Microsoft KB Archive/257718

= How to create a third-party Microsoft Installer package =

Article ID: 257718

Article Last Modified on 3/14/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Edition

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This article was previously published under Q257718





IN THIS TASK
SUMMARY
 * Definitions
 * How to Create a Third-Party MSI Package

REFERENCES



SUMMARY
This article describes how to create a Microsoft Installer Package (MSI) for installing third-party programs. If you want to install a third-party program by using this method, you must install a copy of Veritas Software Console by Seagate Software at a location that is accessible by the reference computer. This program is available on the Windows 2000 CD-ROM in Valueadd\3rdparty\Mgmt\Winstle\Swiadmle.msi. This includes a copy of WinINSTALL limited edition, which allows for basic functionality.

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Instruction File
An instruction file (Microsoft Installer package) contains information about what needs to be done to install a product.

Clean PC
A clean PC is defined as a computer with only the following items on it before you run Discover:
 * The operating system
 * The service packs for the operating system

If you install Veritas Software Console (or any other product) on the computer, it is by definition no longer a clean PC. You must install Veritas Software Console somewhere, but not on the clean PC.

Reference Computer
A clean PC ensures that the Discover program will pick up all files and registry entries necessary for the program to run.

The reference computer should have access to the Discover program (Discoz.exe) in the Winstall folder from My Network Places, Windows Explorer, or the Run command on the Start menu. Do not map a drive to the Winstall share. Doing so may cause Discover to pick up the added drive, possibly causing problems in your Microsoft Installer packages.

Discover
The Discover program is the program you use to create the instruction file (Microsoft Installer package) that contains information about what needs to be done to install a product.

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How to Create a Third-Party MSI Package
For this process to work properly, you should start with a clean PC.
 * 1) Start with a clean PC, or one that is representative of the computers in your network.
 * 2) Start Discover to take a picture of the representative PC's software configuration. This is the Before snapshot.
 * 3) Install a program on the PC on which you took the Before snapshot.
 * 4) Reboot the PC.
 * 5) Run the new program to verify that it works.
 * 6) Quit the program.
 * 7) Start Discover and take an After snapshot of the PC's new configuration. Discover compares the Before and the After snapshots and notes the changes. It creates a Microsoft Installer package with information about how to install that program on such a PC in the future.
 * 8) (Optional) Use Veritas Software Console to customize the Microsoft Installer package.
 * 9) Clean the reference computer to prepare to run Discover again.
 * 10) (Optional) Perform a test installation of the program on non-production workstations.

To obtain support for Veritas Software Console, please contact Veritas.

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