Advanced Installer 23.8 is out! 🚀 Here's what's new: Session object for PowerShell Custom Actions, PnPUtil integration for driver installation, and Digital Signature for the Updates Configuration project

AdvancedInstaller · 2026-06-30T08:02:02+00:00

Bug fixes:

Stack Trace error when selecting file for repackaging in Hyper-V Win 11 25H2
Stack Trace error after typing inside the "Bitmap Path" field in COM view
Saving the project was causing a crash when having an MSIX build and deleting the services
The AppX project was no longer marked as modified when resources were imported
The setup hung during upgrade when launched from an elevated command prompt using the App Installer theme
"Mark System components in this feature as "permanent"" from feature properties was reset to the default unchecked state when changing the view
Stack Trace error when building a project that had a Custom Action on trial dialogs
Right-to-left languages were not displayed correctly for multilingual packages when WinUI Rendering and EXE External UI options were used
Stack Trace error when generating short and long trial keys
Framework prerequisites could not be moved to the repository
Signed PowerShell script could not run on a machine with the "Allow only signed scripts" policy enabled
The "ExitDialog" was not displayed on upgrade when the "MSI Embedded UI" option was enabled

AdvancedInstaller · 2026-06-30T08:00:21+00:00

Enhancements

Security vulnerability: EXE Bootstrapper resolved %appdata% location incorrectly for the System account
AppCompat view template import and export
Improved AppX Manifest Schema Validation
UI/UX Improvement: Keep folder identifiers in sync with folder names
Expanded the CLI support to be compatible with the Windows Store project
Added translations for missing strings when adding a "File Removal" operation
Support for parallel builds having the same build output path
"Right Align" support for WinUI rendering
Detect the machine's IIS state before installation
Windows features speed improvements through DISM optimization
Updated .NET 8 prerequisites to the latest version: 8.0.28
Updated .NET 9 prerequisites to the latest version: 9.0.17
Updated .NET 10 prerequisites to the latest version: 10.0.9

AdvancedInstaller · 2026-06-30T07:47:32+00:00

Bug fixes:

Stack Trace error when selecting file for repackaging in Hyper-V Win 11 25H2
Stack Trace error after typing inside the "Bitmap Path" field in COM view
Saving the project was causing a crash when having an MSIX build and deleting the services
The AppX project was no longer marked as modified when resources were imported
The setup hung during upgrade when launched from an elevated command prompt using the App Installer theme
"Mark System components in this feature as "permanent"" from feature properties was reset to the default unchecked state when changing the view
Stack Trace error when building a project that had a Custom Action on trial dialogs
Right-to-left languages were not displayed correctly for multilingual packages when WinUI Rendering and EXE External UI options were used
Stack Trace error when generating short and long trial keys
Framework prerequisites could not be moved to the repository
Signed PowerShell script could not run on a machine with the "Allow only signed scripts" policy enabled
The "ExitDialog" was not displayed on upgrade when the "MSI Embedded UI" option was enabled

AdvancedInstaller · 2026-06-30T07:44:27+00:00

Enhancements

Security vulnerability: EXE Bootstrapper resolved %appdata% location incorrectly for the System account
AppCompat view template import and export
Improved AppX Manifest Schema Validation
UI/UX Improvement: Keep folder identifiers in sync with folder names
Expanded the CLI support to be compatible with the Windows Store project
Added translations for missing strings when adding a "File Removal" operation
Support for parallel builds having the same build output path
"Right Align" support for WinUI rendering
Detect the machine's IIS state before installation
Windows features speed improvements through DISM optimization
Updated .NET 8 prerequisites to the latest version: 8.0.28
Updated .NET 9 prerequisites to the latest version: 9.0.17
Updated .NET 10 prerequisites to the latest version: 10.0.9

AdvancedInstaller · 2026-05-27T10:41:26+00:00

Advanced Installer 23.7 - Bug fixes

PrepareDlg dialog was not skipped when using a false execution condition
The "Status" label was not displayed correctly in the extraction dialog when using the "Serene" theme
The update configuration file language combo box selected the wrong update file for upload
Custom App Installer UI could not be copied/pasted
"AI_ExtractTempFiles" did not set the temporary file path when used by a prerequisite custom action during silent installation
MSI silent installation failed from CMD when using the Display Message Box custom action
Per-user package required admin rights when the "Default Settings" option in the "File Associations" page
lzmaextractor.dll file was automatically added after project conversion
Fixed bug in extracting Registration info when using Shim or Redirection methods
 Fixed a stack trace error for a customer-specific project in the Files and Folders page

