Repair a package using the command line

Updated: January 21, 2005

To repair a package using the command line

1. 2. Open Command Prompt. Type: msiexec/f[p][o][e][d][c][a][u][m][s][v] {package | ProductCode}

Value
/fp /fo /fe /fd /fc /fa /fu /fm /fs /fv package Notes

Description
Reinstalls only if the file is missing. Reinstalls if the file is missing or if an older version is installed. Reinstalls if the file is missing or an equal or older version is installed. Reinstalls if the file is missing or a different version is installed. Reinstalls if the file is missing or the stored checksum does not match the calculated value. Forces all of the files to be reinstalled. Rewrites all of the required user-specific registry entries. Rewrites all of the required computer-specific registry entries. Overwrites all of the existing shortcuts. Runs from source and recaches the local package. Specifies the name of the Windows Installer package file.

ProductCodeSpecifies the globally unique identifier (GUID) of the Windows Installer package. To open a command prompt, click Start, point to All programs, point to Accessories, and then click Command prompt. The default parameter for this command-line option is /fpecms. Windows Installer command-line options are not case-sensitive. For more information about msiexec command-line options, see Related Topics.

Use Windows Installer packages with the Add or Remove Programs utility
Updated: January 21, 2005

To use Windows Installer packages with Add or Remove Programs

1. Open Add or Remove Programs in Control Panel. 2. Click Change or Remove Programs, click the program that you want to change or remove, and then do one of the following: To change a program, click Change. To remove a program, click Remove.

Note

To open Add or Remove programs, click Start, click Control Panel, and then double-click Add or Remove programs.

Install a transform using the command line

Updated: January 21, 2005

To install a transform using the command line

1. 2. Open Command Prompt. Type: msiexec /ipackageTRANSFORMS=TransformList

Value
/i package

Description
Installs a product. Specifies the name of the Windows Installer package file. TransformList is a list of paths separated by semicolons.

TRANSFORMS=TransformListSpecifies what transform (.mst) files should be applied to the package. Notes

To open a command prompt, click Start, point to All programs, point to Accessories, and then click Command prompt. Windows Installer command-line options are not case-sensitive. For more information about msiexec command-line options, see Related Topics.

Repair a package using the command line

Updated: January 21, 2005

To repair a package using the command line

1. 2. Open Command Prompt. Type: msiexec/f[p][o][e][d][c][a][u][m][s][v] {package | ProductCode}

Value
/fp /fo /fe /fd /fc /fa /fu /fm /fs /fv package Notes

Description
Reinstalls only if the file is missing. Reinstalls if the file is missing or if an older version is installed. Reinstalls if the file is missing or an equal or older version is installed. Reinstalls if the file is missing or a different version is installed. Reinstalls if the file is missing or the stored checksum does not match the calculated value. Forces all of the files to be reinstalled. Rewrites all of the required user-specific registry entries. Rewrites all of the required computer-specific registry entries. Overwrites all of the existing shortcuts. Runs from source and recaches the local package. Specifies the name of the Windows Installer package file.

ProductCodeSpecifies the globally unique identifier (GUID) of the Windows Installer package. To open a command prompt, click Start, point to All programs, point to Accessories, and then click Command prompt. The default parameter for this command-line option is /fpecms. Windows Installer command-line options are not case-sensitive. For more information about msiexec command-line options, see Related Topics.

Create an administrative installation package from the command line

Updated: January 21, 2005

To create an administrative installation package from the command line

1. 2. Open Command Prompt. Type: msiexec /apackage

Value Description
/a Notes Applies the administrative installation option. packageSpecifies the name of the Windows Installer package file. To open a command prompt, click Start, point to All programs, point to Accessories, and then click Command prompt. Windows Installer command-line options are not case-sensitive. For more information about msiexec command-line options, see Related Topics.

Configure Windows Installer Group Policy computer options

Updated: January 21, 2005

To configure Windows Installer Group Policy computer options

1. Open Group Policy. Where? 2. In the console tree, click the Windows Installer node. applicable policy name/Computer Configuration/Administrative Templates/Windows Components/Windows Installer

3.

