Install a program while installing the "real" program

[pstve]

Hi,
I've got a problem! Or two actually at this moment...

I want to:

- When I'm installing my program (coded in C#, installed on computer by windows installer), we can call it for "Program A", I want another program (a .exe file), "Program B", to install simultaneously without users knowledge.

If I put "Registers" value to "csdrfCOMSelfReg" for the .exe file in "Properties" I will get the possibility to click through an installer guide for Program B while my program A is installing.
And I want Program B to install, but without the guide because I don't want user to know about it and that the user doesn't need to do anything for it.

- Later when user uninstall "Program A", I would like "program B" to uninstall too, without effort by user of course...

Is this possible to do through the cmd? I really have no idea what to do... I've tried to google, but haven't find any solution. Maybe someone out there can put me on the right track? I think that "-k" could help me, but I don't know how, yet...

[Plater]

I think you can do that in an installer package project. Dependancies or something. I've never done it though

[pstve]

I think you can do that in an installer package project. Dependancies or something. I've never done it though

I thougt that too! But I haven't found anything there that could have helped me. I'll get the "Program B" to install when installing "Program A" there, but then user has to go through the installation guide. I want the "Program B" to install by itself...

Thanks for your answear anyway!!

[pstve]

OK! I've found half the solution.

In "Custom actions" it is just to "Add Custom Action" under "Installation", and in properties window insert /S to Arguments. And TADAA! Program B is installed without user will notice.

Then it is just the second problem left, how to uninstall automaticly...

[tlhintoq]

I think you can do that in an installer package project. Dependancies or something. I've never done it though

This sounds a lot like giving advice on how to install a virus, trojan or tracker. Which I thought we didn't do here. I've seen a lot of 'scoldings' for even asking how to log keystrokes and the like. But its okay to hide the installation of an entire program from the user? They think they are installing a.exe and they are also getting b.exe without their knowledge so it can do.. what? report all their credit card details and use their email to spread?

[Plater]

I thought that too. But the OP said they wanted it to be removed when A gets uninstalled too. So it *could* be legitamate.

[myusernotyours]

Maybe the OP should tell us why he wants to install secretly... It may be interesting to know. But we can be sure the user din't request it.

Regards,

Alex.

[Frinavale]

I thought that too. But the OP said they wanted it to be removed when A gets uninstalled too. So it *could* be legitamate.

That's why I didn't remove this post when I first read it.

[pstve]

This sounds a lot like giving advice on how to install a virus, trojan or tracker. Which I thought we didn't do here. I've seen a lot of 'scoldings' for even asking how to log keystrokes and the like. But its okay to hide the installation of an entire program from the user? They think they are installing a.exe and they are also getting b.exe without their knowledge so it can do.. what? report all their credit card details and use their email to spread?

NO NO NO NO NO!! THIS IS NOT ABOUT ANY VIRUS!!!! And I can promise this is absolutely legal!!!!

[pstve]

Maybe the OP should tell us why he wants to install secretly... It may be interesting to know. But we can be sure the user din't request it.

Regards,

Alex.

What do you mean with "sure the user didn't request it"?
I've got my program A (which NOT handling any type of virus, it takes care of signals), and a feature in A, is that user can use program B (which is comlepetly legal, both for me to use and for the user to use and in all ways you can think about) for analyzing these signals. But so the user doesn't have to think so much by him/herself, it will install automaticly, and also uninstall when A is uninstalled. So - NO VIRUS OR UNLEGAL THINGS HERE!!!

[Frinavale]

What do you mean with "sure the user didn't request it"?
I've got my program A (which NOT handling any type of virus, it takes care of signals), and a feature in A, is that user can use program B (which is comlepetly legal, both for me to use and for the user to use and in all ways you can think about) for analyzing these signals. But so the user doesn't have to think so much by him/herself, it will install automaticly, and also uninstall when A is uninstalled. So - NO VIRUS OR UNLEGAL THINGS HERE!!!

In this case, have a splash screen that informs the user why program B is being installed. Let the user know exactly what they are installing instead of hiding this from them.

When you hide programs from being installed it is considered Highly suspicious because this technique is used when developing malicious code such as viruses.

Aside from that... if the user was browsing their list of installed software, they would wonder why program B was installed and may even choose to uninstall it because they don't know what it is or why it is installed....this would break your program.

It is a very good idea to inform the user of what exactly is being installed.

<edit> Just a thought...instead of installing all of program B, would it be possible just to install the component (the .dll) of program B that your software needs to use??</edit>

-Frinny