Windows Installer 3.1 v2 (3.1.4000.2435) is available (893803)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows Installer 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP1
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP2
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional SP3
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional SP4
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server SP3
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server SP4
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition
  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP1
  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP2

INTRODUCTION

Microsoft Windows Installer 3.1 was included with Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1). Windows Installer 3.1 is now available as a redistributable system component for the following operating systems:
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 3 (SP3)
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 (SP4)
  • Microsoft Windows XP
  • Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1)
  • Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2)
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003
Windows Installer 3.1 is a minor update to Windows Installer 3.0 that was released in September 2004. Windows Installer 3.1 contains new and enhanced functionality. Additionally, Windows Installer 3.1 addresses some issues that were found in Windows Installer 3.0.

MORE INFORMATION

Release history:
  • Microsoft Windows Installer 3.1: KB893803 version 1.0 (April 11, 2005)
  • Microsoft Windows Installer 3.1: KB893803 version 2.0 (May 12, 2005)
    Windows Installer 3.1 (v2) addresses the issue that is described in the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

    898628 Windows Installer fails silently after you upgrade to Windows Installer 3.1

For 64-bit versions of Windows Server 2003

This redistributable component is only for 32-bit operating systems. You cannot install this component on a computer that is running the 64-bit editions of Windows Server 2003.

You can install Windows Installer 3.0 redistributable on Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 3 (SP3) and on the release version of Windows Server 2003. Windows Installer 3.1 was included with Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1).

You cannot install this redistributable on the 32-bit and 64-bit editions of Windows Server 2003 SP1. To update the 32-bit and 64-bit editions of Windows Server 2003 SP1, or to update the 64-bit editions of Windows XP, download the hotfix that is described in Microsoft Knowledge Base article 898715 instead of the 893803 (v2) package. For more information about Windows Installer 3.1 (v2) GDR, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

898715 An update for Windows Installer 3.1 is available for Windows Server 2003 S about Windows Installer 3.1 (v2) GDR and for the 64-bit editions of Windows XP

For other versions of Windows

The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

DownloadDownload the 893803 (v2) package now.

For more information about how to download Microsoft Support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

119591 How to obtain Microsoft support files from online services

Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.
Note Only the binary for the Msi.dll file is updated. The version number is 3.1.4000.2435. All other binaries of the Windows Installer 3.1 (v2) package remained unchanged and are version 3.1.4000.1823.

New features in Windows Installer 3.1

  • New minor UpdateTargetRTMProperty property: Patch files can now target both the original release baseline and the latest service-pack-level baseline that is on the system.
  • New MsiSetExternalUIRecord API: Packages that use an external user interface can now receive messages as records instead of receiving the messages as strings.
  • New x64 and Msix64 properties: Packages can now use the x64 and Msix64 properties to indicate x64 processor-based operating system support.
  • New MsiNotifySidChange API: You can use this API to upgrade the Windows Installer configuration if the security identifier (SID) of a user changes.
  • Flyweight patching is now an opt-in behavior: Windows Installer 3.0 introduced new "flyweight patching" functionality. By default, this functionality was enabled for all patches. Windows Installer 3.1 now disables this functionality unless you specifically enable the functionality by setting the OptimizedInstallMode property in the MsiPatchMetaData table.

Issues that are addressed in Windows Installer 3.1

  • Windows Installer now logs null characters ("[~]") correctly when the characters are used in a registry value marker or in a service dependency.
  • The MsiGetFileHash function now works correctly for very large unversioned files. These files may be about 2 GB.
  • The MediaSrcProp property of a patch is now set to the original launched-from location when the patch is installed. The MediaSrcProp property is set to the cached patch location for subsequent transactions.
  • Progress bar now works correctly even if the package installs more than 2GB of files.
  • Patching of isolated components now works.
  • Target information for a custom action is no longer logged when the custom action fails if the custom action is marked to hide the target.
  • Error 1642 (ERROR_PATCH_TARGET_NOT_FOUND) is returned even if only one Windows Installer 2.0-style inapplicable patch is being applied.
  • Applying a full-file Windows Installer 2.0-style patch that contains companion files no longer requires access to the source media.
  • Windows Installer 3.1 now correctly handles the scenario where a minor update package is installed when an obsolete or superseded patch also exists.
  • Windows Installer 3.1 now supports application of patches for packages that have large numbers of files. (Sequence column of File table includes values larger than 32767.)
  • Windows Installer 3.1 now sends INSTALLSTART_ACTIONSTART messages for all actions.
  • In Windows Installer 3.0 and earlier versions, if you applied several major upgrade patches, subsequent installations occasionally failed. This issue is now fixed.
  • The patch sequencer no longer incorrectly rejects a valid patch during administrative image patching.
  • Windows Installer 3.1 no longer skips script custom actions that are marked as asynchronous.

Issue that is addressed in Windows Installer 3.1 (v2)

  • Windows Installer no longer fails silently when the installer tries to update a file that is protected by the Windows File Protection feature.

REFERENCES

For more information, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

897026 The AppSearch action incorrectly truncates a REG_MULTI_SZ value that contains a null value in Windows Installer

897027 A message may be logged in the event log when you try to install the Windows Installer 3.0 redistributable package on a computer that is running a later version of Windows Installer

894439 Description of flyweight patching in Microsoft Windows Installer 3.0

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

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/msi/setup/windows_installer_start_page.asp

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:5/30/2006
Keywords:kbinfo KB893803 kbAudDeveloper kbAudEndUser kbAudGeneralUser kbAudITPRO kbAudOEM
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.