installation using msi.exec open help options every time

Question

I have been trying to install a msi file using cmd. The command looks like C:\Windows\system32>msiexec.exe -q -i "Installer.msi"

But every time I run this the window for help options is opened for msi instead of running the installer. What could be the problem?

Answer 1

First, you need to specify the full path to the MSI file. Also, the command line is really picky if you are specifying anything else, and sometimes it doesn't like spaces between value=proprtyname. Those errors will give you the help screen because you got the syntax wrong in some way.

Note that the MSI file will not install successfully in silent mode if it requires elevation. It won't ask for the elevation prompt if you are in silent mode. That means you should try the command line install from an elevated prompt.

Answer 2

I think msiexec.exe /i installer.msi /qn should work.

See here for a similar thread on serverfault: https://serverfault.com/questions/30068/silent-install-of-msi/67001#67001

To deal with the complicated msiexec.exe command line interface, try this free tool from Installation tool developer Altiris: http://www2.wise.com/filelib/WICLB.exe - broken link resurrected from Wayback machine. Seeing as the tool was freeware I assume that is legal.

Please run the download by virustotal.com for safety.

Here is a screenshot: