[blinkdt]

Anyone found a way to silently install Google's photo organizer, Picasa? I ended up using InstallRite to get the job done, but I'm curious to know of different methods that may have worked for others. I couldn't locate anything in the way of switches for the funky installer used for Picasa.

[dcrowder32]

I used AutoIT script.

[a06lp]

are there built-in switches?

if not, can someone provide the auto-it script?

[nonobis]

i have extracted the msi and this switches ...

REG ADD %KEY%\010 /VE /D "Google Picasa 2.0" /f
REG ADD %KEY%\010 /V 1 /D "%systemdrive%\install\Google\picasa\Picasa2.msi /qb" /f

it's working to me

+

[a06lp]

how'd you extract the msi?
usually right-click using winrar works, but i dont have the option...

[a06lp]

bump

[totoymola]

Hi.

Which MSI are you referring to? The one on my sig?

[MHz]

Original installer
Doubleclick on the installer and a window opens with "Nullsoft Install System v2.0" on it. /S is the switch to use.

[a06lp]

the /S worked great - except one thing - the program opens and also an internet window opens after the install. any way to stop these?

[totoymola]

a06lp, on Sep 27 2005, 06:45 PM, said:

the /S worked great - except one thing - the program opens and also an internet window opens after the install.  any way to stop these?
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You can use my trick for all programs that launch an unwanted program after installation. It's pretty easy, and it is a neat way of avoiding the unwanted program's execution. I call it the "Image Hijack Installation" All you need to do is to identify the name of the unwanted process. In your case, I assume it is iexplore.exe.

I'm using a batch file for this example. Just modify it if you use different method of installing softwares.

@CLS & @ECHO OFF

:: THIS IMPORTS THE "HIJACK"
REGEDIT /S HIJACK.REG

:: THIS INSTALLS YOUR PROGRAM THAT HAS AN ANNOYING PROGRAM EXECUTION
START /W picasa2-current.exe /S

:: SLEEP IS OPTIONAL
SLEEP 3

:: THIS REMOVES IMAGE THE IMAGE HIJACK
REGEDIT /S DELHIJACK.REG

This is the HIJACK.REG

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\iexplore.exe]
"debugger"="help"

DELHIJACK.REG

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\iexplore.exe]

You can apply this on other applications too. There are a lot of ways to do this. Just be creative!

This post has been edited by totoymola: 27 September 2005 - 10:12 PM

[MHz]

Interesting concept totoymola. Have you any good links that can explain the operation of this registry key

[totoymola]

Hey MHz!

We basically, the registry modification is called the Image File Execution Options. For example, the registry entry

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\iexplore.exe]
"debugger"="help"

executes the "HELP" executable (the CMD HELP) everytime you launch Internet Explorer. Since the "HELP" executable needs a command interpreter, it will execute but it will terminate right away. You can acutally use other executables. For example, create dummy executable. Either an AutoIt executable that does nothing, or a Winrar SFX that extracts a 0 byte file to the %temp% dir.

This method is used by hackers. For example, they will modify your registry so everytime you launch NOTEPAD, their keylogger or other hacking files will execute.

I have sin to confess.. When I was mad at my cuz, I hijacked her registry so everytime she launches notepad, paint, and calc, her computer will force-shutdown. Hahahahaha!! But I changed it back after a day. Hehehehe..

About the link, this is a good one. But it doesn't explain the other settings that much.

http://blogs.msdn.co.../28/121871.aspx

This post has been edited by totoymola: 27 September 2005 - 11:14 PM

[a06lp]

@totoymola:

yes, that is clever.
however, it poses a problem. i have firefox as an optional install - some systems will have firefox and others will have ie open when picasa is done. i dont want a ton of code, i wanted a simple switch (if possible)...

i appreciate you help, but are there any other ways?

[totoymola]

Nope, that isn't a problem.

If you are performing a clean installation, Internet Explorer is your default browser until the first time you run Firefox and set it as your default browser.

Anyway, just to make sure, you can also try this AutoIt script.

#cs
AutoIt Version	:	v3.1.0 / v3.1.1.76 Beta
Author 	 :	TotoyMola [TotoyMola8@gmail.com]
Description  :	Wait for the existence of "iexplore.exe" or "firefox.exe", then terminates it.
#ce
#NoTrayIcon

$IE = "iexplore.exe"
$FF = "firefox.exe"
While 1
	If ProcessExists($IE) Then
  ProcessClose($IE)
  Exit
	ElseIf ProcessExists($FF) Then
  ProcessClose($FF)
  Exit
	EndIf
WEnd

MHz is the AutoIt master here. Maybe he has a dirrerent method of doing this.

Alternatively, you can try the MSI on my sig.

Is there a new version of Picasa2? Because I'm not sure if the MSI is still the latest version. If not, I will try to create a new one when I get the chance.

This post has been edited by totoymola: 28 September 2005 - 11:26 AM

[MHz]

totoymola, on Sep 29 2005, 03:17 AM, said:

MHz is the AutoIt master here.  Maybe he has a dirrerent method of doing this.
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ok, that sucked me in. I do not even have an interest in this program but I did a script showing your process block method totoymola.

Let me show the code that does the blocking.

