Software Deployment

ORIGINAL: wilddog
i still cannot get it working. Could you be a little more vague?

- Are you trying to install per-user or per-machine?
- Does your MSI/MST work when run outside of GP control?
- Have you taken a verbose log of the install? Or enabled the MSI logging policy when installing via GPO?

sorry VBScab for my vagueness (if there is such a word) - I am trying to deploy this machine to just 2 PCs. I do not want to manually install it, i would like it done via GPO as i am changing our installation procedure so all software is installed via GPO.
Currently when i manually run the MSI nero.msi - it says "sorry, but the installer must be started with SETUPX.exe"
I am not yet logging anything - how can i enable msi logging?

I presume you've read the 'Package KB' articles http://itninja.com/link/techical-guide:-silent-install-for-storagecentral-srm-5.07? As for MSI logging, it's a Group Policy! I can't recall where in the policy tree it is, but you can set it quickly by using a .REG file like this:

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Installer]
"Logging"="voicewarmup"All of this information is here on AppDeploy already, needless to say...

Hi VBScab,
Thank you for your reply - i have followed that article already. Below is the part that i followed:-
We've seen that some people have trouble with deploying Nero 7.8.5.0 using group policy. While this is a bit convoluted it is not by any means impossible.

The reason it does not work to set all the properties in the property-table is because the Nero msi contains some custom actions that run even before the property-table is evaluated. Open Nero.msi up in Orca and have a look at the InstallExecuteSequence, sort it by the "Sequence"-column. You'll see them as the four first actions starting with "NeroAg_".

To be able to deploy the msi using group policy you need to set the required properties using type 51 custom actions earlier in the sequence. The properties you need to set are already on this page, DONOTRUNSETUPX, STARTPARAM, MSISOURCEFILE and SERIALNUM_USERVAL.

Also remember to that the april 2006 update of DirectX is required before trying to deploy Nero (the latest update right now is february 2007). If not the msi will fail when trying to register some of the dlls right at the end of the installation process.

I entered exactly the STARTPARAM etc in the Action coloumn, entered 51 in the Type column, left the Source column blank and entered the relevant values (1, nero.msi, serial number and CallFromExe in the Target column.

i am new to editing MSIs like this so please forgive my lack of insight.

OK, well, hopefully, new or not, you now know the value of imparting ALL the information you have. We could have saved you some time, couldn't we? :)

The 'Source' column must be populated: that should contain the property name. Your CA table should look something like this (note I've used your values - I have no idea if they're correct - and the 'Action' column is the name given to the Custom Action and is largely irrelevant in this case):

Action...............Type....Source.............Target
SetDONOTRUNSETUPX....51......DONOTRUNSETUPX,....1
SetSTARTPARAM........51......STARTPARAM.........CallFromExe
SetMSISOURCEFILE.....51......MSISOURCEFILE......nero.msi
SetSERIALNUM_USERVAL.51......SERIALNUM_USERVAL..your serial nbr]


Thanks - i have changed the tables to look exactly as you entered and it still doesnt work . i still receive the error saying it must be called from the .exe when i manually double click nero.msi. It is nero.msi that i need to edit isnt it? or do i have to edit an mst?. Please can you explain something - what is the significance of the line in teh article saying Open Nero.msi up in Orca and have a look at the InstallExecuteSequence, sort it by the "Sequence"-column. You'll see them as the four first actions starting with "NeroAg_". Do i need to edit something in the InstallExecuteSequence? as all i have edited is the entries in the CustomActions table.

Never edit vendor-supplied MSIs unless you absolutely have to. Always use a transform (or transforms, plural). I have yet to encounter any scenario where I had to edit a vendor MSI directly.

Sequencing of CAs is too lengthy to go into here. Have a look at MSDN and Juice, where John McFadyen, sometime poster here, has a slew of articles, one of which includes a nice flow diagram of CA execution.

In order to have your transform acted upon, you'll need to use a command line rather than double-clicking:

.......MSIExec /i "[path_to_and_name_of_MSI]" TRANSFORMS="[path_to_and_name_of_MST] [other arguments]

Once you have a working set-up, use the 'Modifications' tab when adding the package to the GPO to include your MST.

GRRRRR! i have edited the MST appropriately and called it using teh MSIEXEC command you specified but for some reason i still get the error message saying it must be called by setupx.exe. A friend of mine said it may not work because it uses InstallShields InstallScript which means it has to use the setup.exe - can you comment on this please and give any further advice?

cheers mate!

Have a look at http://www.appdeploy.com/messageboards/fb.asp?m=19850

Hi Will,
i have done Nero 7.8.5.0 myself. And installed through GPO too.
The only thing you need to make the MSI working are four properties.
Had never to put in a property setting Custom Action.
Set the nero.msi to read only.
Load the nero.msi inot ORCA.
Choose Transform - New Transform.
Go to the property table.
Right click in the right pane and choose "Add Row".
and repeatedly create the following lines:

DONOTRUNSETUPX 1
STARTPARAM CallFromExe
REBOOT ReallySuppress
MSISOURCEFILE Nero.msi
Choose Transform - Generate Transform... Save it to GPO.mst in the directory with the nero.msi.

Start the installation with: msiexec /i nero.msi TRANSFORMS=GPO.mst.
If this works, load it into the GPO and don't forget to add the GPO.mst while you where filling in the details to the GPO.
For further customization, rely on: http://itninja.com/link/techical-guide:-silent-install-for-storagecentral-srm-5.07
Regards, Nick

Thanks so much NHEIM. It worked an absolute treat!!