I like Orca as MSI editor, and it's free from M$.

This is how to get it and install it on 9x OSes:

http://www.msfn.org/board/?s=&showtopi...st&p=568281

And Orca doesn't need .NET installed.

To extract files from MSI/MSP installers, I like the msix.exe command line tool [free]:

http://blogs.msdn.com/heaths/archive/2006/04/07/571138.aspx

File:

http://hstewart.members.winisp.net/downloads/msix.zip

IMHO:

To build an installer, we don't need the MSI system, it's too complicated and cumbersome, requires a lengthy learning curve [not worth the time], and the worst is that it clutters the HD with tons of useless files + folders, and also writes a huge amount of registry values/keys [unnecessary bloat]. Why? Don't ask me, ask InstallShield, who created it.

Please note that M$ didn't create the MSI installer, they only licensed it from InstallShield.

I'm actually surprised they didn't buy them out instead.

HTH

I like Orca as MSI editor, and it's free from M$.

This is how to get it and install it on 9x OSes:

http://www.msfn.org/board/?s=&showtopi...st&p=568281

And Orca doesn't need .NET installed.

nice. does ORCA 2.0 work with W9X/ME/NT4 OSes? I know ORCA version 3.1 requires Win2000/XP/2003/Vista.

Advanced Installer

http://www.advancedinstaller.com/

What did you do to strip it down?

Judicious use of the Delete key.