In the details window, double-click one of the following policy settings: Disable Windows Installer Always install with elevated privileges Prohibit rollback Remove browse dialog box for new source Prohibit patching Disable IE security prompt for Windows Installer scripts Enable user control over installs Enable user to browse for source while elevated Enable user to use media source while elevated Enable user to patch elevated products Allow admin to install from Terminal Services session Cache transforms in secure location on workstation Logging Prohibit User Installs Turn off creation of System Restore Checkpoints Prohibit removal of updates Enforce upgrade components rule Prohibit non-administrators from applying vendor signed updates Baseline file cache maximum size

4.

In the Group Policy Property dialog box, set the options you want to use, and then click OK. To open Group Policy to edit the local Group Policy object, click Start, click Run, type gpedit.msc, and then press ENTER. For more information about Windows Installer Group Policy options, see Related Topics.

Notes

Msiexec (command-line options)

Updated: January 21, 2005

Msiexec
Provides the means to install, modify, and perform operations on Windows Installer from the command line. To install or configure a product To use the administrative installation option To repair a product To uninstall a product To advertise a product To set logging level To apply an update To install a transform using the command line To install and advertise a product using a transform with the command line To set the user interface level To display copyright information for the Windows Installer To call the system API DllRegisterServer to self-register modules passed on the command line To call the system API DllUnRegisterServer to unregister modules passed on the command line

To install or configure a product

Syntax msiexec/i {Package | ProductCode} Parameters /i Installs or configures a product. Package Specifies the name of the Windows Installer package file. ProductCode Specifies the globally unique identifier (GUID) of the Windows Installer package. Remarks Windows Installer command-line options are not case-sensitive.

For more information about the Windows Installer command-line options, see Related Topics.

Examples To install a product from A:\Example.msi, type: msiexec /i A:\Example.msi

To use the administrative installation option

Syntax msiexec/aPackage Parameters /a Applies the administrative installation option. Package The name of the Windows Installer package file. Remarks Windows Installer command-line options are not case-sensitive.

For more information about the Windows Installer command-line options, see Related Topics.

To repair a product
Syntax

msiexec/f [p][o][e][d][c][a][u][m][s][v]{Package | ProductCode} Parameters /f Enables one or more of the command-line options listed in the following table.

CommandDescription
p o e d c a u m s v Package Name of the Windows Installer package file. ProductCode Globally unique identifier (GUID) of the Windows Installer package. Remarks This option ignores any property values that you type at the command line. Reinstalls only if file is missing. Reinstalls if file is missing or if an older version is installed. Reinstalls if file is missing or an equal or older version is installed. Reinstalls if file is missing or a different version is installed. Reinstalls if file is missing or the stored checksum does not match the calculated value. Forces all files to be reinstalled. Rewrite all required user-specific registry entries. Rewrites all required computer-specific registry entries. Overwrites all existing shortcuts. Runs from source and re-caches the local package.

The default parameter for this command-line option is /fpecms. Windows Installer command-line options are not case-sensitive. For more information about the Windows Installer command-line options, see Related Topics.

Examples To repair the installation package, type: msiexec /fpecms Example.msi

To uninstall a product
Syntax msiexec/x {Package | ProductCode} Parameters /x uninstalls a product. Package Name of the Windows Installer package file. ProductCode Globally unique identifier (GUID) of the Windows Installer package. Remarks Windows Installer command-line options are not case-sensitive. For more information about the Windows Installer command-line options, see Related Topics.

Examples To remove or uninstall a package, type: msiexec /x Example.msi

To advertise a product
Syntax msiexec/j [{u | m}] Package msiexec {u | m} Package /t TransformList

msiexec {u | m} Package /g LanguageID Parameters /j Advertises a product. u Advertises to the current user. m Advertises to all users of the computer. Package Specifies the Windows Installer package file. /g LanguageID Identifies the language. /t TransformList Applies transform to advertised package. Remarks This option ignores any property values that you type at the command line. If you want to install the application with elevated privileges, use /jm. Windows Installer command-line options are not case-sensitive. For more information about the Windows Installer command-line options, see Related Topics.

Examples To advertise a package to all users of this computer, type: msiexec /jm Example.msi

To set logging level

Syntax msiexec/L [i][w][e][a][r][u][c][m][p][v][+][!]LogFile.txt Parameters /L Specifies the path to the log file. i Logs status messages. w Logs nonfatal warnings. e Logs all error messages. a Logs startup of actions. r Logs action-specific records. u Logs user requests. c Logs initial user interface parameters. m Logs out-of-memory. p Logs terminal properties. v Logs verbose output. To use v, specify /L*v.