This variable contains the processes to block:

; Block list for annoying processes. Delimiter is |.
$processblock = 'Picasa2.exe|PicasaMediaDetector.exe|notepad.exe|iexplore.exe|firefox.exe'

The Install() function will call the _ProcessBlock() function if processes are assigned to the $processblock as above.

If the above line has processes listed, then it will call this function and add each process into the Image File Execution Options registry key.

Func _ProcessBlock()
   ; Add process block for select processes
	Dim $processblock
	Local $key, $command
	If Not @OSTYPE = 'WIN32_NT' Then Return $processblock = ''
	If $processblock <> '' Then
		$key = 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options'
		If @Compiled Then
			$command = '"' & @ScriptFullPath & '" /dummy'
		Else
			$command = '"' & @AutoItExe & '" "' & @ScriptFullPath & '" /dummy'
		EndIf
		If StringInStr($processblock, '|') Then
			$processarray = StringSplit($processblock, '|')
			For $i = 1 To $processarray[0]
				RegWrite($key & '\' & $processarray[$i], 'debugger','Reg_sz', $command)
			Next
		Else
			RegWrite($key & '\' & $processblock, 'debugger','Reg_sz', $command)
		EndIf
	EndIf
EndFunc

Blocked Processes will execute the AutoIt script with the /dummy switch and that script execution will immediately exit. This line exits if /dummy switch s used:

; Exit if executed a 2nd time by blocked process.
If StringInStr($cmdlineraw, '/dummy') Then Exit

Picasa should install silently without annoying processes. Once the script exits, it will call the inbuilt Autoit function OnAutoItExit. OnAutoItExit will remove the registry entries that were added previously.

Func OnAutoItExit()
   ; Blocked processes will be unblocked.
	Dim $processblock, $silenterror
	Local $key, $exitcode
	If @OSTYPE = 'WIN32_NT' And $processblock <> '' Then
		$key = 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options'
		If StringInStr($processblock, '|') Then
			$processarray = StringSplit($processblock, '|')
			For $i = 1 To $processarray[0]
				If RegDelete($key & '\' & $processarray[$i]) = 2 Then
					$exitcode = 1
					If Not $silenterror Then
						MsgBox(0x10, 'Error', 'Registry key for ' & $processarray[$i] & ' still exists', 2)
					EndIf
				EndIf
			Next
		Else
			If RegDelete($key & '\' & $processblock) = 2 Then
				$exitcode = 1
				If Not $silenterror Then
					MsgBox(0x10, 'Error', 'Registry key for ' & $processblock & ' still exists', 2)
				EndIf
			EndIf
		EndIf
	EndIf
	If $exitcode Then Exit -1
EndFunc

Full script attached.
 _Picasa_v2.html (42.53K)
Number of downloads: 62

Using Adlib or OnAutoItExit would perhaps be my usual method to close these processes, but I find AutoIt is quite flexible as to problems so methods may vary.

Edit:
Added script update to attachment. Up to date script has OS check etc.

This post has been edited by MHz: 09 April 2006 - 11:53 PM

[totoymola]

WONDERFUL!! I'M SPEACHLESS!

Thanks for the script buddy! I'll be using it as a reference.

[MHz]

Thanks totoymola,
The Image File Execution Options concept that you shared with us may come in handy for certain problematic installations.

Edit: As a reference, the functions above are generic code and can be used in other scripts also.

This post has been edited by MHz: 29 September 2005 - 10:35 PM

[asbsamsf]

blinkdt, on Jul 23 2004, 08:12 AM, said:

Anyone found a way to silently install Google's photo organizer, Picasa? I ended up using InstallRite to get the job done, but I'm curious to know of different methods that may have worked for others. I couldn't locate anything in the way of switches for the funky installer used for Picasa.
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

frist I edit picasa2-current.exe in ResHacker;

XML > PAYLOAD >0

delete the lines

 <event>
   <type>URLVISIT</type>
   <src>http://picasa.google.com/help/welcome.html</src>
  </event>

to install I'm using a inf file

[Version]
Signature=$CHICAGO$ 
AdvancedINF=2.5 

[DefaultInstall]
AddReg=Add_Reg
DelReg=Del_Reg

RunPreSetupCommands =RunPreEverything
RunPostSetupCommands=RunPostEverything

[Strings]
GOOGLE_KEY="Software\Google\Picasa\Picasa2\Preferences"

[Add_Reg]
HKCU,%GOOGLE_KEY%,"usesplashscreen",0x00010001,00000000
HKCU,%GOOGLE_KEY%,"AutoUpgradeCheck",0x00010001,00000000
etc
etc

[Del_Reg]
HKLM,"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run","Picasa Media Detector"

[RunPreEverything]
picasa2.exe /S

[RunPostEverything]
TASKKILL /F /IM Picasa2.exe /IM PicasaMediaDetector.exe

[a06lp]

any way to disable the picasa system tray thing?

[MHz]

a06lp, on Oct 2 2005, 11:53 PM, said:

any way to disable the picasa system tray thing?
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

By which method. The Inf that asbsamsf displays uses TASKKILL and removes the Run registry entry. The AutoIt script I posted blocks the process and removes the Run Registry key. If you use a DOS cmd then TASKKILL and Reg delete.

The system tray thing you mention is PicasaMediaDetector.exe.