How to obtain and download the latest version of Windows Installer (305496)

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The Windows Installer is an installation and configuration service that manages the installation, addition, and deletion of software components; monitors file resiliency; and maintains basic disaster recovery through the use of rollbacks. In addition, Windows Installer supports the ability to advertise features without installing them, to install features on demand, and to add user customizations.

Windows Installer is included with the Microsoft Windows 2000 and Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Me) operating systems, and is provided in a service pack for the Microsoft Windows 95, Microsoft Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, and Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 operating systems.

You must install the Windows Installer on Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, or Windows NT 4.0 before you run an .msi file to install a product. Version 1.1 of the Windows Installer is included in Windows 2000, and version 1.2 is included in Windows Me.

If you are running Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, or Windows Millennium Edition, the Windows Installer version 2.0 redistributable file (Instmsia.exe) is available for download at the following Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) Web site: If you are running Windows NT 4.0, the Installer version 2.0 redistributable file (Instmsiw.exe) is available for download at the following Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) Web site: The Installer Software Development Kit (SDK) is available for download at the following Microsoft Web site: For additional information about Windows Installer technology, please visit the following Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) Web site: