Whats a good MSI creator?

[blackrabbit]

I'm pushing my department to use AD and MSI packages to do remote installs of applications and even as our normal build process so when we bring a new pc online we just place it in an install OU and then reboot the pc and let it do its thing. I think it weill really save us some time and its just cool lol.

Can someone point me in the direction of some good MSI builder software. I've been looking around the web but want some input from peple who might be using this kind of software already. Thanks

 

[Roadki11]

WinInstall LE is a pretty common one. Here is a link for a download. Works pretty good. It works by having a clean install OS, WinInstall takes a snapshot then you install the software you want and configure it. WinInstall then takes another snapshop and compairs the difference and builds the MSI. Pretty robust software. I us it with VMWare, very easy to build new MSI's in this fashion.

http://www.softpile.com/Utilities/Miscellaneous/Review_16745_index.html

hope this helps,

RoadKill

 

[blackrabbit]

cool thanks. I think i've actually used that one before at my last job a few times. How well does this software work for installing patches to non-Microsoft software (we use WSUS for microsfot updates)?

 

[markdmac]

Just like any other MSI, you would need to design it to do a silent upgrade. WinInstall doesn't care if it is non-microsoft software.

You might also want to look at the use of ZAP fiules for your deployments when you have an EXE and not an MSI.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/231747/en-us

And also take a peak at the use of transforms for programs. I have a nice FAQ for deploying a patched version of Office via GPO. faq96-4996

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

Check out my scripting solutions at

http://www.thespidersparlor.com/vbscript

 

[markdmac]

Just like any other MSI, you would need to design it to do a silent upgrade. WinInstall doesn't care if it is non-microsoft software.

You might also want to look at the use of ZAP files for your deployments when you have an EXE and not an MSI.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/231747/en-us

And also take a peak at the use of transforms for programs. I have a nice FAQ for deploying a patched version of Office via GPO. faq96-4996

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

Check out my scripting solutions at

http://www.thespidersparlor.com/vbscript

 

[djtech2k]

If you want free, createinstall free is pretty decent, but it does exe's not msi's.

In the past, I used installshield for msi's. Now it is owned by a new company, so I do not know if they still have a cheap version to buy.

 

[Roadki11]

It works fine for things like that. The key is to have a super clean install box. The less junk on the box the better quality the MSI will be.

RoadKi11