Silent Installs

[bbadmin]

Note:Assumes knowledge of Windows Command Prompt commands and environment variables.

How to make a silent installer for TextPad.

First, extract the MSI file from the downloaded ZIP file as follows:

1. Start Command Prompt or PowerShell as Administrator.
2. Extract SETUP.EXE from the ZIP file using Explorer.
3. setup.exe /s /x /b"C:\FolderInWhichMSIWillBeExtracted" /v"/qn"

Then, MSIEXEC can then be used to install TextPad with that MSI file. Its command-line options are documented here:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library ... 85%29.aspx

For example, to specify the installation folder in silent mode:

Code: Select all

msiexec /quiet /i c:\path\to\textpad.msi /l*v "log.txt"

The MSI file can also be edited to create any registry keys and install the license key file:

How to silently install TextPad with a multi-user license

Other variants can be made using a tool such as Orca:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/window ... i/orca-exe

To create the license key file the first time, run the downloaded setup program normally, and follow the instructions in the email you receive after purchasing TextPad. Afterwards, look for TextPadPKE.xml in the following folders, in this order:

1. %PROGRAMDATA%\Helios\TextPad
2. %APPDATA%\Helios\TextPad

This article explains how to use Orca to add an external file, such as TextPadPKE.xml, to an MSI:

https://www.advancedinstaller.com/edit- ... ative.html

Last edited on 2023/08/24 to change the above URL.

[haeb]

Hi All,
should this still work?

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msiexec /quiet /i c:\path\to\textpad.msi TARGETDIR=C:\UserApps\TextPad

If I try to do a silent installation on Windows 11 I receive a "Windows Installer" window which tells me the correct use of msiexec.

I thought this is the correct use.

Horst

[bbadmin]

If you run it without the "/quiet" parameter, it should explain why it's not working.

[haeb]

If i remove the /quiet paramter it also shows me the "Windows Installer" window. No explanation..

[bbadmin]

Sorry, but I've got to ask if the path to and TARGETDIR are valid?

Also, note that a new release is available to download.

[haeb]

Yes all path and the file is in place.

Screenshot 2024-09-05 182210.png (107.92 KiB) Viewed 6741 times

If it works i will use the update

[bbadmin]

Does the TARGETDIR exist?

MSI isn't specific to TextPad, so if it still doesn't work for you, try googling the error.

[haeb]

If you have a look at the hardcopy you will see the target exists.

I have tried to google with no success.

My intitial question was: does texpad silent install still work on win 11? Could you test it please?

[bbadmin]

Is TextPad already installed? If so, uninstall it before running msiexec.exe.

You can create a log of msiexec's actions as follows:

Code: Select all

msiexec /quiet /i "TextPad 8.19.msi" /lewiv "log.txt"

I couldn't get it to work with the TARGETDIR parameter in PowerShell, but it did work with Command Prompt. This made me check the valid command line parameters and TARGETDIR is not one of them! In Command Prompt, it is ignored, but PowerShell must validate the parameters.

I hope that helps.

[2024-09-06: Edited to correct use of TARGETDIR.]

[haeb]

Thanks for testing it. Command Prompt worked!