What is a redistributable download and what about windows installer 4.

[AnnieMS]

One webpage [the software patch] said Windows Installer 4.5 '"fixes numerous bugs, so it may be worthwhile downloading if you are experiencing installation problems".

[http://www.softwarepatch.com/windows/wininstallnt.html]

I have 3.1, so I googled for 4.5 info. The only 4.5 downloads provided by MS I found are "redistributable" downloads. I couldn't find a definition or an explanation for redistributable downloads, but from the info on MS it sounds like a download for administrators who are updating multiple computers. It does say 'These download packages will update the version of Windows Installer on your system to version 4.5"

I installed WinXP SP3 a year ago and SP3 includes 3.1. 4.5 has been around since 2007. Automatic updates hasn't updated windows installer and I didn't see an update for installer when I did a Windows Update to check for less important updates that might fix some of my WinXP problems.

So, is this an update I should install or one I should leave alone?

[submix8c]

A "redistributable" is a complete package generally intended for (as you stated) but good for single-pc use nonetheless. Select the appropriate one, save it somewhere, and run it. Should be no problem...

A point... It appears that it's generally used in conjunction with the associated SDK for creating 4.5 packages. You may or may not "need" it, but it shouldn't hurt (take a checkpoint for insurance). Otherwise, don't bother (it is, however in RyanVM's set).

versions

more info

edit - thx, cluberti (next post) for clarification...

Edited January 7, 2010 by submix8c

[cluberti]

The redistributable is usually the only package available outside of Windows Update for things like the MSI engine at this point, and the redist name generally means that an app vendor can redistribute this with their setup installer if they require a user to have a minimum version of the MSI engine on a machine before they run their installer. However, it's also useful for single-PC or multiple-PC rollouts as well, and as such you can download it and use it to install 4.5 of the MSI engine on your PC without worrying about the additions to the name, as they're just there to denote that the installation package can indeed be redistributed in certain ways.

[AnnieMS]

Thanks submix8c & cluberti,

Since by updating I would be installing the 4.5 MSI "engine" I'm assuming I'd be replacing 3.1 w/ 4.5 and that 4.5 is backwards compatible - I do think you have to have SP2 or SP3 for WinXP to install 4.5. I ran into info on 4.5 because nero 9 said it required 3.1 for installation and I was googling to find out how to determine what version of msi I had. [found it by checking the properties >version tab of msi.dll]

The "more info" msdn article on Windows Installer is definitely directed toward administrators responsible for multiple computers - I am not going to be installing multiple installation packages using "transaction processing". Maybe all the "bug fixes" are directed at corporate deployment problems. Despite having 3.1, I'm still having to run clean up tools, delete folders & shortcuts and find leftovers in the registry after uninstalling thru Add/Remove. It would be nice if 4.5 improved program installation & removal. [sigh]

I don't know how msi works, so I don't how much it dictates the installation process vs the program being installed. Maybe as well as looking for WinXP compatible programs, one also needs to look for "uses msi 3.1" or "uses msi 4.5".

[MrJinje]

Do not worry about it being for multiple computers, Microsoft just talks in legalese/techies sometimes. The term redistributable came from back in the 56k dialup era when the other option was stub installer (usually a small file under 500kb), the stub file would handle downloading the redistributable without user intervention, and complete the installation. In the past the redistributable was sought after by people as it was easier to use than the stub installer.

4.5 is backwards compatible, so you should have no problems. When an app requires 3.1 they usually mean 3.1 or higher. As for the leftovers, even with 3.1 most MSI shouldn't be leaving as many traces as you mention, but I think that onus is on the developer of the MSI and not the MSI engine.

Good luck Annie, I think it will work out, hopefully you'll find you were worried for no reason. They way Microsoft talks in the KB articles can be confusing at best.

Edited January 22, 2010 by MrJinje

[AnnieMS]

Thanks MrJinje

I feel less anxious about installing 4.5 and maybe it'll help.

You'd think by now that nero and symantec [i told that tech person I didn't want symantec] could install so as to uninstall properly. At least nero provides a clean up tool that worked and email support that's sometimes helpful. As for MS's communication skills - they've needed to hire technical editors since I was searching kb articles trying to get win98 to work.

[Kelsenellenelvian]

Slight correction for you:

http://service1.symantec.com/Support/tsgen...005033108162039 Symantec actually has a rather good removal tool (Only thing they are good at any more )

As for email support? I have heard many horror stories about that.

[submix8c]

Slight correction for you:

http://service1.symantec.com/Support/tsgen...005033108162039 Symantec actually has a rather good removal tool (Only thing they are good at any more )

Well, yes and no. Yes it's there and works, but no it doesn't work fantastically well (as with any "product uninstaller"). I used it last week cleaning extraneous software from an HDD and it had NAV2003 on it without the "uninstall" in Add/Remove. An obvious "botched' install, as errors appeared at startup. Downloaded the above, ran it, but found "leftovers" on the HDD and the registry. Not a "put down" (does work), but an observation (may need minor manual cleanup).

[AnnieMS]

Thanks Kelsenellenelvian & submix8c

I have Symantec End Point Protection, so I think I'm supposed to use Clean Wipe if necessary. Currently I have hard drive scans indicating a failing hard drive so I'm going to be starting from scratch when the new drive comes. I'm making a BIG NOTE to install Windows Installer 4.5 before I install all my programs.