What is the best program for creating packages?

[bertybassett]

I've been given the task installing 5000 card readers and asscioted software. I was hoping to do this via SMS.

The card readers drivers are easy. I'm just going to use the dpinst program and I've already created a package for SMS.

The card reader software is a collection of 5 programs with many command line extras. So doing an install with command switches is not really an option. I was thinking about using a snap shot program. The kind that takes a snap shot of the system and then you install all your required programs then take another snap shot of the system and the difference are put into an install program ready to push.

The question is what is the best program (freeware or licenced) to automate snap shot style installations.

In advanced thanx lads and lasses.

[enuffsaid]

Hi,

I remember SMS 2.0 came with its own repackaging tool, although it would only create executables.

There's Wise Package Studio, but its expensive. Installshield also have a re-packager.

Kind regards,

eNuffSaid

[bertybassett]

thanx for the reply.

[Martin Zugec]

Hmmm, snapshot

Why dont you create msi package?

[enuffsaid]

My favorite would be Wise Package Studio. It can do "snapshots" and create an MSI installer from the snapshot.

[bertybassett]

Tried Wise but it failed on the java installer. What other programs can I try?

BTW I don't mind what the end program is .msi .exe. I thought a program that used snap shoot technology would best best suited to the job.

[gmx]

i use Installshield Repackager. Its free. someone posted a link to it quite a while back.

It recompiles any instalation to a msi.

[RogueSpear]

I use InstallShield's AdminStudio for all of my repacking and modding needs. It's an indisposable tool that I use almost daily, but I am fortunate enough to have an employer that was willing to buy it for me. It's a very expensive tool, but I guess you get what you pay for.

Just a little tip too.. I always use the manual 2 step snapshot method for repackaging. Don't be lured by all the automated stuff that they're newer one step feature touts. It's not nearly smart enough and it tends to generate packages with either totally bogus entries or with superflous crap you don't want in there anyway. And ALWAYS carefully inspect the files and registry entries the repacker has made prior to compiling your final .msi file.

[Noise]

Setup capture programs like SMS Installer, Wise InstallMaster/Installation System, etc, don't capture device drive installations well at all. It may work, it may not. But even worse it may work just barely - causing problems down the line you weren't expecting. The reason is that the internal ID's (PNPID, GUID's, etc) for each PC varies. Even for identical hardware.

If your device driver has a silent installation routine, then you must use that. After installation (and a reboot, just to clean things up) then you can do a capture of all the other stuff you need to install.