InstallAware

I need to convert a few .EXE programs over to the MSI format so that I can utilize the GPO deployment features (we were recently given a copy of Microsoft Small Business Server).

I'm VERY new to all this (My programming experience is limited to PHP, though I've started learning VB, C++, etc). I've pieced together enough information from the forums and userguide to get things rolling, but I am having some issues with Registry Keys.

I've created a Virtual Machine with VMware (the virtual machine is on the same PC running the server). I've loaded Windows XP Professional as the OS for the VM, and installed all the security patches and updates from MS, including the latest service packs. I did not run the client configuration setup on the VM, so it's not part of the network.

I copied PackageAware onto a floppy and copied it to the desktop of the VM. I then run PackageAware, install the software I want to convert, then run PackageAware again.

I'm testing this out with a game (Pocket Tanks) since it's a small program and I sort of know what changes should and shouldn't take place on the system. When PackageAware captures the installation, in captures the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE

KEY:
SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Cryptography\\RNG
VALUE:
Seed
DATA:
D7E1B909BB7C9238C88FFE38E60F41185DD85815516C20B6AE7504506E53D3C435D23F77AD2AA821DFC084A76465E5C783716DC6D4966CCD29D0C3D04193F470D047943C6B23535F04C18D60494C7952

KEY:
SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\MSDTC\\Security\\XAKey
VALUE:
af56e6cc-2791-442c-ac9e-d2a328e6beba
DATA:
Ýl#dSáÕ]\\·¦Öì* ç{îØHÏãÞýóv¾ÍJXAÃ<ôJKÃÔ¤[7·

PackageAware removes keys which it is absolutely certain are safe to ignore. There is already a very large exclusion list in PackageAware - you can try turning the exclusions off, and then seeing the changes that would get captured.

If you are sure these keys are unneeded, just delete them.

You can also try captures on Windows 2000 - a lot less garbage created there.

I tried to capture a install using PackageAware, but no files were added to the captured project.
What I did:
1. Started a clean VM in VMware (XP SP2)
2. Started PackageAware in the VM.
3. Ran the installation (created with Wise for Windows Installer) I want to capture when asked to by PackageAware.
4. After PA had finished change analysis, the generated setup project was stored directly on the host computer through VMware shared folders.
5. Opened the project on my host computer. No information from the setup seem to be recorded.

Any idea what I may have done wrong?

First, make sure you are running the latest version of InstallAware (6.06, SP3).

Next, if it still doesn't work - meaning, the project that PA contains no Install Files commands whatsoever - do go ahead and send us the problem package, so we can see if it is making PA fail in any way, and take action accordingly.