PRB: Advertised Shortcuts Do Not Work on Windows 98 (306444)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows Installer 1.0, when used with:
    • Microsoft Windows 98
    • Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition
This article was previously published under Q306444

SYMPTOMS

When you try to start a program by using a shortcut, you may receive the following error message:
This is not a valid Win32 application

CAUSE

This behavior may occur when the Windows Installer engine is installed at the same time as an MSI package and the computer is not made to restart. The Windows Installer engine prompts for a restart if it is version 1.1 or later. However, the Windows Installer 1.0 engine does not provide this restart prompt.

RESOLUTION

When the installer engine is installed, the computer needs to restart for the operating system to load the DLL into memory. Shortcuts do not work properly until you restart the computer. To work around this behavior, use either of the following methods:
  • On the command line, type msiexec /i myinstall.msi REBOOT=Force or setup.exe REBOOT=Force. You can place this command in a batch file or set up a wrapper program.
  • Set the REBOOT property inside the .msi file. To do this, use the Orca table editing tool from the Windows Installer SDK. You can use Orca to open an .msi file that was created by VSI to view all of the different tables. In the Property table, set the Property column to REBOOT, and then set the Value column to Force.

    NOTE: Any changes that you make in the .msi file will be removed if you rebuild the project in VSI. Also, if you set the REBOOT property inside the msi package, the computer will restart during the next installation and when you remove the program, and this may not be a requirement.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

REFERENCES

255905 HOWTO: Use Orca to Edit Windows Installer Files

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:12/21/2004
Keywords:kbenv kbprb kbui KB306444
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