2 replies to this topic

[Jemoo]

What is the difference between the two Windows Installation types MSI and InstallShield?

Through google i found at http://comtech.ncsu.edu/vpn/faq/#n

Installing the VPN Client Software Using InstallShield

Installing the VPN Client software on Windows NT, Windows 2000, or Windows XP with InstallShield requires Administrator privileges. If you do not have Administrator privileges, you must have someone who has Administrator privileges install the product for you.

Installing the VPN Client Software Using the MSI Installer

If you are using the MSI installer, you must have Windows NT-based products such as Windows NT 4.0 (with SP6), Windows 2000, or Windows XP. Installing with MSI also requires Administrator privileges.

So msi is only for NT based operating system ? Is that true?

Thank you.

[Zweitze]

That is not true, Windows Installer 1.1 works on Windows 95, 98, NT 4 and 2000. Windows Me ships with Windows Installer 1.2.

If you read carefully, the restriction comes from the product itself: neither installation technology supports Windows 95, 98, Me or 2003 server.
The only difference is on Windows NT 4: The MSI based install requires service pack 6, whereas no service pack check is performed by the InstallShield setup.

[Stefan Krueger]

InstallScript is a proprietory installation tool (a script language) used to build setup programs. It existed long before Windows Installer (aka MSI) was invented, and still exists.
Windows Installer is a instalaltion technology created by Microsoft. The runtime engine is part of the operating system in newer versions of Windows, and available as redistributable for older versions, so it exists from Windows 95 to 2003 and Vista. This runtime engine needs a database (.msi file) that describes the instalaltion actions, files, registry settings etc. There are tools available from various vendors (including InstallShield) to help you create such .msi files.