Files not copied to the target folder on Windows 2008 R2 DE

[adi]

Hello,

I have noticed that on the Windows 2008 R2 DE system, when the user chooses the "Program Files" (not "Program Files (x86)") as the target folder for the installation (in the 32-bit compatibility mode installer), the files are not copied correctly during the installation. And the installer claims that the installation was successful... What is more - when you use the localized version of the "Program Files" folder, everything is fine.

I am pasting the results of my tests with the screenshots and the detailed description.

The test environment:
1. Windows 2008 R2 DE (fresh installation)
2. "Creating IIS Websites and Virtual Folders" sample project, without any modifications.
3. The initial folder structure as in the screenshot below:

Initial configuration

01 - initial configuration.png (59.28 KiB) Viewed 11039 times

The test
1. Start the installer
2. Go to the "destination" dialog
3. On the destination dialog the target folder proposal is set to "C:\Program Files (x86)\Creating IIS Websites and Virtual Folder". This should be correct (despite the fact, that it's the DE system and the 'Program Files' should be displayed as 'Programme'). The installer is running in the 32-bit compatibility mode, that's why the (x86).
4. Change the proposed target folder to "C:\Program Files\test". I know that the 'Program Files' (without x86) is not a standard path for 32-bit applications, but this is exactly what our customers are doing. Please note that in the "Browse for Folder" modal windows the folder name is "Programme", but after clicking on "OK" it is changed to "Program Files" in the "destination" dialog.

Changing the target folder

02 - changing the target folder.png (59 KiB) Viewed 11039 times

5. Proceed with the installation
6. The results:
- The "C:\Program Files\test" folder was created, but it is empty
- The files were installed to the "C:\Program Files (x86)\test" instead...

Files missing

03 - test folder created but files missing.png (32.53 KiB) Viewed 11039 times

I consider this as a bug. If the redirection was done, why wasn't I (as a user) warned about it? And why wasn't the path corrected in the "destination" dialog?
Second - it doesn't look good when on one dialog you see "Program Files", and on the other "Programme" at the same time.


But now comes the most interesting part - it works correctly when you use the localized folder names (continuation in the next post because of the attachments limit).

[adi]

4. Change the proposed target folder to "C:\Programme\test"

Using the localized 'Program File' name

04 - using the localized program files name.png (21.86 KiB) Viewed 11038 times

5. Proceed with the installation
6. The results: files copied where they should be:

Files copied

05 - files copied properly.png (57.5 KiB) Viewed 11038 times

This is odd. I have tried to find some workaround and I couldn't find anything useful.

Best regards,
Adam

[adi]

Hello,

Could someone please confirm that this is a standard behavior or a bug?
Shall I report it somewhere else?

Best regards,
adi

[mills]

While in 32-bit mode installing on a 64-bit OS, the installation should end up in "Program Files (x86)" regardless of pointing to it to "Program Files".

So, you might have found a couple of bugs:

1. A folder is being created in C:\Program Files\, but is installing to C:\Program Files (x86)\
2. The program vs. programme presentation.
3. It actually sounds like a bug since you were able to get a 32-bit app to install to C:\Program Files\ (technically, you shouln't be able to)

I was able to reproduce the first with a normal, English environment. That empty folder probably shouldn't be created.

In the second, I hope I can reproduce that if I can set up Win 2008 with a German language pack...

For the third, did you set it up so that the installer ran in German only? Or did you have the language selection at the start?

[adi]

Hello,

The setup package was produced on the EN machine. The package itself doesn't have any language selection and is the default sample opened in IA, without any changes.

Best regards,
adi

[mills]

Could you then clarify what you mean by:

But now comes the most interesting part - it works correctly when you use the localized folder names (continuation in the next post because of the attachments limit)

[adi]

Hello,

What I meant was that it works when you use "Programme" and not "Program Files" in the path. In such cases the application is installed to the "Program Files" folder, and not redirected to the "Program Files (x86).

By localized folder names I mean the names displayed/managed by the operating system ("Programme"). It has nothing to do with the IA localization process.
Please let me know if you need some more information/clarification.

Best regards,
adi

[mills]

While your setup is in 32-bit mode, you should not be able to install to the 64-bit space (C:\Program Files\...) on a 64-bit OS.

The 32-bit install should install to C:\Program Files (x86)\...

I have submit 2 bugs; one for the fact that the folders are appearing in English in the destination text box on a German OS and another for the fact that the folder is being created at C:\Program Files\... while the actual install goes to C:\Program Files (x86)\...

[adi]

Hello,

Thank you for reporting the bugs. How about the third one? I mean that you are still able to install to the "Program Files" folder if you type the localized folder name by hand (c:\Programme\)

Best regards,
adi

[mills]

Check this out! Folder duplication:

german_folders.jpg (109.46 KiB) Viewed 11000 times

But, that's not what you reported.

In this case, I was testing on Vista with German Language Pack applied.

In your case, are you working on a "pure" German OS? Meaning, everything including the installer is in German by default?

[adi]

Hello,

It looks like you have discovered a really nice "feature"
I was working on a pure Windows 2008 R2 DE. The installer was compiled on a different machine and contains only the default (English) language.

In my case there is no folder duplication. The files are installed to the "real" Programme folder which is only for 64-bit applications. You can see that in the attached screenshot.

Best regards,
adi

[mills]

OK. I'm going to have to revisit this. I'm going to make a matrix of trials and results for English, English with German Language Pack and German, since it looks like the results are differing in all 3 cases. I'll need you to fill in or verify the pure German results.

[mills]

Below is my report. Please verify the accuracy of the two items you reported (at the bottom):

GermanPathTrials.jpg (252.08 KiB) Viewed 10977 times

[adi]

Hello,

I confirm the results on Windows 2008 R2 DE.

Best regards,
adi