Windows 7 Windows Installer 5.0, the Evolution from v4.5 in Vista SP1 and XP SP3

The evolution synonymous with the move from Windows Vista (v6.0) to Windows 7 (v6.1) will mean that components across the operating system, both integrated in the operating system, but also associated by default with the platform will be made available in new versions. An illustrative example in this context is Windows Installer 5.0. With version 5.0 of Windows Installer, Microsoft is, in fact, moving onward from what it is currently offering with Windows Vista and Windows XP. Both the Windows 7 client and Windows 7 Server (Windows Server 2008 R2) will come to the table with a new release of Windows Installer, namely version 5.0.

For Windows Vista RTM and Service Pack 1, Windows XP Service Pack 3 and earlier, Windows Server 2008 RTM/SP1, and Windows Server 2003 SP1 and SP2 Microsoft is currently offering Windows Installer 4.5 as a redistributable. When Vista shipped (including SP1) the operating system was tied to Windows Installer 4.0. The launch of SP3 for XP offered Windows Installer 3.1. The next iterations of the Windows 7 client and server operating systems will deliver Windows Installer 5.0.

“Beginning with Windows Installer 5.0, a Windows Installer package is capable to secure new accounts, Windows Services, files, folders, and registry keys. The MsiLockPermissionsEx table can specify a security descriptor that denies permissions, specifies inheritance of permissions from a parent resource, or specifies the permissions of a new account,” Microsoft revealed. “Windows Installer 5.0 can enumerate all components installed on the computer and obtain the key path for the component.”

According to the software giant, Windows Installer 5.0 brings to the table new Standard Actions, Installer Functions, Column Data Types, Properties, Database Tables, ControlEvents, Controls, Internal Consistency Evaluators, Automated Interface. Microsoft is, of course, providing more details related to the new components available in Windows Installer version 5.0.

“Setup developers can use Windows Installer 5.0 to author a single installation package capable of either per-machine installation or per-user installation of the application,” the company added. “The internal consistency evaluator ICE105 checks that the package has been authored to be installed in a per-user context. An application capable of being installed, updated, run, and removed by a standard user without elevation is called a Per-User Application (PUA.) A PUA can provide a better user experience, minimize effects on the system and other users of the computer, and reserves UAC prompting to situations that actually require the elevation of the user's privileges. The Single Package Authoring features of Windows Installer 5.0 can facilitate the development of Per-User Applications.”

Windows 7 Beta is available for download here.