InstallAware

We're using a Splash Screen (Setup.bmp) during the setup initialize. In our case it shows up for 1-2 seconds, but we want it to be displayed for about 5-10 seconds. Is there a way to enhance the time the Splash Screen is beeing displayed? If not, is there a workaround with a custom dialog (e.g. example)?

Currently, the splash screen only displays during initialization.

You may want to add additional dialogs or support files so that your initialization lasts longer.

Otherwise, I have filed a feature request:

Display Splash screen for [n] seconds or for the duration of initialization, whichever lasts longer.

NOT displaying the splash screen at all should be another option. It only appears for about 1 second which is too distracting, and in any case unnecessary for my install. My client is complaining about how busy the install process is for MSI installs. There are up to 5 screens:

Preparing to install (Windows Installer)
UAC for the inner MSI with a random name
MSI progress bar (Windows Installer hidden by UAC, visible again)
Install Wizard (Decompression progress bar)
SplashScreen

Obviously, UAC is out of everyone's control, but the SplashScreen is inexcusable. Even IA decompression screen should be optional, since for a small install it is nearly instantaneous, just long enough to flash the screen and annoy users. There too a minimum amount would be nice.

I go to a lot of work to amalgamate initial screens in my application (auto-update screens, login, welcome screen) to avoid flashing and taskbar churn. I really wonder about the amount of UX testing in IA sometimes.