Does a HKCU registry change requires Active Setup?
Hi everyone, One of my application needs a "HKCU\Software\XXX\VersionCheck\" registry change from "1" to "0". So If I change this registry in mst file do I need to setup an "Active Setup" to apply this registry chenge to effect every user who logged into that machine?? or If I run a batch file after the installation to change that registry value will it be effected to per machine???
Thanks in advance
Answers (5)
Do you have a Advertised Shortcut in your package?
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If so, You no need to write ActiveSetup key to modify the existing HKCU value
Edit your existing MSI with the new value..
Create an another component with some dummy HKCU key
(For Ex: HKCU\Software\Your Application\
ProductVersion = [ProductVersion] )
Set as KeyPath
Install the msi with following command line
msiexec /i "MyUpdatedMSI.msi" REINSTALL=ALL REINSTALLMODE=voums /qb - jagadeish 11 years ago -
Hii Jagadeish, I tried to workout in the way mentioned above but here I didn't ubderstand the concept of creating an another component with some dummy Key and set as key path...
If u dnt mind could you elaborate that...
I understood that in this way-
1) change the HKCU value with the value I need in .mst
2) create a registry like "test.reg" in that mention the key I need to change with the new value
3) Key Path >>> ?? (actually didn't understand this)
4) now installthe msi with switches you mentioned over there (I got this it repairs the msi for each user who logged into the same machine) - ontari.ontari 11 years ago -
I have updated my above post long back but it is not reflecting there..
Let me tell you now..
1) Update the registry with the new value in your mst
2) Create an another component named NewValue (Something like this) and add a dummy HKCU registry in that component
For Example:
HKCU\Software\Your Application
Key=ProductVersion
Type=REG_SZ
Value=[ProductVersion]
3) Set the above registry key as KeyPath
4) Make sure you have added the above component in same feature, also that advertised shortcut is present in the same feature
5) Install the msi with following command line
msiexec /i "VendorMSI.msi" TRANSFORMS="MyUpdatedMST.mst" REINSTALL=ALL REINSTALLMODE=voums /qb - jagadeish 11 years ago -
Why I have asked you to create an another component with dummy registry key with KeyPath
Here is the answer
Bcoz, This particular HKCU key will not be there in the target machine before. When you launch the Advertised shortcut, windows installer will initiate the self-heal process for this newly added dummy key as you have set it as KeyPath
At that time the whole feature will be reinstalled.. You will get the updated key along with this dummy key.. - jagadeish 11 years ago -
yep now tried as you mentioned and solved it... Thanks alot - ontari.ontari 11 years ago
Only to the particular user that logs on to the machine.
same problem as
http://www.itninja.com/question/how-to-remove-registry-entries-under-hkcu
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On a machine with this software installed you can try to export that key set and change the keys from hkcu to hklm and remerge it. Then delete the "versioncheck" under hkcu and restart and start the software to see if it works. I have had this trick work a couple of times for hkcu keys. If it is a new machine with no user profiles yet you can modify the default users keyset so then everyone gets the keys.
http://www.itninja.com/blog/view/how-to-make-changes-to-the-default-users-hive-as-a-post-taks
If it is for existing machines there are a couple of solutions on the above link. - SMal.tmcc 11 years ago -
If you are in a domain use a GPO to change the key for the users and you are done. - SMal.tmcc 11 years ago
yes I have advertised shortcut here, but I did in this way.. created a "regestrykey.reg" and a "test.vbs" file, And I copied there 2 files into INSTALLDIR folder by using installshield in .mst then ran an Active setup in this way
stubpath="cscript.exe "[INSTALLDIR]\test.vbs""
is this a correct way of changing the HKCU registry?? that regestry.reg consists of the change required
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Are you running this for every user or just the current logged in user? You may need to run your script for every user. Run it on one user and then login as another user and see if they get the same error - SMal.tmcc 11 years ago
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yes I checked it, the registry value changed when I logged in as a other user that means active setup is applying for the all the users who ever logged in to it. I can see when I am logging in as a other user its taking more time than normal user logging time after instaling this applicaaiton... - ontari.ontari 11 years ago
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Writing ActiveSetup is not a good practice. It should be used only when there is no other option.. It will cause delay in logging time.. That too for newly created users it is very strange.. - jagadeish 11 years ago
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Thanks for the valuble suggession Jagadeish... ll try to work out you mentioned above - ontari.ontari 11 years ago
Thanks alot guys Issue solved, Thanks alot Jagadiesh and SMal.tmcc for your suggessions..
If you have Advertise shortcut in the package then on the first launch of the shotcut application will go for self heal and HKCU enteries will get reflected (you need to include those HKCU registries in MST).
If you don't have advertised shorctcut the Active setup is the best option.