Knowledge Base

PRB: MSDE unattended installation needs full path name of the .iss file

Article ID: 238232

Article Last Modified on 5/10/2006

APPLIES TO

Microsoft Data Engine 1.0

This article was previously published under Q238232

SYMPTOMS

When installing the Microsoft Data Engine (MSDE) from the MSDEx86.exe file, you may see the following error message:

The path specified in a command line argument is invalid <Path>/x86/Setup/Setup.iss.

CAUSE

The MSDE unattended command line installation requires the full path name of the .iss file.

WORKAROUND

This behavior is by design. You must always indicate the fully qualified path to the .iss file on the command line. MSDE for Visual Studio cannot be installed by double-clicking the MSDEx86.exe file or by leaving one of the required parameters.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information on installing MSDE, take a look at the Readme.txt file in the MSDE Web download package (Msdex86_pkg.exe, msdealpha_pkg.exe) or in the MSDE CD. The Readme.txt file contents for the MSDE download package is shown below.

Microsoft Data Engine (MSDE) Version 1.0
=========================================

Introduction
------------

Platforms supported
-------------------
    Windows 95
    Windows 98
    Windows NT 4.0 SP4
    
Contents of CD
--------------
    readme.txt
    MSDEx86.exe - Intel version of MSDE installer
    MSDEalpha.exe - Alpha version of MSDE installer

Usage Notes
-----------
    IMPORTANT NOTES:
    1.  Resources for developers building applications with MSDE, including
        whitepapers, general additional FAQS, and sample code can be found at:
        http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/msde

    2.  Resources for developers building applications with SQL Server 7.0
        including SQL Books Online, can be found at:
        http://support.microsoft.com/support/sql

    3.  Details on technical support for Visual Studio 6.0 products can be found
        by either
        a. selecting Help --> Technical Support from any Visual Studio 6.0 product, or
        b. from MSDN, select:
            "Visual Studio Documentation"
                -->Getting started with Visual Studio
                        --> Technical Support    


    
    4.  The following syntax is used to install MSDE using all of the default
        installation settings

    MSDEx86.exe -s -a -f1 "<path>unattend.iss"
    
    or 

    MSDEalpha.exe -s -a -f1 "<path>unattend.iss"

    where <path> is the full path to the unattend.iss file.  

    You must always indicate the fully qualified path to the .iss file
    on the command line. 

    To use installation settings other than the defaults, a copy of the
    unattend.iss file can be edited and passed on the command line. For example,
    assuming that a copy of unattend.iss is copied to c:\temp, renamed to
    "mydefaults.iss" and edited. It would be possible to install MSDE using this
    new .iss file by issuing the following command:

    msdex86.exe -s -a -f1 "c:\temp\mydefaults.iss"

REFERENCES

For more information about installing and distributing MSDE using an Installer application, see the following:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/downloads/addins/MSDE/instdwnld.aspx

For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

234626 SAMPLE: Setu.exe fully automating MSDE setup with the Package and Deployment Wizard (PDW)

Resources for developers building applications with MSDE, including white papers, general additional FAQS, and sample code can be found at the following:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dnmsde/html/msdeforvs.asp

Keywords: kbprb KB238232