> -----Original Message----- > From: Don Walker [mailto:don.wal...@versaterm.com] > Sent: Tuesday, June 12, 2012 15:56 > To: wix-users@lists.sourceforge.net > Subject: [WiX-users] Windows Installer 3.1 or 4.5 for XP? > > I'm likely to be supporting installs on Windows XP until past the MS end of > support date. Most of our customers running XP most likely have Windows > Installer 3.1 installed. As far as I can tell, upgrading to Windows Installer 4.5 > will force a reboot. Should I require Windows 4.5 anyway?
What does 4.5 offer that you need, which 3.1 does not? If there are no features in the newer version that you need, then why force your customers to needlessly reboot? Version 3.1 is included with Windows XP SP3, which we require anyway as a prerequisite. As long as they have XP SP3, no reboot is necessary. Since we don't need anything in 4.5, we don't require it. > I have two concerns about what will happened if I don't upgrade: > > 1. I'll use some new property or feature that is not supported by Windows > Installer 3.1. I discovered after the fact that I had done this when I made use > of MsiLogFileLocation and MsiLogging in a custom action before noticing that > they weren't supported. The features supported seem to be well- > documented at http://msdn.microsoft.com/en- > us/library/aa816408%28v=vs.85%29 so as long as I am careful shouldn't be a > big issue. Isn't that what the InstallerVersion attribute of the Package element is for? We use it and haven't had any problems. Of course, as a general rule, I tend to carefully read all documentation about any WiX elements and attributes before using them. That includes both the WiX documentation and the backing Windows Installer documentation on MSDN as well. As you might imagine, I've never accidentally found myself using something that wasn't supported, anyway. (Not carefully reading all documentation equates to sloppy programming that is asking for trouble, in my book.) > > 2. I am more concerned that I will end up using some new property or > feature that is not supported by Windows Installer 3.1 indirectly through the > use of a WiX feature. Some of the WiX features are quite clearly linked to > one or more Windows Installer features and can be checked. I'm not really > clear if there are a significant number of undocumented dependencies on > Windows Installer versions. > > Upgrading to Windows Installer 4.5 for XP (and Vista) looks like the safest > approach. Comments/opinions would be appreciated. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Live Security Virtual Conference Exclusive live event will cover all the ways today's security and threat landscape has changed and how IT managers can respond. Discussions will include endpoint security, mobile security and the latest in malware threats. http://www.accelacomm.com/jaw/sfrnl04242012/114/50122263/ _______________________________________________ WiX-users mailing list WiX-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wix-users
