Can you dump an .MSI file?

[tcsenter]

Is there any way to dump/extract any setup files from a Windows Installer Package .MSI file?

 

[ivwshane]

I don't have any .msi files on hand but have you tried using programs like winrar? I have been able to extract files from installers.

 

[tcsenter]

I've been reading a little and it appears that .MSI installer packages are not just an 'archive' of installer or setup files, but rather is more like a large compiled database or .DLL file. I've found some tools that I can supposedly use to extract/decompile and then recreate/repack the contents of an .MSI the way I want but it involves some developer skills I don't possess. Thanks for taking the time to respond, though.

 

[Epsil0n00]

often times these .msi files are hidden, so that may be why you don't see any of them on your drive.

My parents have a computer that they bought back in 1995 that still has Win 95 on it. I was upgrading some things on it recently and found that there was a file named "config.msi" on the root level of C: that was taking up 150MB of space. After some research of this file's use, and reading the text in the file, I decided to delete it. It has been a couple months now and no bad side effects have occured.

This file seems to be just a record of installs and information for Windows on how to undo any changes that have been made to the computer. They still had roll-back information from 1995. There was no way that that info would have helped Windows resolve a current problem. Plus, when you delete it Windows will generate a new config.msi file with current information. I would recommend renaming it to "config.msi.old" and leaving it for a while to make sure everything is fine for a week or so, then delete it.

Epsil0n

 

[tcsenter]

<< often times these .msi files are hidden, so that may be why you don't see any of them on your drive...My parents have a computer that they bought back in 1995 that still has Win 95 on it. I was upgrading some things on it recently and found that there was a file named "config.msi" on the root level of C: >>

The Windows Installer is relatively new, not having been around long enough to be part of any Windows build except Windows ME, 2000, and XP. The Windows Installer has only recently (within the last 18 months) been made available as an add-in for Win9x and NT. None of the .MSI files I have are hidden or system files. I'm not sure, but you may have confused Windows Installer Package files for Microsoft System Information files.

The Windows Installer Package is a software distribution/install/uninstall/roll-out tool not unlike Wise Installer, Package for the Web Stub, and competing products. Instead of getting the traditional and recognizable setup components found in a Wise Installer or Web Stub setup (setup.exe, setup.ini, setup.lid, _setup.dll, data1.cab, data1.hdr, ISDel.exe, layout.bin, lang.dat, Os.dat, et al), the Windows Installer creates a single file (similar to self-contained setup files like Package for the Web Stub) with the format .MSI, which may or may not be accompanied by one or more .ini or .cab files.

I was hoping this .MSI package was similar to an 'archive' of these setup components or install files, where I could just extract the setup files from this main .MSI file using some utility, but it appears to be a lot more complicated than that.

You are correct that part of the Windows Installer technology is better management and recording of installed applications and their components, and the respective uninstall information, but that information is kept in the registry. The .MSI Installer Package file is typically read-only and not altered by install or removal of any application.

 

[Epsil0n00]

I dont know what .msi files are in general.. I was only referring to my experiences with the "config.msi" file. Thanks for the clarification though.

 

[djkball]

so who here knows how to extract files from an msi package then ? Anynoe know what program can do this


I was looking at Wise installer software suite that helps you make MSI packages it looks like but not extract them though

 

[trmiv]

Open a command prompt in the directory that has the msi. Then type msiexec /a <name of msi file>

This will run an executive install which will prompt you for a directory to extract the files to (it says network directory, but any will work). All the installation's files will be extracted into the directory of your choice. They will retain the directory struture too. So for example, if the installer installs files into a directory named "This Install" and also into the Windows directory, System32 directory, and the root directory, in the directory you extract the msi to, you will get those directories created (the root directory will be called WinRoot).

You could also check if there is a cab file, and just open that.