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Re: Help needed!!!!!!!!!!!

Guys, i m new to this Apps PAcking industry. i have a question for yal...

I have an advertised shortcut. How does the advertised shortcut check for keypaths? What i mean to say is, when i double click an advertised shortcut of a broken application, the msiexec service is called and application self-repairs. I dont know how the advertised shortcut make a check for all keypaths? Is there a hidden service that runs that makes a check for these keypaths?

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Answers (18)

Posted by: sunny07 14 years ago
Senior Yellow Belt
0
check this site for complete information on self healing
http://johnmcfadyen.spaces.live.com/
Posted by: AngelD 14 years ago
Red Belt
0
The below link gives some additional information
https://www-secure.symantec.com/connect/blogs/advertised-shortcut-info
Posted by: cygan 14 years ago
Fifth Degree Brown Belt
0
having a good foundation is the key
have a look at my pointers

in addition read about the diff b/w advertised and non advertised shortcuts
what is an entry point
read about features / components etc
read about self repair and how it is triggered

you will get lots of info if you google
cheers
Posted by: mitrokin 14 years ago
Senior Yellow Belt
0
guys guys guys.. My question is... "When u run an advertised shortcut, who is responsible for checking the keypaths and everything?"
Posted by: captain_planet 14 years ago
Black Belt
0
mitrokin mitrokin mitrokin - stop being lazy. The guys have posted some good links above, but you've obviously not bothered to look at John McFadyen's blog which discusses self-healing: http://johnmcfadyen.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!9DD01136FC094724!123.entry
Posted by: mitrokin 14 years ago
Senior Yellow Belt
0
i did check that ....
i read everything.

I tried this following experiment.
I created a msi and an advertised shortcut in it. i installed my app, Disabled msiexec service. Application still works. Now who would be performing the checks for keypaths.. this is my question left unclear even after reading the blogs
Posted by: AngelD 14 years ago
Red Belt
0
Now who would be performing the checks for keypaths
The short version; it is the Windows Installer service (msiserver).
The Windows Installer resiliency feature (self-healing) cannot check for broken components if the service is disabled meaning; no repair will/can occur. It will still be possible to start the application.
Posted by: mitrokin 14 years ago
Senior Yellow Belt
0
Angel. You are wrong. If u disable this service.And then u run the advertised shortcut, the application starts (Provided that nothing is broken). If something is broken repair is triggered but since the service is disabled, repair fails. But how does the system come to a decision that repair should be triggered.
Posted by: anonymous_9363 14 years ago
Red Belt
0
Splitting hairs, rather, aren't we? The result is the same: if the service is disabled, the repa\ir doesn't happen.how does the system come to a decision that repair should be triggered.You answered your own question earlier. If a key path is missing, repair takes place. As for the actual mechanics, a session with ProcMon [have you seen this mentioned here before?] will show you the process. The various registry entries for the product's features and components are read and key paths checked for their presence.
Posted by: pjgeutjens 14 years ago
Red Belt
0
If u disable this service.And then u run the advertised shortcut, the application starts (Provided that nothing is broken). If something is broken repair is triggered but since the service is disabled, repair fails. But how does the system come to a decision that repair should be triggered.

Well, one thing you should realise is that an advertised shortcut doesn't actually point to the exe that gets started (unlike a normal shortcut), but instead points to one that is stored in C:\Windows\Installer\<Guid>\

if I'm not mistaken this provides a link to a component (GUID) that is the starting point for Windows Installer's search for things that need repairing.

EDIT: and that's only the mechanism for shortcuts, there's similar mechanisms for file associations, dll's. Here the link to the component is provided by something called a Darwin Descriptor ( something to Google [;)] ) embedded into the registration

PJ
Posted by: mitrokin 14 years ago
Senior Yellow Belt
0
PJ: "if I'm not mistaken this provides a link to a component (GUID) that is the starting point for Windows Installer's search for things that need repairing."

Now my scenario is that all my keypaths are present and msiexec service is disabled. In this scenario the application launches.
NOw since the windows installer service is disabled. who will search for things that need repairing?
Posted by: anonymous_9363 14 years ago
Red Belt
0
who will search for things that need repairing?Nothing. Unless that falls to you to do it manually! :)

How do you plan to install anything, after the service is disabled?
Posted by: AngelD 14 years ago
Red Belt
0
NOw since the windows installer service is disabled. who will search for things that need repairing?
It's done by different API calls (provided mostly by advapi32.dll & msi.dll) which isn't dependent on the service.
Posted by: mitrokin 14 years ago
Senior Yellow Belt
0
Thanks Angel thanks very much.. Thanks all
Posted by: AngelD 14 years ago
Red Belt
0
If you want to take it further then do a search for "MsiProvideQualifiedComponent".
Posted by: mitrokin 14 years ago
Senior Yellow Belt
0
ya iread bout this function call before . thanks
Posted by: MSIPackager 14 years ago
3rd Degree Black Belt
0
You'll be able to sleep OK tonight now? [;)]
Posted by: mitrokin 14 years ago
Senior Yellow Belt
0
I dunno, May be yes.. I tend to get haywire a lot of tymes...
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