Advantages of Using Windows Installer

Windows installer technology offers many advantages, both to the system admins as well as the developers. When we have standardised process for install and uninstall, it simplifies the job of the administrator greatly as he can, now, create just one set of rules for file overwrites and not leave it to the hands of the developers for each individual application. Windows installer also include have other features as well which facilitates easier Application Packaging and installation which the author can easily include in the installer.

The Windows Installer service was created to provide comprehensive support during the whole phase of application management life cycle including development of a desktop application, deployment, updates, supports and retirement. However, to support everything, the Windows installer needs to receive supportive instructions from the installation package itself.

Previously, the installation packages usually became a setup.exe type of file. Sadly, the independent software creators and internal software developers have created these setup files rather inconsistently and the life of an administrator has become complicated. The attempts of automated installation are often interrupted due to the inconsistencies.

Presently, there is a new trend of using the msiexec.exe file to process the installation information at an end user’s PC. The packages follow standardised database structure which contains the information needed by the Windows installer to install or uninstall any application and to run the GUI (Guided User Interface) during the setup. Each installation package contains a MSI file which contains the summary of the information stream, data streams for various parts of the installation and the installation database. They can, additionally, contain external source files, internal source files, required cabinet files and multiple transforms. This approach helps the installer to decide which components are needed by the application and remove the application components safely when needed and restore the machine to a working state. Furthermore, as the Windows Installer is a service only, it is designed to support software installation in locked environments as the local administrator. This enhances the applicat on process.

Windows installers are great for application installing from a network share, often called administrative installation, as the administrators prefer this method, but work locally on any PC as well. If network share method is followed, the only potential downside is that the machine will receive updates only when the machine is connected with the network. If many notebook users are working, this might be a concern for the system administrator or the IT department of the organisation.

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