FAQs on Windows Installer:

1) What is Windows Installer Technology?

The Windows Installer technology is made up of three elements that work

together:

Windows Installer Technology = Windows Installer client + Windows

Installer service + Windows Installer package (an .msi file.)

a) Windows Installer client: Any application that calls Windows Installer

to perform a task (Example SMS distribution, Add Remove Programme,
Windows-based shell.etc )
b) Windows Installer service : a System service “Msiexec.exe” for
INSTALLING and MANAGING applications
c) Windows Installer package (an .msi file.): A database file which is
used to manage the various states of the application like adding,
changing, or removing it from a computer

2) What are the Functions provided by MSI?

The Following functions are provided by the MSI
a) TRANSACTIONAL OPERATIONS: For each operation that an MSI
performs It can undo and rollback hence System will not contain
unwanted FILES /Registries and will be more clean if uninstallation
fails
b) SELF HEALING : MSI can detect common installation problems at
launch , like missing Files and Registries and Automatically repairs
them
c) INSTALL ON DEMAND : It supports on demand installation of
application features { like Spell Check in Words}
d) INSTALLATION ON LOCKED DOWN ENVIRONMENTS:
e) STATE MANAGEMENT : Windows installer provides a set of WiN32
API which allow querying the current state , verification of the existing
state , repair of corrupted state and transition from one state to
another
f) CONSISTENT INSTALLATION RULES : Windows Installer uses
consistent and reliable version rules, which provide consistent and
reliable installations for all applications and prevent newer files from
being overwritten by older files

3) How is advertised installation is different from a normal installation??

An advertisement installation places entry points, such as shortcuts, on the

destination computer without actually installing the application. When an installation
is opened in advertising mode, only the Execute sequences are run because it does
not have a User Interface sequence, and therefore no dialogs appear
Command line /JU is used for that