Packaging

Issetupdriven

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Some manufacturers provide MSI embedded in EXE file. To package such an application, it’s always better to extract the MSI (with 7-Zip for example) and use it instead of using the silent install command (usually a wrapper) of the exe file. The problem is that sometimes the MSI cannot be launched without the original exe. … Read more

Packaging Drivers

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This article details the way to package drivers. . 1. Repackaging Method Generally, a driver contains: INF files PNF files DLL files Registry entries in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum It’s possible to make a capture of the installation, but take care of excluded elements after snapshot. By default, Wise Package Studio excludes registry entries in: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum Those registry … Read more

Export Security Settings

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This article details the way to retrieve the security settings of a file or folder in order to implement it in a script. Then, this script can be added in the package using a custom action for example. . 1. Security VBScript To grant permissions on files or folder, the following kind of script can … Read more

Add/Remove Programs and Registry

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1. Mandatory Parameters Registry Keys Information displayed in Add/Remove Programs are stored in registry: [HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\My_Application_Flag] Where “My_Application_Flag” can be the product code or the name of the application . Mandatory Values To create an entry in Add/Remove Programs, 3 values are mandatory: DisplayName: The name of the application InstallLocation: The install directory of the application … Read more

Packaging Certificates

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Installing a certificate on a machine can be done by running a CER file or by importing a PFX file. . 1. Install CER File To install a certificate with a CER file implemented in a MSI, the Microsoft tool “certmgr” (Certificate Manager Tool), included in Windows must be used. First snapshot Create a folder … Read more

Packaging Wallpaper

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1. Wallpaper Settings To define a wallpaper in Windows, at least 2 elements are needed: An image file (.bmp) A registry key (HKCU) . . 2. MSI Integration The file The wallpaper must be a .bmp file This .bmp file must be located in %windir% (C:\Windows) . The Registry Key The following registry entry allows … Read more

Darwin Descriptor

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1. Darwin Descriptor The Darwin Descriptor issue occurs when a MSI is repackaged using snapshot capture. Repackaging a MSI is not the best practice but it’s sometime (very rarely) not possible to create a MST over a MSI. Darwin Descriptor forces the application to pick some information in the original MSI. So, when the MSI … Read more

Register DLL with Wise

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1. What is a DLL and why register it? According to Microsoft: “A DLL is a library that contains code and data that can be used by more than one program at the same time. For example, in Windows operating systems, the Comdlg32 DLL performs common dialog box related functions. Therefore, each program can use … Read more

ThinApp Application Packaging

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1. Create a System Image Before the Application Installation The Setup Capture wizard starts the capture process by scanning the system to assess the environment and create a baseline system image. Therefore, a clean Windows machine must be used to avoid the application installer to skip files and registry keys already present on the machine. … Read more

App-V Application Packaging

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1. Prepare the Packaging Machine To sequence with App-V, a clean Windows machine must be used to avoid the application installer to skip files and registry keys already present on the machine. One of the best practices for App-V sequencing is to sequence as much as possible on a virtual machine. . The installation of … Read more