Microsoft Releases Windows Installer 2.0

Christopher Rice

          I have
heard a lot of vague complaints about the Windows Installer and MSI standards
that Microsoft has been putting on the market.  Personally, with a few
minor glitches, I like the technology.  When it is used right, it can be
valuable.  Self healing and managed software should be the solution for
thousands of help desk calls.

I have heard a lot of vague complaints about the Windows Installer and MSI standards that Microsoft has been putting on the market. Personally, with a few minor glitches, I like the technology. When it is used right, it can be valuable. Self healing and managed software should be the solution for thousands of help desk calls.

          Well, to
address some of the problems that were leading to much of the bad mouthing of
Windows Installer, Microsoft has released version 2.0, which is going to be packaged
with Windows XP.

         
Personally, I think that most of the bad mouthing from the industry is coming
from a general bashing of all things Microsoft and a lack of understanding of
the technology.  But, it is true; there were some drawbacks.

          For more
information, check out the following link:

http://www.microsoft.com/msdownload/platformsdk/sdkupdate/

          For
direct downloads, see the following links:

WinNT/Win2K:

http://download.microsoft.com/download/whistler/Install/2.0/NT45/EN-US/InstMsi.exe

Win9x:

http://download.microsoft.com/download/whistler/Install/2.0/W9XMe/EN-US/InstMsi.exe

          If you do
download and run through testing, please provide feedback, both positive and
negative.