While we deal with large windows installer packages, time required to install the package is one of the key factor in measuring the efficiency\quality of the package.

I’m briefing  here about some of the techniques that can be used to reduce the installation time of a MSI package.

Using MSIFASTINSTALL Property

The MSIFASTINSTALL property can be used to reduce the time required to install a large Windows Installer package. The property can be set on the command line or in the Property table to configure operations that the user or developer determines are non-essential for the installation.

How MSIFASTINSTALL Property will help to reduce the time?

1. This property helps to skip creating system restore point action in MSI install sequence.

2. This property helps to skip...

Hello Connect!

I have decided to take on a personal challenge in an effort to teach and learn more about using the ASDK. I have been writing tools for work using ASDK1.4 for about 6 months and just started learning C#. Since then I've developed a few win apps that have saved a ton of time for both myself and coworkers using Altiris.

To celebrate the ASDK and to thank Symantec for giving us such an open and flexible tool for working with Altiris, I am going to write 30 tools using VBscript or C# in 30 days. I will blog about each tool and include short descriptions on the methods being used and the approaches I take to use them.

First a few acknowledgments. A big thank you goes to Screenbert! When I first set out to create an SWD package creator in the ASDK, it was his how-to videos that gave me the start. Without those guides, I probably would of found the learning curve...

When trying to run Ghost32 on Windows 2003 server to create an image from the C drive to another drive even if the other drive is internal or external (such like USB HDD), you will get the following error message:

Error: A source volume could not be locked (640)

That's because Ghost is not designed to create a hot images from server OS.

References:
Tips for Hot Imaging with Ghost Solution Suite 2.5
http://service1.symantec.com/support/on-technology.nsf/docid/2008121215010060

Hi Connect Members,

Any change which is intentional can be recorded, but in case if its not something not noticed & specially with workstations running windows Xp , it can create problems & disappointment when things dont work as expected, Than suddenly we think what has changed or what we have changed, No worries, not to think any more, Microsoft has a tool that will not only let u know what are the changes but help you to troubkeshoot the XP systems issues, It works in following scenario-

1. Software Programs—installed applications, such as those listed in Add/Remove Programs
2. Windows hotfixes and other OS updates
3. Windows drivers and services
4. ActiveX controls downloaded via Internet Explorer
5. Browser Helper Objects (BHOs)—typically toolbars and other items that load with your browser
6. Auto-Start Extensibility Points (ASEPs)—programs that start automatically without user action.

I have used a...