Install .msi from script, detect when install is done

Question

I'm trying to make an install script. I want to install an .msi file, Python, and then install other things after Python is installed. I already see how to do a command-line install. However, msiexec returns right away, even when the install is still running. How would I detect the completion of an msi install from a batch script?

Solution

Don't know how Python handles passing commands off to Windows/DOS, but using a plain batch file and the start /wait command the batch file stops and waits until the MSI is done before moving on to the next step.

For example, to install a main app, followed by a patch only when it's finished, and then a final program once that's finished, drop these lines into a .cmd file:

start /wait msiexec /i O12Conv.msi /qb
start /wait msiexec /p O12Convsp1-en-us.msp /qb
start /wait msiexec /i mpsetupedp.msi

Comments

[John Gardeniers]

Do you have any control over the msi file at all? Can you break it down modify it and repackage?

[Claudiu]

no it's not my msi file

[jscott]

+1, When using start watch for the title "bug". Paths containing a space will be interpreted as the title portion of the command line arguments. Use something like: start "" /wait msiexec /i some.msi /qb just to ensure title is set.

[GAThrawn]

@jscott Hadn't heard of that problem before, but we've always stored our installers on a specific installer share, and all folder names on that share are strictly 8.3 with no spaces, as there've been so many odd quirks with badly written installers in the past that it ended up easier to keep everything simple.