Extract files from a MSI package

18 January 2006 by Snakefoot | Comment » | Trackback Off
Usually it is possible to use ones favorite compression utility to treat a Microsoft Installer Package (MSI) like it was a normal archive. Though sometimes it doesn't work, but then one can use the Windows Installer Tool (Msiexec.exe) to extract the files from the MSI package. It can open a MSI package in "Administrator" installation mode, where it can extract the files without performing the install.

Runs setup where one can select where to extract the files without actually installing the application:

Msiexec /a mypackage.msi

Extracts the files to the specified location without user interaction:

msiexec /a mypackage.msi /qb TARGETDIR="C:\MyFolder"

Note this can also be useful in case an MSI package has been configured to block install, when used on certain versions of Microsoft Windows.

More Info MS KB Q227091

Updated: 23 September 2007

Comments:

Comment by Phil - 29 August 2008 @ 20:41 Reply

Also, if you have an exe file that is a self executing MSI file, run the file, then look for a new folder in the c: root with a strange name - that’s the extracted files - make a copy of them and cancel the install. That way to achieve the same as above.

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