+ Appends to existing file. ! Flushes each line to the log. * Logs all information except for the v option. This is a wildcard. LogFile .txt Name and path of the text log file. Remarks Windows Installer command-line options are not case-sensitive.

To include the v option in a log file using the wildcard flag, type /L*v at the command prompt. The Windows Installer log file options can also be used with the uninstall and repair processes. For more information about the Windows Installer command-line options, see Related Topics.

Examples To install a package and create a log file that contains the information related to the status, out-of-memory, and error messages, type: msiexec /i Example.msi /Lime logfile.txt

To apply an update
Syntax msiexec/pUpdatePackage Parameters /p Applies an update. UpdatePackage Specific update. Remarks To apply an update to an administrative installation package, use the following syntax:

msiexec/pUpdatePackage/aExample.msi Windows Installer command-line options are not case-sensitive. For more information about the Windows Installer command-line options, see Related Topics.

To install a transform using the command line

Syntax msiexec /iPackageTRANSFORMS=TransformList Parameters /i Installs or configures a product. Package Specifies the Windows Installer package file. TRANSFORMS= Property that is used to specify what transform (.mst) files should be applied to the package. TransformList List of paths separated by semicolons. Remarks Windows Installer command-line options are not case-sensitive.

For more information about the Windows Installer command-line options, see Related Topics.

To install and advertise a product using a transform with the command line
Syntax msiexec /iPackage/j[u][m] /tTransformList Parameters /i

Installs or configures a product. Package Name of the Windows Installer package file. /j Advertises a product. This option ignores any property values entered on the command line. u Advertises to the current user. m Advertises to all users of this computer. /t Applies transform to advertised package. TransformList List of paths separated by semicolons. Remarks Windows Installer command-line options are not case-sensitive.

For more information about the Windows Installer command-line options, see Related Topics.

To set the user interface level

Syntax msiexec/q{n | b | r | f | n+ | b+ | b-} Parameters /qn Displays no user interface. /qb Displays a basic user interface. /qr Displays a reduced user interface with a modal dialog box displayed at the end of the installation. /qf Displays the full user interface with a modal dialog box displayed at the end. /qn+ Displays no user interface, except for a modal dialog box displayed at the end. /qb+ Displays a basic user interface with a modal dialog box displayed at the end. /qbDisplays a basic user interface with no modal dialog boxes. Remarks /qb+- is not a supported user interface level. The modal box is not displayed if the user cancels the installation.

Windows Installer command-line options are not case-sensitive. For more information about the Windows Installer command-line options, see Related Topics.

Examples To display the basic user interface options during the package installation of Example.msi, type: msiexec /qb Example.msi

To display copyright information for the Windows Installer

Syntax msiexec {/? | /h} Parameters { /?| /h} Displays the Windows Installer version and copyright information. Remarks Windows Installer command-line options are not case-sensitive.

For more information about the Windows Installer command-line options, see Related Topics.

To call the system API DllRegisterServer to self-register modules passed on the command line
Syntax msiexec/yModule Parameters /y Calls the system API DllRegisterServer to self-register modules passed on the command line. Module Specifies the file name of module. Caution Incorrectly editing the registry may severely damage your system. Before making changes to the registry, you should back up any valued data on the computer.

Remarks This option is used only for registry information that cannot be added using the registry tables of the .msi file. Windows Installer command-line options are not case-sensitive. For more information about the Windows Installer command-line options, see Related Topics.

Examples The following example shows how you can use the msiexec /y command: msiexec /y my_file.dll

To call the system API DllUnRegisterServer to unregister modules passed on the command line
Syntax msiexec/zModule Parameters /z Calls the system API DllUnRegisterServer to unregister modules passed on the command line. Module File name of module. Remarks This option is used only for registry information that cannot be added using the registry tables of the .msi file.

Windows Installer command-line options are not case-sensitive. For more information about the Windows Installer command-line options, see Related Topics.

Examples The following example shows how you can use the msiexec /z command: msiexec /z my_file.dll
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Format
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Meaning
Information that the user must supply Elements that the user must type exactly as shown Parameter that can be repeated several times in a command line Optional items Set of choices from which the user must choose only one Code or program output