PRB: Feature State May Change After an Upgrade (283322)

SYMPTOMS

After you use Windows Installer to install a "small" or "minor" upgrade of your product, the state for your features may change from "local" to "advertised".

CAUSE

This problem occurs if you add a new component to an existing feature or change the globally unique identifier (GUID) of a component in the updated Windows Installer (.msi) file. The addition of a new component qualifies the upgrade as a "major" upgrade, which requires a new ProductCode and a new ProductVersion number.

RESOLUTION

To change your product by making it a major upgrade, change the ProductCode which is located in the Property Table by supplying a new unique GUID, increment the ProductVersion property, and include and author the Upgrade Table.

To change your product but have it remain as a small or minor upgrade, add your new component as a new feature or as a new subfeature of an existing feature.

REFERENCES

For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

255905 HOWTO: Use the Orca Database Editor to Edit Windows Installer Files

For more information on small, minor, and major upgrades, see the Help topic "Patching and Upgrades" in the Windows Installer Help file on the following Microsoft Web site:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?URL=/library/psdk/msi/updat_1po3.htm

For more information on creating features, see the "Components and Features" Help topic on the following Microsoft Web site:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?URL=/library/psdk/msi/over_8p83.htm