Deployment Solution

So, apparently you can not create rip files in windows 7 anymore.

While this really stinks, I guess there is no choice in the matter.

What other options are there for an all around installed that can replace a rip file?

I do not like msi installers as they are not standardized and do not use the same script hooks from program to program. Some programs do not even have msi files.

ISS files are somewhat the same. 

Command line scripting is just not the way to go when you are doing remote installs on numerous computers.

So, what else is there?

I have to disagree with you. I have moved away from rips a long time ago. All my installs are scripted in some way. There is almost always a command line or some form of scripting to get a program installed.

AppDeploy does have a program called Repackager that I have used a few times but that creates an .msi file which you stated you don't like. Not sure what else is out there.

Here is the issue, I don't have weeks to figure out how a program wants to be scripted. Not every program can work that way and most programmers only support 1 method and many times, it does not work for network installs to multiple computers.

It is not that I do not like msi files, it is that some programs do not have msi files are are able to be installed from them.

Rips were nice and easy to use in a pinch. Sure they took a fair amount of time but less than trying to figure out scripting for a program with little documentation.

I have been trying to get wise packager to work but so far, that has been a big fail.

I've found very few programs that I can't install silently with some form of a script or command line. A quick Google search will usually find enough information to figure it out. Its never taken me more than a day to figure a program out. I agree weeks would be a big waste of time.

I use a number of obscure programs and some of them are over 10 years old. Seems that while students are expected to learn, faculty seem to figure that outdated software is good enough.

The appdeploy repackager though seems to work for the most part. And is much faster than creating a rip file. So I think I will do further testing with that.