MSI Creation

thatoneitguy

Does anyone have a good utility they use to create MSI's for rolling out software? I tried Advanced Installer but the "free" version of the application will allow you to build the MSI but gives you a warning when you install/uninstall that it is only a trial. I also downloaded MAKEMSI but I don't have time to learn the scripting methods it uses. I know this is probably a long shot in this forum, but figured I would ask.

Cheers!

stevire

Not sure what your trying to compile to an installer. But Visual Basic 6 and up has its own MSI installer... (Goto Addins -> Package and Deployment) Good, reliable and probably the most used.

thatoneitguy

I'm just trying to package and push out applications via group policy. It only takes MSIs. I am downloading WinInstall LE which is claiming to be free. I believe I used this a few years ago.

Plus, I don't think I could get my hands on a copy of visual basic, this is for work.

stevire

You're looking for open source/freeware... Can't imagine there's too many out there. Only know of one, that's NSIS.....

Link:
http://nsis.sourceforge.net/Main_Page

ianhobo

hey,
Maybe something on this list will help?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_installation_software

Installshield (as far as I'm aware) is the most common software for creating windows installers.
It comes with some versions of visual studio, but an express (free) version won't be available until later this year

The nullsoft one is popular, but I'm not sure if it does MSI's.

ianhobo

I've read that wiki link now, it says

Windows Installer, built in to Windows systems, free SDK available

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Installer

So that seems like your best bet.

Theres also this ...
http://www.cornerhouse.ca/en/msicreate.html

dzy

There's also the WiX project if you want to go the open source route.

http://wix.sourceforge.net/

thatoneitguy

Yeah it seems I found the best solution. WinInstall LE seems to be exactly what I needed. Thanks for the answers.