[BoardBabe]

After the latest iTunes has been installed some other apps will not install and halt at an error message, what's going on!?



Translation:

"The function you are trying to access is located on an unavailable network source.

Click OK to try again, or provide an alternative path to the folder containing the installerpack iTunes.msi in the field below."

How can I resolve this? I am installing iTunes by simply unpacking the original exe using winrar, removing QuickTime (using QTalt) and repack to WinRAR SFX with the following comment.

Setup=iTunesSetup.exe /S /V"SILENT_INSTALL=1 INSTALL_DESKTOP_SHORTCUTS=0 ASSUME_QT_DEFAULTS=0 ASSUME_MEDIA_DEFAULTS=1 ALLUSERS=1" /w"
TempMode
Silent=1
Overwrite=1

PS: the error message does NOT appear at iTunes installation, but at later app installations.

This post has been edited by BoardBabe: 06 March 2006 - 02:35 PM

[Dumpy Dooby]

I had this EXACT same problem.

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?s=&sho...ndpost&p=454069

He thinks he may have fixed this problem in the latest iTunes (sans Quicktime) silent installer, but I haven't been able to get that to work at all. However, I used the non-silent installer and it went just fine (and I didn't get any errors on later installations).


Sorry I couldn't be of more help. I'm almost in the same boat as you right now. :\

This post has been edited by Dumpy Dooby: 06 March 2006 - 04:11 PM

[RogueSpear]

For starters are you using QuickTime Alt V1.68? I believe that version is needed for the latest iTunes to work. Also you may want to try out ALLUSERS=2 instead of 1. See if that helps.

[Dumpy Dooby]

I should add that seapagan says it's a problem with the local cache of the iTunes installer. I don't really know what that means (but I think I get the jist of it).

[BoardBabe]

Actually I'm using the latest Apple QuickTime, my bad I wrote wrong, as I used to use QTalt... Im installing it seperatly (before iTunes) because I'd like to be able to install ONLY quicktime without iTunes on some machines.

Anyway, I'll try ALLUSERS=2 RogueSpear.


Might I add that this dialog appears even now after many reboots and system up and running when trying to install eg. divx create.

This post has been edited by BoardBabe: 06 March 2006 - 04:24 PM

[RogueSpear]

Just though of something else. If you are making your switchless silent installer without first converting the .msi into an administrative installation point, then this error would be expected. Whenever you install something from an AIP based .msi, it copies over a bunch of stuff to %systemroot%\Installer. Note that is a supperhidden directory.

I don't use iTunes myself, but I try to follow what's going on with it since some computers I support do in fact use it.

[BoardBabe]

Just tried setting ALLUSERS=2, that did'nt help. I'm installing quite a few things from .msi and I have'nt made any AIP's of them (like MSN messenger, Adobe Reader, MS antispyware, shockwave player), I've only encountered problem with iTunes so far.

Plus I have no clue how to make an AIP

[RogueSpear]

It's the deal where you execute

msiexec /a filename.msi

and then point the installer to an empty temporary directory. Essentially it extracts everything from the .msi file to that directory. The resulting .msi file then contains nothing but the install instructions, registry entries, and the like. It's the process that I use in practically all of my switchless silent installers.

I've found over the years that using the packaged .msi file can often invoke the dialog box you posted above. Now obviously there are exceptions to the rule and further, there are people who author truly terrible .msi packages where they don't follow any of the best practices.

As a side benefit, using the AIP method will allow your 7-Zip or WinRAR based silent installer to be smaller in size. Sometimes a great deal smaller.

[BoardBabe]

Sounds like an excellent solution and the only way to solve my problem.

I really appriciate all help.... Learn more and more every day Thank you!

However something tells me this was not supposed to happen

[Dumpy Dooby]

BoardBabe, I just tried itunessetup /a and it seemed to work so far (The Admin install point was created successfully). I haven't tried making a silent install from that, but I will in a few minutes. Just wanted to give you an update.

edit: I had to copy over the following files in order for the installer to work:
0x0409.ini
iTunesSetup.exe
msistub.exe
Setup.ini
ISScript11.Msi


Now I'll attempt to make a silent installer. Again, though, I'm using the 7zip package from aforementioned thread (iTunes with no Quicktime). You can try doing this same stuff with your version of iTunes, but I dunno if it will work. Also, read the last post in that thread, if you're interested in having iTunes without Quicktime, but with all languages.

