Packaging Mozilla Firefox

1. The following changes are made to the file firefox.js (located at [ProgramFilesFolder]Mozilla Firefox\defaults\pref\)


Changed the values from True to False on the following lines:

pref("app.update.enabled", true);

pref("app.update.auto", true);

pref("browser.shell.checkDefaultBrowser", true);

pref("general.startup.browser", true);

Changed the value to 0 in the following line

pref("app.update.mode", 1);

The following line was added to the firefox.js file

// Preferences for the Get Add-ons pane

pref("extensions.checkCompatibility", false)



2. Add the file "override.ini" under "[ProgramFilesFolder]Mozilla Firefox\" with the below information:

[XRE]

EnableProfileMigrator=false

This will suppress the Import wizard that pops-up when shortcut is launched.

Disable splash screen in Windows Live Messenger

To disable splash screen in Windows Live Messenger, add the below properties:

ADDBHO = "No-ADDBHO"

ADDLINKS = "No-AddLinks"

SETHOMEPAGE = "No-SetMyHomePage"
 

Disable License Agreement ,Help assistance and Auto Updates in iTunes

Launch iTunes.It then shows the License Agreement Window.


Click on Agree

If the User don’t want to

1. Add MP3 and AAC files

2. Add WMA files (As Default)

uncheck the Checkboxes and Click Next.

Select "No i'll Change the file and folder names myself"

Click on Finish to launch the application.

Click on Edit->Preferences

Uncheck "Check for updates automatically" and then close the application and launch again.

Help Assistance, license Agreement and Updates are disabled.

The Below files will have the modified information.

1. C:\Documents and Settings\[USERPROFILE]\Application Data\Apple Computer\iTunes\iTunesPrefs.xml

2. C:\Documents and Settings\[USERPROFILE]\Local Settings\Application Data\Apple Computer\iTunes\iTunesPrefs.xml

Using Active setup for the application having Dependency

If the application require {1234....} to repair after {989A44...} the solutions is to place the ">" character before the [ProductCode].


For Example:

If you had App A (with product code {448E2D77-E504-4221-B2C2-93646B344729}) that has an advertised shortcut, and App B (with product code {22d6f312-b0f6-11d0-94ab-0080c74c7e95}) had no advertised shortcut but had a launch condition for app A.
The solution would be to place two Active Setups in app B (1 for app A and 1 for app B). Then, to make app B repair second, use the ">" character for app B as shown below.

MSI Validation using Darice.cub

MSI Validation runs tests on the MSI package. These tests are called Internal Consistency Evaluators (ICE). They can find bad conditions, duplicate file targets, invalid records, per user issues and so on...


Tools required for validating MSI will be available after installing "Windows Installer 4.5 SDK".

Hence we will first install “msi45sdk.msi” (Windows Installer 4.5 SDK).

Windows Installer 4.5 SDK will be installed under "C:\Program Files\"

In "Windows Installer 4.5 SDK" folder we can see "TOOLS" folder.

We can see many tools in this folder like orca, msidb, msival2, etc.

MsiVal2.msi extracts MsiVal2.exe and some .cub files when installed. MsiVal2.exe is a command line tool that will run the validation test for us.

Now Install "MsiVal2.msi".

After completing the installation of Msival2.msi, we get an "MsiVal2" folder under "C:\Program Files\". The CUB files in this folder have the actual ICEs to execute. Darice.cub contains all of the MSI ICE's and equates to Full MSI Validation Suite.

For validating an MSI, copy that msi and source folders associated with it (if any) to the location where MsiVal2.exe is installed (i.e., C:\Program Files\MsiVal2\).

Run MSI Validation from the command line:

MsiVal2.exe <.cub file> /l "Output file" /f

Example:

MsiVal2.exe "C:\Program Files\MsiVal2\BankID_Security.msi" "darice.cub” /l “C:\New Folder\Validation.log” /f

We can create a cmd file (New Test Document.cmd) to run MSI Validation from the command line.

After executing this file we will get Info, Warnings and Errors in the "validation.log" file.
MSI Validation typically contains 3 levels of output (Info, Warnings, and Errors) which will be shown in the "validation.log".

