Technical Notes

Reflection Support for Microsoft Windows Installer Version 3.x
Technical Note 1851
Last Reviewed 31-May-2006
Applies To
All Reflection Windows-Based Products version 13.0 through 14.x
Reflection for Secure IT Windows Client version 6.0 or higher
Microsoft Windows Installer version 3.x
Summary

Reflection products now support Microsoft Windows Installer (MSI) version 3.0 and higher. This support enables Attachmate to create more efficient patches and enables users to manage their patched applications.

Updating to Windows Installer 3.0

Starting in Reflection 13.0, Reflection contains Microsoft Windows Installer 3.0. When you install Reflection 13.0 from the product CD (or the downloaded product files), you will be prompted to update Windows Installer on supported operating systems.

The update is an optional update; the default option is Skip.

If you choose to Update the Windows Installer

Attachmate recommends updating your version of Windows Installer to take full advantage of Windows Installer 3.0 features. The primary advantage is the ability to remove patches that are applied after Windows Installer is updated to version 3.x.

Note: If you have any issues after updating, the Windows Installer 3.0 update can be uninstalled from Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel.

If you choose to Skip

If you choose to Skip the Windows Installer update, Reflection will still install and operate correctly, and can it be patched as needed.

The disadvantage: you will not have the option to remove patches without uninstalling Reflection. You can remove Reflection patches only when Windows Installer version 3.0 is installed before installing a Reflection patch.

You can, however, update the Windows Installer at a later time.

To update to Windows Installer 3.0 after installing Reflection

1. Browse to the \Reflection\MSI\MSI3 folder.
2. Run InstMsiW.exe.

For more information about Windows Installer 3.0 and where to download the latest version, see Microsoft knowledge base article 884016:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;884016

Administrative Installations

If Reflection is installed from an administrative installation, Reflection does not automatically update the Windows Installer as it does from either the CD or the downloaded product files.

You can deploy the Windows Installer 3.x update as you see fit for your enterprise while installing Reflection or separately from Reflection.

To use Reflection to update the Windows Installer

Reflection can automatically update the Windows Installer from an administrative installation, as it does from the CD.

To use Reflection to perform the upgrade:

1. Copy the MSI folder and subfolders from the Reflection product CD or downloaded product files to the root of the Reflection Administrative installation.
2. Proceed with the deployment.

To install the Windows Installer update separately from Reflection

If Reflection is installed from an administrative installation, you can prepare for the Windows Installer deployment as follows:

1. On the Reflection product CD, open the \Reflection\MSI\MSI3 folder.
2. Copy InstMsiW.exe from the MSI3 folder to a shared location.

• See the Microsoft knowledge base article 884016 (linked above).
• Run MSIEXEC /I from the Run command line on a system where Windows Installer 3.0 is installed.

Uninstalling a Reflection Patch

If MSI service version 3.0 was installed on the machine prior to installing a Reflection patch (Reflection 12.0.2 or higher, or Reflection for Secure IT Windows client 6.0.1 or higher), you can follow the steps in Technical Note 1871 to uninstall the patch.

Related Technical Notes

1849	Features Introduced in Reflection 13.0
1871	Uninstalling a Reflection Service Pack or Patch