MSI Works when run locally but fails through SMS
I'm fairly new to here but I've found a few solutions to problems and now I'm really stuck and hoping for some help from the experts. I've got a vendor supplied msi called Nokia Intellisync Desktop Web Toolkit which has been bought and transformed by Oracle to become Oracle PIM Sync On Demand. The MSI and transform works absolutely fine when I run it under the local admin account but when I try to push it out through SMS it installs but misses out several key files and folders and doesn't run.
Having searched though both sets of logs I can only really see that the LogonUser property is SYSTEM under the SMS install and our local admin otherwise. I can also see that the problems lie in adding files and folders to the LocalApplicationData, Common Files folder etc. If it gets installed under the local account thoguh it can still be used by any other user who logs on subsequently.
I've tried various different things and tried using the SoftwareInstallation Account but stilll nothing.
Anyone seen anything like this before and found a solution? It's driving me nuts!!
Having searched though both sets of logs I can only really see that the LogonUser property is SYSTEM under the SMS install and our local admin otherwise. I can also see that the problems lie in adding files and folders to the LocalApplicationData, Common Files folder etc. If it gets installed under the local account thoguh it can still be used by any other user who logs on subsequently.
I've tried various different things and tried using the SoftwareInstallation Account but stilll nothing.
Anyone seen anything like this before and found a solution? It's driving me nuts!!
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Posted by:
anonymous_9363
15 years ago
In your transform:
- create a new 'CurrentUser' feature
- locate any feature which has an advertised entry point, such as a shortcut
- move that feature so that it becomes a child of the 'CurrentUser' feature
- move the component(s) which contain anything which is targeted at the user's profile, such as the LocalApplicationData folders and files. Don't forget stuff in HKCU
That way, when the advertised entry-point is first used (e.g. when the shortcut - if that's what you used - is clicked), the WI engine will see that the feature is "broken" and "repair" it.
One day, enterprise vendors will work out that no-one in their customer base actually walks the estate with a CD. One day.
Meanwhile, search AppDeploy for John McFadyen's blog URL on livespace. It has a ton of stuff about repair/self-healing.
- create a new 'CurrentUser' feature
- locate any feature which has an advertised entry point, such as a shortcut
- move that feature so that it becomes a child of the 'CurrentUser' feature
- move the component(s) which contain anything which is targeted at the user's profile, such as the LocalApplicationData folders and files. Don't forget stuff in HKCU
That way, when the advertised entry-point is first used (e.g. when the shortcut - if that's what you used - is clicked), the WI engine will see that the feature is "broken" and "repair" it.
One day, enterprise vendors will work out that no-one in their customer base actually walks the estate with a CD. One day.
Meanwhile, search AppDeploy for John McFadyen's blog URL on livespace. It has a ton of stuff about repair/self-healing.
Posted by:
DavieH
15 years ago
Thanks, I'll give that a try jsut now and get back to you. I did try using ActiveSetup to force a reinstall for each user but it didn't solve the problem.
I'll give this a bash
I'll give this a bash
Posted by:
anonymous_9363
15 years ago
I did try using ActiveSetup to force a reinstall for each user but it didn't solve the problemI originally had my standard 'here's how to do Active Setup' post in the clipboard, ready to add to my response but I prefer this way so didn't bother. So, what happened with AS?
Posted by:
DavieH
15 years ago
Not a lot to be honest. It did rerun the msiexec on logon of other users and I tried using /fu and /fa but although it seemed to run, the missing files were still not added. I really don't understand it and it's driving me nuts. Might just be my imagination but I think it's a really badly built msi!!
I'm trying the approach you suggested but I'm not getting anywhere so far. Guess I need more practice.
I'm going to try installing through SMS, taking a snapshot, uninstall then install manually and take another snapshot to see exactly what files are missing.
I'm trying the approach you suggested but I'm not getting anywhere so far. Guess I need more practice.
