Programs that can take exe installations and create a .msi file

[Runes911]

I am looking for a program that can "watch" an exe install a program and create an msi based on what the installation did.

OR

A program that can create a .msi file from a exe installation.

Does anyone know of such a program?

 

[Czar]

http://www.mcse.ms/archive52-2004-8-948078.html

 

[Smilin]

Winstall lite comes with your Windows Server CD.

It's been a long-long time so I can't remember the details of using it, but there are good helpfiles.

It does that whole before/after snapshot and creates a differential and makes a .msi file.

 

[Czar]

Originally posted by: Smilin
Winstall lite comes with your Windows Server CD.

It's been a long-long time so I can't remember the details of using it, but there are good helpfiles.

It does that whole before/after snapshot and creates a differential and makes a .msi file.

hmm interesting I had no idea about that one

now I can install a bunch of dumb visual basic apps, the extra ocx files and create a msi file that does it all?

 

[Smilin]

I believe it will work for you.


The "lite" part of the free winstall just means you can do very little editing of it after the fact...if you want changes you have to make a clean install, Snapshot, install, snapshot again.

It's the utility used to whip up those group policy deployable apps for active directory.

 

[Runes911]

What about windows 2003? I dont think I have a Windows 2000 server disk around...

 

[Smilin]

Yeah, I'm not sure if 2003 has it or not. It's in the Valueadd\3rd party folder on the CD.


See KB for exact path as well as some brief howto:

257718 HOW TO: Create Third-Party Microsoft Installer Package (MSI)
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;257718