Overview >

Supported Install Files

Installs support the following types of install files.

Microsoft Installer

Microsoft Installer files come in MSI, MSP, and MSU varieties, each with slightly different options.

See MSI Options for details on the options available.

MSI - Very common install files that are installed using msiexec.exe which is part of all recent versions of Windows.

MSP - Patches or updates for existing applications (or the operating system.) They are essentially MSI files that don't have the uninstall or repair option, they can only be installed. They are installed with msiexec.exe just like MSI files.

MSU - Like MSP files, these are updates. They only work with Windows Vista and later and are installed with wusa.exe.

Executable

Many installs nowadays come as executable files. When using an executable file it is critical that you select the correct Silent Options or the installation may appear to hang forever.

Quite often executable installs are little more than wrappers around an MSI file and will accept many of the same command-line options that msiexec.exe does.

PowerShell

PowerShell is Microsoft's new standard for scripting administrative tasks.

PowerShell must already be installed on the target computer for this type of install to work.

VBScript

VBScript is used quite extensively in systems administration to perform routine tasks.

Batch

These are the same batch files that you've probably used for myriad tasks. Generally installs don't come this way, but you would create your own.

One use would be if you have an install that needs some environment set up before it is run. You could set up the environment in the batch file and then execute the install (you would need to Include entire directory if you do this so that both the batch file and the install are copied.)

You could also perform non-installation type tasks, such as editing the computer's registry or creating or deleting files. Pretty much anything you can automate in a batch file can be "deployed" this way.

Regedit

Quickly add values to a computer's registry using a .reg file exported from regedit.exe.

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