Nice player application

When we install Nice player, even in silent mode, it pops up a dialog box as shown below


1. Disable the below Custom actions (from MSI Script ->Execute Deferred).
*Call DLL From Installation Function ManagedInstall__23509C46_6243_4AF3_B176_0BB38DA2434E.uninstall

*Call DLL From Installation Function _F25E8ED6_E9FD_4130_8CA2_927358A81E52.install.

2.Now, if you install the application, you get the following dialog box

3. To suppress this, add "InstallClasses9_10_5_01.InstallState" to [ProgramFilesFolder] NICE Systems\Nice Player Release 3

(Get the file ”InstallClasses9_10_5_01.InstallState” from "[ProgramFilesFolder] NICE Systems\Nice Player Release 3\" by installing the given media)

4. Add folder "Help" (Help\) to [ProgramFilesFolder] Nice Systems\Nice Player Release 3\
Get the "Help" folder by installing the media.

(As the "Help" function will not work due to disabling of Custom action, it needs to be added)

VMWare 3.0.1 build-227600
Virtual Machine : VMware
Apps Repackaging : VMware 3.0.1 Build - 227600
Issue : VMWare will not install on VMWare virtual machine
Soln : If we install VMWare Silently it will install

1. Extract the Souce file from VMware-player-3.0.1-227600.exe using command
Msiexec /e
2. Taking base MSI as “vmware player.msi” create the transform Using ORCA
3. Apply properties
DESKTOP_SHORTCUT=0
QUICKLAUNCH_SHORTCUT=0
ALLUSERS=1
AgreeToLicense=Yes
ROOTDRIVE=C:\
REBOOT= ReallySuppress

4. Using Install Shield Edit MST to add files “preferences.ini” and Script “Copy_Pref_Users.vbs” to copy files to install directory folder
'....................Copy_Pref_Users.vbs........................................
'On Error Resume next
'Option Explicit
dim path,prog
Set ObjShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
set objFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")

path = ObjShell.ExpandEnvironmentStrings("%APPDATA%") & ("\VMware\")

If Not objfso.FolderExists (path) Then

objFSO.CreateFolder(path)

End if

prog = objshell.ExpandEnvironmentStrings("%ProgramFiles%")

objFSO.CopyFile prog & "\VMware\VMware Player\preferences.ini", path
'....................Copy_Pref_Users.vbs.............................................


5. Add Active setup to apply setting to all profiles

How to create nested installation?

A nested installation is a type of Custom Action that installs or removes another .msi package (sometimes called the child MSI) from within a running installation (called the parent MSI).


Properties of Nested Installs:

• Nested installations do not display a user interface.
• A child product generally does not appear in the user's Add/Remove Programs panel, and is not automatically uninstalled when the parent product is uninstalled.

Creating a Nested Installation:

Below are the steps for adding custom action that installs the child msi within the parent msi:

• Goto MSI Script View->Execute Immediate.
• Under CostFinalize sequence add a custom action that installs the msi from installation. Browse the msi that needs to be installated with the current installation.

Below are the steps for adding custom action that uninstalls the child msi within the parent msi:

• Under InstallInitialize sequence add a custom action that installs the msi from destination. Enter the product code of the child msi.

Save and compile the Parent msi.

Media Options for Nested Installations:

• The child installation must not be compressed inside a Setup.exe installation launcher.

•If the child installation's files are not compressed inside the child .msi database, we must manually copy the child installation's files to the SourceDir folder of the parent installation.

Packaging Adobe Reader 9.0 using Adobe Customization tool

1. Install AdbeRdr90_en_US.exe. This will extract msi file under "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 9.0\Setup Files\". The transform file to this msi should be created using ACT(Adobe Customization Tool).

2. Go to File ----> Open Package and open the extracted msi file

3. Go to Transform --> Generate Transform. and name it.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   

The below modifications are made to the transforms:
 

•  Goto EULA and Document Status.

*Suppress Display of EULA.

• Goto Online and Acrobat.com features and make changes as per the below screenshot.

• Go to Direct Editor. In the tables column go to property table. Add REBOOT property. (REBOOT=ReallySuppress)

•  In the registry table, add the below registry to disable "Acrobat Javascript".

