Deployment Solution 231
Software Packaging
Windows Installer
Benefits
Description
Self-healing With self-healing (also called automatic repair and self-
repair), the application repairs missing components.
When an application starts, Windows Installer checks a
list of key files and registry entries. If it detects any
problems, Windows Installer repairs the application using
a cached database that contains key paths to application
components.
Publishing Applications appear in the Add/Remove Programs applet
and can be installed to the destination computer by the
user.
Rollback When the installation fails, the installation reverts to the
previously installed state. This prevents having an
incomplete or broken application.
Advertisement Also called install-on-demand, advertised features do not
install but appear installed to the user. When the user
selects an advertised feature, the installation occurs.
Componentization Components group resources together so they move as a
unit, which gives you more control during installation.
Standardization Applies rules to installed application files that look at a
file’s version and its shared .DLLs to prevent conflicts
between applications.
Version Rules Decides whether to install a file to a directory by looking
at a file’s date, language, version, and the modified date
on a non-versioned file.
Reference Counting Tracks which applications have installed every file and
registry key on the computer on the component level, so
the Windows Installer service always knows exactly what
is needed for an application to run, and what is no longer
used during uninstall.
Customization Transforms customize an .MSI to a particular user group’s
needs.
Elevated Privileges Runs an installation using administrative rights. This
invokes the system’s security rights, restricts data and
commands, and enforces rules when running the
installation. Msiexec.exe and the Windows Installer
service approve the elevated privileges request.
Assignment Assigns advertised or installed applications to a user’s
profile so when the user logs in, these applications appear
on the destination computer.
Open Architecture Lets you choose from a variety of authoring software and
allows you to customize previously created installations.
Total Cost of Ownership Windows Installer makes installations easier to install,
maintain, and support.
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