I'm going to try installing through SMS, taking a snapshot, uninstall then install manually and take another snapshot to see exactly what files are missing.
Posted by:
svenheijnene
14 years ago
Guys,
have you been able to find a resolution for this. for us this is a 3rd party solution, and your experience is very welcome.
cheers
sven
have you been able to find a resolution for this. for us this is a 3rd party solution, and your experience is very welcome.
cheers
sven
Posted by:
jcarri06
14 years ago
Sven, you having this same problem with this same application or a different one? VBScab's suggestion should be applicable to any MSI having this issue.
Posted by:
jcarri06
14 years ago
Did you already try running active setup or creating the feature structure that VBS recommended and still failing?
Posted by:
jdat747
14 years ago
Below is an excerpt from .\Data\1033\Readme.txt in the expanded install files:
Distributed Installation No Longer Working
------------------------------
An issue exists in the current base client code from Nokia for PIM Sync
On Demand v2.0 which prevents the ability to distribute the client software
remotely. Oracle is awaiting a fix for this issue from Nokia which is
targeted for delivery in a future patch (currently 1080.0.03). Please note
this delivery date is subject to change.
Should your organization require remote installation capabilities and are
unable to wait for a fix to be delivered, you can contact customer care to
request a prior version of the PIM Sync On Demand client (v1.8) which does
provide the ability to distribute and install the PIM Sync client remotely.
Yeppers ... I've wasted about a week trying to get this one to work anyway, but no luck yet
Distributed Installation No Longer Working
------------------------------
An issue exists in the current base client code from Nokia for PIM Sync
On Demand v2.0 which prevents the ability to distribute the client software
remotely. Oracle is awaiting a fix for this issue from Nokia which is
targeted for delivery in a future patch (currently 1080.0.03). Please note
this delivery date is subject to change.
Should your organization require remote installation capabilities and are
unable to wait for a fix to be delivered, you can contact customer care to
request a prior version of the PIM Sync On Demand client (v1.8) which does
provide the ability to distribute and install the PIM Sync client remotely.
Yeppers ... I've wasted about a week trying to get this one to work anyway, but no luck yet
Posted by:
anonymous_9363
14 years ago
Yeh, but the thing is, SMS\SCCM doesn't install remotely. Packages are copied to the client and then executed locally by the System account.
Posted by:
jdat747
14 years ago
Indeed, but the problem w/ this software is that when you install it under the system account, it doesn't work for anyone else. I've tried to manually install under the local admin, and then get the app to work for a locked down user ... even another admin user, but it fails with a dialog that says: "This program was not installed for the current user." I can get it to self heal, but I haven't gotten it to fully reinstall for a new user.
I tried using process monitor to see what the *.exe was looking for on launch, but I never got anywhere w/ that.
I tried using process monitor to see what the *.exe was looking for on launch, but I never got anywhere w/ that.
Posted by:
Jsaylor
14 years ago
Sounds to me like allusers is not explicitly set to 1. Try adding ALLUSERS=1 to your msiexec command line through SCCM, and see where that gets you. In many cases, depending on how the MSI is built, if ALLUSERS is not explicitly called out on the command line, it will attempt to install to the system user account, instead of the local system account.
EDIT: Oh, and if it's just an awful msi that must be installed to a user account, just have it install only while a user is logged in, and have it not run with administrative privileges, that will force it to install to the currently logged in users' account.
EDIT: Oh, and if it's just an awful msi that must be installed to a user account, just have it install only while a user is logged in, and have it not run with administrative privileges, that will force it to install to the currently logged in users' account.
Posted by:
jdat747
14 years ago
Thanks Jsaylor. I checked the vendor msi and they don't have allusers explicitly set to 1 in properties, so that may be something.
Posted by:
ultie3131
13 years ago
I added the ALLUSERS property to the MSI and set it to 2 and was then able to deploy this from SCCM using the extracted contents and the following command line: setup.exe /S /v/qn
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