This post has been edited by Dumpy Dooby: 06 March 2006 - 05:32 PM

[RogueSpear]

Ahh.. Apple has pulled the old "You must use setup.exe" trick. This is something Ahead and Adobe do as well. I always get around it by deleting the custom action from the .msi file. This is not something that the Microsoft Installer format was meant to provide. So some of these idiots put it in their installers purposefully.

It sounds as though Dumpy Dooby has found a way around it. One thing to consider - if you use my switchless silent installer for the InstallShield Script Engine, you could leave out the ISScript11.msi file from your installer. Check it out in my switchless silent installer thread.

EDIT: This is starting to get my interest now. I'm downloading iTunes right now and am going to see what I can do with it. I have a friend who needs his computer reinstalled sometime soon and it's going to need iTunes on it. So what the heck, may as well tackle this now.

This post has been edited by RogueSpear: 06 March 2006 - 05:43 PM

[Dumpy Dooby]

Excellent. We have RogueSpear on board.

I tried using the normal silent install switches and they don't seem to work from the admin install point (although start menu shortcuts get created ... yay?). I can't use them on the MSI either because it wants that setup file.

I think our best bet would be to use InstallShield to remove the action from the MSI (like you mentioned). Will you let me know what you do to remove that line? 'cause I'm going to want to do it on the one that I have (localized, no quicktime).

In the meantime, I'll toy with it it a bit.


edit: I just ran your silent installer of ISScript. Then I ran iTunesSetup.exe. It still gave me an error saying it needed isscript11.msi or whatever the filename was. Currently installing InstallShield so I can go play.

This post has been edited by Dumpy Dooby: 06 March 2006 - 06:12 PM

[RogueSpear]

Oh man I didn't realize what I was getting myself involved with here. What a pain in the bum. Anyways, after fooling around with the .msi file for a bit, I kept on getting stopped at the installation of some driver or another. Just for kicks I decided to try a good old fashioned repack. It seems to work just fine. The problem is that I don't have an iPod, so I can't really test it out. A possible bonus is that QuickTime Alternative V1.67 should work with this too. I've found V1.68 to be utter garbage. I stripped out all but English language support in the interest of file size and because I just wanted to get this made. If it works out fine, I'll make one with more extended language support. Any brave souls?

iTunes V6.0.4.2 switchless silent installer

[BoardBabe]

Well I'm only in need of Norwegian lang really.

[Dumpy Dooby]

RogueSpear, what did you use to edit the MSI?

[Shark007]

Dumpy Dooby, on Mar 7 2006, 05:40 AM, said:

RogueSpear, what did you use to edit the MSI?

Editting the MSI proved to be a "pain in da bum" so he created an entirely new MSI

Quote

Just for kicks I decided to try a good old fashioned repack

This is also how i package this app, works great.

shark

[Dumpy Dooby]

But what about the registry settings? Are you telling me you went through them one-by-one and added them to the pack? I was looking for a way to export registry settings from an already-made msi via InstallShield, but I couldn't find a solution. That's actually why I didn't pack my own MSI. I was waiting to see what Rogue had up his sleeve.

So yeah ... how DO you guys retrieve all of the registry info? Just export it before and after, then run FC before.reg after.reg or something similar?

This post has been edited by Dumpy Dooby: 07 March 2006 - 06:00 AM

[RogueSpear]

I'm just running a standard 2 step snapshot in AdminStudio, then I clean up the mess it makes and rebuild it. If you supply me with the registry entries you'd like in there, with an explanation, I'll put them in. Usually the only stuff I like to change from default are things that tighten up the default security.

I don't like to repack installs that are already in .msi form, but sometimes that's just how you have to do it. Windows Live Messenger is one example of this are here with iTunes, we have another.

[BoardBabe]

I'm installing Windows Live messenger fine without any repacking. Only /qn switch.

[RogueSpear]

Yea but the default installer doesn't let you create an AIP or modify the settings too readily. The other part is file size. Making an installer usually results in a much smaller file size. With DVD's being so common, this is less of an issue, but I still run into so many computers with only a CD drive or it has a DVD drive so old it won't properly read my DVDs.