Is there a way to automate (silently) install a VLC player update?

[mjgreen]

Hi all,

 

A year or so ago I rolled out VLC player across our network (500 pc’s). I choose to do this using a startup script (pushed by GPO).

 

The startup script was as below:

 

if exist " C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC" goto end

"\\MY-SERVER\VLC_Player\vlc-1.0.5-win32.exe" /S

ECHO VLC has been installed >> "C:\Program Files\VLC_has_been_installed.txt"

 

As you can see, this checks for the existence of a text file, if it exists the script terminates. If the text file does not exist, VLC silently installs.

 

This method has been working perfectly for a year, but now it is time to update. I understand that I can use a script to execute "C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\uninstall.exe" /S and uninstall silently, but how can I automate this process, but avoid the script getting itself in a loop everytime the PC restarts?

 

Is there a way in the script that I can say, ‘uninstall IF vlc 1.0.5 exists and install vlc 1.1.0, but DON’T uninstall vlc 1.1.0’

 

Are am I going to have to execute the uninstall command manually?

[FN-GM]

have a look at this

 

http://www.edugeek.net/forums/network-classroom-management/74441-how-guide-deploy-vnc-via-group-policy.html

[mjgreen]

Sorry, VLC - not VNC

[3s-gtech]

VLC is able to check and uninstall older versions itself - would you be able to automate this with the /s switch run with the installer? That way, it'll not try to remove 1.1.10 either, but it'll update every machine that has an older version.

[FN-GM]

ah what i fool! sorry

[mjgreen]

VLC is able to check and uninstall older versions itself - would you be able to automate this with the /s switch run with the installer? That way, it'll not try to remove 1.1.10 either, but it'll update every machine that has an older version.

 

I dont think this can be done silently....when I tried it it came up with a prmopmt saying 'Do I want to update to version 1.1.0'. My aim is to surpress this prompt and just do it!

[Edu-IT]

I dont think this can be done silently....when I tried it it came up with a prmopmt saying 'Do I want to update to version 1.1.0'. My aim is to surpress this prompt and just do it!

Uninstall the old version then push out the new one?

[mjgreen]

Uninstall the old version then push out the new one?

 

Yes, but my aim is to automate this, as there are certain computers around the site that may not be switched on for several weeks. I want to ensure that the next time these PC's are switched on, the old version of VLC is uninstalled and the new version is installed

[zenith]

in settings jst tick automatic update option so next time when there will be an update available or launched then it will automatically download for you and will also install it for you without hassel

[mjgreen]

in settings jst tick automatic update option so next time when there will be an update available or launched then it will automatically download for you and will also install it for you without hassel

 

But I dont really want them to automatically update to be honest. I imagine there may well be permission problems with that anyway

[zenith]

lol @ FN- GM:D...

[mjgreen]

Think I have arrived at a solution to this.

 

I just need to work in a text file at the 'uninstall' stage as well as the install stage. Then I should be able to reference this

[zenith]

But I dont really want them to automatically update to be honest. I imagine there may well be permission problems with that anyway

 

or else you are using any portable version of VLC player (may be in your case) coz portable version dont allow to install updates ...(portable versions helps to use vlc player on any pc without installing it on pc)

[Ashm]

Another option is to add a registry query to your startup script to check the uninstall key for VLC media player. That should contain the installed version of VLC so if it isn't the latest version your script can remove the previous versions and then install the latest one.

 

I use this method for deploying Adobe Flash Player.

[mjgreen]

Another option is to add a registry query to your startup script to check the uninstall key for VLC media player. That should contain the installed version of VLC so if it isn't the latest version your script can remove the previous versions and then install the latest one.

 

I use this method for deploying Adobe Flash Player.

 

Thanks Ashm, COuld you possibly post your script so I can see what you mean (I might use this for Flash myself as I sometimes have problems using the Flash MSI.

 

Many thanks

[Ashm]

This is the batch script I use to uninstall any existing versions of flash and install the latest version if the latest version isn't installed. I find this method a lot more reliable than using MSIs:

 

@echo off

set DesiredVersion=10.3.181.34
set InstallBase=\\FILESERVER\packages$\Silents_Installs
set InstallDir=Adobe-Flash-Player_10.3.181.34
set InstallFileName_ActiveX=install_flash_player_10_active_x.exe
set InstallFileName_Plugin=install_flash_player_10.exe
set Install_Log_Path=\\FILESERVER\logs$\Install\Adobe-Flash-Player
set Install_Log=%InstallDir%.log

REM Check if latest flash version is installed
reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Macromedia\FlashPlayerActiveX" | findstr %DesiredVersion%
if %errorlevel%==1 (goto InstallNewVersion) else (goto end)

:InstallNewVersion
echo %date% %time% %computername%: Installing %InstallDir%>> %Install_Log_Path%\%Install_Log%
REM Check if flash is installed
if exist %WinDir%\System32\Macromed\Flash %InstallBase%\%InstallDir%\uninstall_flash_player.exe -uninstall

REM Install latest version of flash
%InstallBase%\%InstallDir%\%InstallFileName_ActiveX% -install
%InstallBase%\%InstallDir%\%InstallFileName_Plugin% -install

REM Disable Flash Auto Updates
echo AutoUpdateDisable=1 > %WinDir%\System32\Macromed\Flash\mms.cfg

:end

 

Hope this helps

[zbjsy]

not sure if you realise, but you can run vlc player from a remote share, this is what we do, and just copy a link to users desktop on login, or part of mand profile for students.

 

Makes it far easier to update, just update the remote share and all computers on latest version,, simples!