How can I create a Visual Studio Setup Project MSI that can be installed unattended via AD Group Policy?

Question

if i want to install a MSI, created by Visual Studio 2005, via Active Directory Group Policy:

What requirements must be met by the Setup Project? How can I specify the installation path? Is this a part of the Group Policy setting? Or do I have to create a special "silent install" version of the MSI?

Thanks!

Answer 1

I found out that it is possible to specify the installation path with a custom property called "TARGETDIR". The unattended installation can be tested with:

setup.msi /passive TARGETDIR="C:\whatever"

Answer 2

There is a command MSIExec that installs MSI installers automatically. This command is what you would use with the Policy. Any MSI should be compatible with it.

You have a number of options for building installers going with Microsofts default setup projects or something more verbose like Wix.