Install shield cannot replace locked file

Question

I use install shield to update application.

I have ws2003 server, multiple users can access at the same time.

When other users run my application I can run upgrade process, Install shield recognize that files are locked and creates temporary version of new files (these are app.configs, automatically generated during installation) in application directory. It should replace these files after computer restart, however when I run computer again temporary files disappear and new version of files are empty, so my application crash.

It is strange because sometime ago I tried this mechanism in other application but there I replaced simple dll file and it worked.

What can I do to overcome this issue ?

Answer 1

A very simple solution is to use two executable (or a batch file and an executable). The first exe/batch looks for new versions of the files and renames them and then starts the real exe.