Windows Installer 4.5 Released

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The Microsoft Windows Installer (MSI) is the application installation and configuration service for Windows. Version 4.5 of the Windows Installer has several new features, including:

Multiple Package Transaction: In a multiple package transaction, you can create a single transaction from multiple packages. In a multiple package transaction, a chainer is used to dynamically include packages in the transaction. If any of the packages do not install as expected, you can roll back the installation.
Embedded UI Handler: You can embed a custom user interface (UI) handler in the Windows Installer package. This makes a custom UI easier to integrate. You can also invoke an embedded UI handler from the Add or Remove item in Control Panel. Or, you can invoke an embedded UI handler during a Windows Installer repair process.
Embedded Chainer: You can use the embedded chainer to add packages to a multiple package transaction. You can use an embedded chainer to enable installation events across multiple packages. For example, you can enable the install-on-demand events, the repair events, and the uninstall events across multiple packages.
Update Supersedence Resiliency: This feature enables you to correct for changes in the FeatureComponent table during supersedence.
Shared Component Patching Resiliency During Uninstall: This feature makes sure that the most recent version of a component is available to all the products.
Custom Action Execution On Update Uninstall: This feature enables an update to add or change a custom action so that the custom action is called when an update is uninstalled.

Download: Windows Installer 4.5 | Free, size varies

#1 Faisal Islam on 03 Jun 2008 - 13:21

another good step for Windows related installing system

(1 reply) #2 Raa on 03 Jun 2008 - 13:31

And yet it still wont work in safe mode (where it's needed the most, tbh)

Bah!

#2.1 Sam on 03 Jun 2008 - 15:40

It will if you enable the windows installer service

#3 funciona on 03 Jun 2008 - 15:18

A needed feature: Execute and install various .MSI at the same time.

(1 reply) #4 GP007 on 03 Jun 2008 - 16:24

I guess I missed it but when did they jump from 3.5 to 4.5? Was there a 4.0?

#4.1 Erythraeum on 03 Jun 2008 - 16:56

4.0 was integrated on Vista

#5 TheVestel on 03 Jun 2008 - 17:32

Great news cooldude7273! Thank you!

One month ago I downloaded Windows Installer 3.1... I didn't even know there was already a fourth version!

#6 +bmdixon on 03 Jun 2008 - 19:08

Is it worth installing this or should we wait till something actually needs 4.5?

#7 soldier1st on 03 Jun 2008 - 20:08

i would install it reguardless if something needs it or not.also i though the windows installer 4xxx was not going to be availible on xp but it seems ms decided to allow it.

#8 night_stalker_z on 03 Jun 2008 - 21:21

Would be nice if all software developers used it but most use other installers.

#9 illz55 on 04 Jun 2008 - 01:18

This is probably the best installer of them all. Let's hope more and more developers adapt this in the future, near and far.

#10 BABYGIORGIO1 on 04 Jun 2008 - 04:00

this update disables the uxtheme patch completely even if you try to overwrite the files manually. anyone else have this issue?

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