microsoft Windows SDK but may be available as a standalone .exe elsewhere if you look around...

Yup... Got that yesterday and started running ICE validation tasks.. then came up hard against the fact that I hadn't a clue what the actual descriptions meant in terms of "what the heck do I do now?"

 

I would add that MSIs are horribly complex and the logic is by know means clear even if you read everything on MSDN. I went on a Wise Package Studio course which by necessity included a fair bit of MSI stuff and it was hugely useful. If you possibly can, get on some kind of Windows Installer course. Other than that, go to AppDeploy, DesktopEngineer and InstallSite and scour the site for MSI info and links to other site with MSI info. It is mostly out there if you can find it!/EDIT

Urk... I was afraid that was the response I'd get... It does seem like there's a pretty big gap in the interweb with the lack of a laymens guide to MSI's but I guess you're right...

 

Thanks for the help...

[contink]

Well on the up side I seem to be making some headway at long last... Orca and a little help from MSDN seems to be doing the trick.

[ajbritton]

'attaboy contink. I forgot to mention that EduGeek and the various other setup/install related website forums are obviously good places to browse for MSI info.

[contink]

'attaboy contink. I forgot to mention that EduGeek and the various other setup/install related website forums are obviously good places to browse for MSI info.

Thanks.. just keep the caffeine coming!!

 

As it happens I've had some success although I'm realising that what I really need to get to grips with is the whole registry to component to file, etc... relationship.. It's getting there but I suspect I'll be putting a fair amount in the wiki shortly..

 

 

Oh and for the record.. the "Installer Design Studio" seems to do a much better job of "capturing" installs but there's still a lot to be desired.. Orca really is a {deity}send though... Oh yes indeed!

[Roberto]

Urk... I was afraid that was the response I'd get... It does seem like there's a pretty big gap in the interweb with the lack of a laymens guide to MSI's but I guess you're right...

 

Thanks for the help...

 

I know we're under a lot of pressure to get things done yesterday and if possible to spend less on it than most of the students bring in for lunch money, but sometimes you (or perhaps I should say your manglement) have to accept that some things are difficult and will just take time and effort and resources.

 

A 'layman's guide to MSIs' would be up there with 'Brain Surgery for Dummies'. No matter how well you learned the contents of that latter title, I still wouldn't want you performing surgery on me!

 

We bit the bullet, spent the £'s and purchased Wise Package Studio AND paid for someone to go on the course. Cost a lot but money very well spent.

[contink]

We bit the bullet, spent the £'s and purchased Wise Package Studio AND paid for someone to go on the course. Cost a lot but money very well spent.

I'd agree with you but for one thing sadly... I work for a single primary school and their budget is so low that the WISE package would wipe out one fifth in a heartbeat...

 

What I've opted to do is spend some "free time" on this stuff as a sort of "enthusiastic amateur" because, frankly, I like to know what's going on but ultimately if my client list expands I'll seriously consider adding the WISE system to my "costs" and spreading it among multiple schools... The skillset can't hurt and whilst I won't necessarily get paid for all the time I put in, I'll have learned a lot of pitfalls and lessons that won't necessarily appear in a course... Of course I'd love to go on one but hey

 

Right now though, like I said, that kind of single license spend is just not feasible for the primary school budget..

[contink]

Thanks for the info' to date... now I have to ask a slightly different question as circumstances have now changed somewhat.

 

 

At what point would you say that the WISE package system became worth purchasing?

 

I ask because I'm now in the process of "courting" a further two primary schools who are looking at server 2003 and winXP systems and to reduce the amount of onsite time I'm seriously considering repacked apps as the way forward.. ie: it'd allow me to distribute a new package to the whole school without even needing to enter the school.. just Remote access to the server and update the server GPO and away it goes...

 

 

At present I'm still playing with ScriptLogics "Installer Design Studio" trial version so if anyone has tried the two software packages and can give me a clue at this point, it's all useful.

 

Cheers

[eean]

There are cheeper repackagers about. I use Masai, which is now called Installer Design Studio from scriptlogic... it's around the £250 mark - and that's standard pricing they may do education discount (it's a uk company).

 

Not that my school can afford that either... I use an old light version of Masai for some things and and an old light version of wininstall (it's not too bad!) for repackaging. You can also get wise install tailor (free) for making simple responce transforms for existing msi's).

 

Has anyone used CC3 MSIs from RM (I know... boo hiss) on a normal network? Do they work? - It might be worth the extra £20 if it saves you a few hours.

[contink]

You can of course use something like AutoIT to automate an awkward installation which insists on interacting with the user, then compile the AutoIT script to an EXE and wrap the whole caboodle in an MSI. Yuck! but it does work, I've had to do it a couple of times (thanks Clicker 4), when initial attempts at repackaging failed.

Hi AJ... I'm currently trying to sort out Clicker4 and it's proving difficult to say the least..

 

I've gotten some idea of how to use AutoIT but I'm missing some key information on setting the silent install option but rather than reinvent the wheel could you share how you did this in detail.

 

I'd be immensely grateful for any assist.