SMSINST: Repackage Does Not Use Variables in .ini File Edits Under Windows 95 (181929)

SYMPTOMS

When you use the repackage feature on a Windows 95 client, .ini file edits which should reference variables, use the hard-coded equivalents instead. When you use the same repackage feature on a Windows NT client, it uses the variables correctly. If a user changes the default directory when installing the repackaged .exe file, any .ini file paths which should use the variable are now incorrectly referenced.

MORE INFORMATION

The following example shows how the problem may be exhibited. Repackaging Microsoft Office 95 Professional causes file edits to the Powerpnt.ini file and when running under Windows NT, produces the following settings when C:\MSOFFICE is selected as the installation directory:

[MS PowerPoint Translators]
PP7TRANS1=,%MAINDIR%\Powerpnt\PP7TRANS.dll,PP7
PP7TRANS2=PowerPoint 7.0 Presentations,%MAINDIR%\Powerpnt\pp7trans.dll,PPT
PP7TRANS3=PowerPoint 7.0 Templates,%MAINDIR%\Powerpnt\pp7trans.dll,POT

The same repackage under Windows 95 produces the following:

[MS PowerPoint Translators]
PP7TRANS1=,C:\MSOFFICE\POWERPNT\PP7TRANS.dll,PP7
PP7TRANS2=PowerPoint 7.0
Presentations,C:\MSOFFICE\POWERPNT\pp7trans.dll,PPT
PP7TRANS3=PowerPoint 7.0 Templates,C:\MSOFFICE\POWERPNT\pp7trans.dll,POT

WORKAROUND

Prior to repackaging on Windows 95, make the following changes:

On the View menu, click Installation Expert.
Select Advanced Configuration and click the Global Tab.
Change the Destination Platform to "Windows95 and NT (True Win32)."

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Systems Management Server Installer version 1.0. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.