MAKEMSI quickly and reliably creates MSI files in a non-programmatic way\Tips and TricksLinks to External Web Sites

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LINKS - General

• 
  The MAKEMSI homepage.

• 

• 
  Although it tends to be a bit "InstallShield" specific it is a very good site for general MSI information.

• 
  Another deployment site which has some good information and has deployment and other forums.

• 
  Microsoft MSDN site at http://msdn.microsoft.com/. I generally don't provide links to Microsoft pages as they actively discourage this (either that or they are simply stupid).

  There is actually some good information here (for starters try "MSI" as a search). The knowledge base will also provide details of known problems and hopefully solutions.

• 
  This group is useful for asking MAKEMSI related questions (or finding previous answers). Its probably best not to ask "PPWIZARD" specific questions here. Note that to view archives of previous questions and answers you do not need to be a member (you do need to join to ask questions).

• MAKEMSI is basically using "PPWIZARD" as the "engine" so the PPWIZARD Email List (newsgroup) can be very useful for asking PPWIZARD related questions. Please don't ask MAKEMSI specific questions here. Note that to view archives of previous questions and answers you do not need to be a member (you do need to join to ask questions).

• My own list of links that I maintain, these are regularly checked (automatically) for existance. The list is at http://dennisbareis.com/bookmark_developer_windows_install.htm.

• A good list of Installer related books.

Links to Advertising/Resiliency Resources

• Application Resiliency Unlock the Hidden Features of Windows Installer
  

Links to Component Related Pages

Some other component related pages are available at:

• Component Rules 101.
  Note that with MAKEMSI you would normally only need to worry about most of these rules when "hand crafting" components (such as when creating "Merge Modules", or in fact anytime you want to install the same file in multiple MSI packages).

• POST: Multiple Instances of a Component - Is it really legal?.
  Quite an interesting post (and thread) with a detailed response from a Microsoft employee.

Links to Custom Action Related Resources

• Installation phases and in-script execution options
  
• VBScript (and Jscript) MSI Custom Actions (don't have to) suck
  
• Is your MSI Package ready for Vista? - Some changes to custom actions...
  
• How to Create a Custom Action DLL within MAKEMSI (using MinGw)
  
• How to Create a Custom Action DLL in VC++
  

Windows Installer Error Messages

• AppDeploy.com Error Reference
  This has some specific information for some errors (the ones with green text).

• InstallSite Runtime Errors forum
  A forum you can search or where you can ask questions.

• http://blogs.msdn.com/astebner/search.aspx?q=1935&p=1
  The first installment is some detailed information about the dreaded 1935 (or 2908) error that sometimes happens when trying to install the .NET Framework or other MSI-based products that install managed assemblies to the GAC

• http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa368542.aspx
  List of "MSIEXEC.EXE" return codes.

• http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa372835.aspx
  List of Windows Installer Error Codes and Messages. This lists error messages but doesn't explain them...

Links to Merge Module Resources

Some links to merge module related resources and downloads are:

• 
  Links to many resources and locations of merge modules you can download (from many vendors), some specific pages:
  • Main Merge Module Page
  • Merge Module Bugs Bulletin

• 
  Good list of links to places where you can download merge modules.

Links to Patch Related Pages

• Patch Rules by the Windows Installer Team

• Heath Stewart's Blog
  This blog is frequently updated with patch related information.

• RTPatch
  This patch tool can build Windows Installer and "traditional" type patches.

Links to Repackaging/Unattended Operation Resources

Some external resources which may have specific information about the product you wish to repackage are:

• At AppDeploy.com:
  • Command line info for Silent Installations
  • Repackaging information on specific products
• Unattended Windows MSFN Forum
  Some very good information here, including:
  • Universal Extractor
  • Universal Silent Switch Finder determines switches for nearly all programs
• Silent Install info at SourceForge
• List of InstallShield Bugs

Links to Bug Lists and Information

This points to bug information, if you are getting an error message be sure to check the "error" related links also.

1. InstallSite Bug List (Windows Installer, Vendor Merge Module and InstallShield)

LINKS - BLOGS

• Microsoft's Windows Installer Team blog.
• Heath Stewart's blog - Lots of patch related information.
• Joy of Setup blog - Windows Installer section.
• http://bonemanblog.blogspot.com/.
• http://robmensching.com/blog/ (and his previous site http://blogs.msdn.com/robmen/)
• http://www.pduck.com/

LINKS - FAQ

Some FAQs:

• Microsoft's FAQ
• InstallSite's FAQ
• AppDeploy's FAQ

LINKS - News Groups

News groups are one of the best ways of answering just about any question as they are discussions or questions by people like you or me. If you have got a problem then you are probably not the first (just be aware that answers aren't always correct).

Forums run by MSI related companies can also be useful but they typically have smaller audiences and so will need to check out how "active" it is.

• MSI Platform SDK - microsoft.public.platformsdk.msi
• Install Site
• Wise Installer PRO (Some general info here)
• AppDeploy (groups aren't used much)
• MSI Specialists

• Command Prompt ADMIN - microsoft.public.win2000.cmdprompt.admin
• Unattended Windows MSFN Forum (Device Driver, silent/unattended installation of Windows and applications)

Please email me any feedback, additional information or corrections. See this page online (look for updates) MAKEMSI© is (C)opyright Dennis Bareis 2003-2008 (All rights reserved). Friday May 02 2008 at 8:41am Visit MAKEMSI's Home Page