Windows Installer resources (282477)

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Windows Installer 2.0

Windows Installer Support Center:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=gp;en-us;wininst&sd=gn

Windows Installer SDK documentation on MSDN:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/msi/setup/windows_installer_start_page.asp

SDK Update:

http://www.microsoft.com/msdownload/platformsdk/sdkupdate/

Reading and analyzing log files:

See the WiLogUtl.exe tool in the Windows Installer SDK.

Windows Installer examples

Work through the 7 Installation examples in the Msi.chm SDK help file by using the Orca SDK tool and by using the UISample.msi file as a base .msi package to start with (it has the UI already authored in). The help file is located in the Microsoft SDK folder under Help. When working through the examples, concentrate on the following topics:

Product codes
Package codes
Merges and transforms
Logging
File versioning rules
Organizing applications into components

White papers

Version 2.0 White paper:

Windows Installer: benefits and implementation for system administrators
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows2000pro/evaluate/featfunc/wispro.mspx

Step-by-step guide:

Step-by-step guide to software installation and maintenance
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows2000serv/maintain/featusability/inmnwp.mspx

Side-by-side component sharing

Using isolated applications:

Use isolated applications and side-by-side component sharing to reduce DLL conflicts
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/apcompat/apcompat/use_isolated_applications_and_side_by_side_component_sharing_to_reduce_dll_conflicts.asp

Requirements:

Summary of component sharing requirements
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dnw2kcli/html/w2kcli_chapter3.asp

.NET Framework

For information about the Setup.exe bootstrapper that describes how to install the .NET Framework and then install your .msi package, visit the following MSDN Web site:

Microsoft .NET Framework setup.exe bootstrapper sample
http://msdn.microsoft.com/downloads/default.asp?url=/downloads/sample.asp?url=/msdn-files/027/001/830/msdncompositedoc.xml

For information and to download the .NET Framework redistributable, visit the following MSDN Web site:

Microsoft .NET Framework Redistributable
http://msdn.microsoft.com/downloads/default.asp?url=/downloads/sample.asp?url=/msdn-files/027/001/829/msdncompositedoc.xml

WebCasts

Upgrading:

Upgrading Windows Installer-based applications
http://support.microsoft.com/servicedesks/webcasts/wc021500/wcblurb021500.asp

Visual Studio Installer (VSI):

An introduction to the Visual Studio Installer
http://support.microsoft.com/servicedesks/webcasts/wc081000/wcblurb081000.asp

Patching:

Microsoft Windows Installer patching
http://support.microsoft.com/servicedesks/webcasts/wc090800/wcblurb090800.asp

Newsgroups

microsoft.public.platformsdk.msi

microsoft.public.win2000.msi

Third-party sites

InstallSite - resources for setup developers:

http://www.installsite.org

AppDeploy:

http://www.appdeploy.com

Wise Solutions - authoring tool:

http://www.wisesolutions.com

InstallShield - authoring tool:

http://www.installshield.com

The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.