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\9.0\JSPrefs]

• For clean uninstallation, custom actions can be added directly in the Custom action table and install execute sequence table.

•  After making all the changes save the file.

Packaging MS Office Professional Plus 2007 using OCT

1. Enter the below command line to open OCT(Office Customization Tool)

SETUP.exe /admin

2. In the Select Product screen, select the option "Create a new setup customization file for the following product".

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3. After the launch of the tool, goto Setup->Install Location and Organization name and make the needed changes.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4. Goto Setup->Licensing and user interface and enter the below details.

*Product key
*Check box to accept license agreement
*Display Level-->Basic and checked “No cancel”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5. Goto Features->Modify user settings-->Microsoft office 2007 system->Privacy->Trust Center

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Disable both the settings by double clikcing on it.
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

6. Goto Additional content->Add Registry entries
Add the below registry to disable updates

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Common\Internet]

"UpdateSpotlight"=dword:00000002
and the below registry to disable privacy options(which pops-up at the first launch the application).

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Common\General]
"ShownOptIn"=dword:00000001

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
7. Save this file in Updates Folder. During the installation, the setup finds and applies the MSP file which is in the Updates folder .

Disable updates in MindManager application

MindManager application has updates option listed under the "Product" section of the "Tools" menu.


The below registry setting will disable this option from MindManager application.

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Mindjet\MindManager\[Version]\Settings]

"AllowUpdateCheck"=dword:00000000

Disable automatic updates in Flash Player and Shockwave Player

Flash Player:


Modify the property:

ISCHECKFORPRODUCTUPDATES = 0

Add the file,

[System Folder] Macromed \ Flash \ mms.cfg


The file contents:

AutoUpdateDisable = 1

And saved with the UTF-8 encoding


Shockwave Player:

Modify the registry hive,

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Adobe\Shockwave 11\AutoUpdate

y ->n

Test:

We can use the below URL for testing auto-updates:


http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/welcome/

Open the URL and right click on the animation screen of Adobe Shockwave player and select Properties.

Check if the "Automatic Updates Service" is disabled.

Disable splash screen and Automatic Updates in Apple QuickTime Player

To disable splash screen (content guide), launch the shortcut and go to Edit Menu. Under “Preferences” option, choose “Player Preferences” and uncheck “Show Content Guide at startup” in the General tab.

The setting corresponding to this action will be stored in “QTPlayerSession.xml” file under “%USERPROFILE%\Application Data\Apple Computer\QuickTime\”. Copy this file and add to the same location in the package.

To disable AutoUpdates, launch the shortcut and go to Edit Menu. Under “Preferences” option, choose “QuickTime Preferences” and uncheck “Check for updates automatically” in the Update tab.

The setting corresponding to this action will be stored in “QuickTime.qtp” file under “%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data\Apple Computer\QuickTime\”. Copy this file and add to the same location in the package.

Packaging .Net Framework 3.5 SP1

For the .Net Framework 3.5 SP1 application, the files get extracted to "C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v3.5", after installing the downloaded executable file. Out of those extracted files, we need to copy "vs_setup.msi" file and "vs_setup.cab" file which is the source for creating the package.


Create the application transform using this MSI file and add a property "ADDEPLOY" with value "1" and run it.

Disabling Automatic Updates in Sun JRE application

To Disable AutoUpdates in JRE Application, we need to add the below custom actions and have to place it under Execute Immediate sequence.

These custom actions will run from destination and will add the below registry keys during the time of installation.

reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Javasoft\Java Update\Policy" /v EnableJavaUpdate /t reg_dword /d 0 /f

reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Javasoft\Java Update\Policy" /v NotifyDownload /t reg_dword /d 0 /f

reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Javasoft\Java Update\Policy" /v NotifyInstall /t reg_dword /d 0 /f

reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Javasoft\Java Update\Policy" /v EnableUpdateCheck /t reg_dword /d 0 /f


Also, change the value of the below properties to "0".

JU=0

AUTOUPDATECHECK=0

JAVAUPDATE=0

SYSTEMTRAY=0