Application compatibility testing on Windows operating systems requires changes in the Windows Installer package (867629)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Platform Software Development Kit (SDK) 1.0

INTRODUCTION

When you try to install an application under the following circumstances, the application may not be successfully installed: You use a Microsoft Windows Installer package (an .msi file) to test the compatibility of the application on computers that are running Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 1 (SP1) or later including all versions of Microsoft Windows XP. To install the application, you must modify the .msi file. Microsoft provides the Orca database editor to edit .msi files. The Orca database editor is included with Microsoft Windows Installer Software Development Kit (SDK).

MORE INFORMATION

Warning Editing an .msi file can cause serious problems that may leave your system in an unstable state. Microsoft cannot guarantee the resolution of problems that result from the incorrect use of the .msi file editor. Only modify the .msi file of a product that is installed with an .msi file under direct instruction from the manufacturer of the product.

To modify the .msi file by using the Orca database editor, follow these steps:
  1. Download and install Windows Installer SDK on your computer. To do this, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

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

  2. Install the Orca database editor by double-clicking the Orca.msi file in the InstalledPath\bin folder on your computer.

    Note InstalledPath is a placeholder for the path where the Windows Installer SDK is installed.
  3. Click Start, point to Programs, and then click Orca.
  4. On the File menu, click Open.
  5. In the Open dialog box, locate the .msi file that you want to edit, and then click Open. The tables in the .msi file are listed in the left pane.
  6. Click LaunchCondition.
  7. Replace the existing conditions in the Condition column of the LaunchCondition table with the following two conditions:

    ServicePackLevel >= 1 OR IS_ALLOWED<>""

    WindowsBuild >= 2195 OR IS_ALLOWED<>""

  8. To save the .msi file, click, click Save on the File menu.
The modified .msi file will now run on any computer that is running Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 1 or later including all versions of Microsoft Windows XP.

You can also use the Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) to resolve application compatibility issues. For additional information about the Windows Application Compatibility Toolkit, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

294895 How to obtain the Windows Application Compatibility Toolkit

REFERENCES

For more information about the Orca database editor, visit the following Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) Web site:

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

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:7/11/2005
Keywords:kbSDK kbhowto kbinfo KB867629 kbAudDeveloper
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