Software Deployment

What I'm about to say may be obvious, but it's the only thing that springs to mind.

The HKCU keys can only be written when the user is logged on.

When you run the install from the command line you are logged on?

When it runs using group policy, the user might not be logged on?

The HKCU keys should be written when the user first invokes an advertised entry point (shortcut, association, etc) assuming you have one in your install.

If these registry keys aren't being written when the user runs the shortcut, one of the following might be the problem.

1) Shortcut is not an advertised shortcut
2) The components containing the HKCU keys is not part of the feature that is being used (or a parent feature).
3) The components containing the HKCU keys may have invalid keypaths (possibly non-registry), or keypaths that already exist.

ok i still cant get it to work

the component is CST_FEATURE and advertise is set to "favor advertise".

in the properties addlocal is set to "All"

so this would mean install all the features??
but it still isnt working???? any ideas?

nothing comes up when the user logs on.....

I had the same problem when deploying 6.0 via GPO. Eventually I had to move it to a user based install.

I've since found a handy little reg key that will execute and repair your installer whenever a new user logs on. I haven't tried it in a GPO senario but it definately works when installing Reader 7.0 by using msiexec /i

Add the following string values (assuming this is your product code):

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{AC76BA86-7AD7-1033-7B44-A70000000000}\StubPath Value=msiexec /fup

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{AC76BA86-7AD7-1033-7B44-A70000000000}\Version Value=7.0

Ok i tried the reg keys and it doesnt seem to work.....

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{AC76BA86-7AD7-1033-7B44-A70000000000}\StubPath
value=msiexec /fup {AC76BA86-7AD7-1033-7B44-A70000000000}

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{AC76BA86-7AD7-1033-7B44-A70000000000}\Version
Value=7.0

it doesnt work, however if i type msiexec /fup {AC76BA86-7AD7-1033-7B44-A70000000000} in start >>run it works


so it stil not geting executed for some reason, any ideas?

recreate the policy and make sure you add the MST to the modifications tab (in the advanced menu) before clicking OK. After that it is not possible to add MST files.

Ok it seems to be working now, the issue was that it had applied some HKCU settings already wif me trying stuff out, dats y it didnt do a repair at logon. It worked when i used another account


thanks for all your help