AppV 5.0 - Change in Variables

Addressing system locations using CSIDL format has changed in App 5.0. Microsoft made it simpler and similar to Installshield/Wise variables.

AppV 5.0 - No WinXP Support

Microsoft has removed WinXP as TargetOS in AppV 5, hence if AppV support for XP has to be there in any organization environment, they have to stick to AppV version 4.6SP1


Screenshot of TargetOSes in AppV 5

InstallAnyWhere response file generation Commands

To generate response file and perform installation/uninstallation for InstallAnyWhere setups, use following commands:


For creation of Response File: Setup.exe -r C:\FolderName\FileName.properties

Silent Installation using Response file

Installation Command using response file: Setup.exe -i silent -f FileName.Properties

Silent Uninstallation using response file

.Properties file can be found in the same location where uninstallation EXE is present, which can be used for silent uninstallation as follows:


C:\Program Files\AppName\UninstallFolder\Uninstall.exe -i silent -f UninstallFileName.Properties

InstallAnyWhere Silent installation Commands

To install/uninstall installanywhere setup with default options, use following silent switches:


For Installation: Setup.exe -i silent
For Uninstallation: C:\Program Files\AppName\UninstallFolder\Uninstall.exe -i silent

Get MSI property value using VBScript

Following script displays the INSTALLDIR property value present inside MSI



Dim objWshShell, str
set objWshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
str = Session.Property("INSTALLDIR")
MsgBox(str)
set objWshShell = nothing

MSI Property Precedence

The installer sets properties using the following order of precedence. A property value in this list can override a value that comes after it and be overridden by a value coming before it in the list. 


1. Properties specified by the operating environment. 


2. Public properties set on the command line. 


3. Public properties listed by the AdminProperties property set during an administrative installation. 


4. Public or private properties set during the application of a transform. 


5. Public or private property that set by authoring the Property table of the .MSI file.

Differences between WindowsXP and Windows7

WindowsXP: User profiles are stored in C:\Documents and Settings
Windows7: User profiles are stored in C:\Users


WindowsXP: All Users Profile is stored in C:\Documents and Settings\All Users location
Windows7: All Users profile is stored in C:\ProgramData location


WindowsXP: User Account Control is absent
Windows7: User Account Control is present to avoid unwanted changes to System locations


WindowsXP: No Session Zero isolation
Windows7: Session Zero isolation present. Please refer to following URL for more information on Session Zero isolation
http://windowsteamblog.com/windows/b/developers/archive/2009/10/01/session-0-isolation.aspx