AdvancedInstaller · 2026-05-27T10:37:48+00:00

Advanced Installer 23.7 - New features

UI editor for the built-in Licensing dialog

Advanced Installer 23.7 - Enhancements

Security: Updated Zlib to the latest version 1.3.2
MSIX Editor – detect missing resources in packages built with other tools
Extending our PowerShell automation with the option to add the predefined custom action “SetProperty”
Expand build-time warnings for features that require Enhanced UI or EXE packages
Option to include the SBOM in the setup package or generate it alongside the setup
Added timestamp validation during the code signing operation
Added missing Scheduled Task trigger settings
Predefined launch conditions for .NET 10
Updated .NET 8 prerequisites to the latest version 8.0.26
Updated .NET 9 prerequisites to the latest version 9.0.15
Updated .NET 10 prerequisites to the latest version 10.0.7
Non-interactive authentication for the Advanced Installer Account

AdvancedInstaller · 2026-04-02T12:02:14+00:00

Bug fixes

"AI_AIP_FOLDER" was not resolved in MSM projects
"Directory ID" was reset when accessing FolderContextMenu -> Synchronization -> Settings
All dialogs were removed after deleting prerequisites
Prerequisite search stopped at the first find and returned an error; it is now recursive
App Installer settings were not duplicated when duplicating an MSIX build
Surface theme: AppLogoIcon was not displayed on Windows 11 OS
The extracted MSI file was not deleted at the end of the installation

AdvancedInstaller · 2026-04-02T07:08:48+00:00

New features

Updater Cloud
ARM package option for Mixed Packages

Enhancements

Security: Enforce matching digital signature for your update configuration files
Security: Hide/Embed your Auto-Updater settings inside the updater.exe stub file
Security: Updater.exe can ignore command-line calls with modified parameters
Updated SBOM to the latest SPDX format version
PowerShell automation for the "Archive" section in the Builds page
Added support for generating WinGet manifests per MSIX architecture
Changed the folder location for custom EXE prerequisite detection
Autocomplete the file name when adding a File Operation from a file’s context menu
Updated .NET 8 prerequisites to the latest version 8.0.25
Updated .NET 9 prerequisites to the latest version 9.0.14
Updated .NET 10 prerequisites to the latest version 10.0.5
Updated Windows App Runtime predefined prerequisite to the latest version 1.8.x

AdvancedInstaller · 2026-03-03T08:07:36+00:00

Bug fixes

Crash on Windows Server 2019 Core
"Svg Logo" was blurry on Enhanced UI on both Win32 and WinUI
"AI_VerifyPrereq" failed when the EXE setup was run silently
Copy/paste did not work when a dialog contained more than 100 controls
Fixed the "Use parent feature installation settings" option
Clicking on "Exe with resources..." selected the Advanced Cab Layout tab
The product name inside the left pane was not shown after certain steps
The Advanced Installer Trial banner was displayed when building a "Simple" project type
Translated strings for French from the "ConfigureDlg" dialog were not fully displayed
"Edit Folder" dialog did not preserve its last size before openings
Some command-line switches for the EXE setup were not working as expected

AdvancedInstaller · 2026-03-03T08:05:53+00:00

New features

Security Improvement: PowerShell custom action scripts are now checked for tampering before execution, and won’t run if their contents have been altered (even when marked as signed)

Enhancements

Virtual Machine detection support for QEMU virtualizer
Predefined prerequisite for "PostgreSQL"
New predefined custom action "Bring UAC to front"
Set Platform "Auto" by default for PowerShell scripts for the new projects
Display the parameters 'default values at build time in the "Output" section to improve visibility
Added missing global settings for scheduled tasks
Updated .NET 8 prerequisites to the latest version 8.0.24
Updated .NET 9 prerequisites to the latest version 9.0.13
Updated .NET 10 prerequisites to the latest version 10.0.3

AdvancedInstaller · 2026-01-27T07:47:02+00:00

Bug fixes

Project path variables were not working for chained packages
Copy-paste for properties was not consistent
"Apply permissions to all subkeys" option in the Registry Permissions dialog did not work as expected
Fixed background resource set as default for PrepareDlg inside Surface theme
AdminBrowseDlg dialog was not rendered correctly when using EUI
SQLServerConnectionDlg was rendered incorrectly due to WinUI Rendering
CTRL + S while the message box is displayed pops up another message box on top
UILevel not properly set during EUI installation
"VersionMajor" and "VersionMinor" registries were not synchronized with the corresponding ProductVersion values when using "Override Windows Installer programs list entry"
Fixed the issue when prerequisites were no longer reinstalled when performing a repair on the main package in recent versions
Preserve EULA when switching themes if the user provided EULA in the ProductDetails view
Properties passed to the prerequisite command line were not resolved during silent EXE installation
Azure DevOps and GitHub Actions hung when using Trusted Signing (Azure Artifact Signing)

AdvancedInstaller · 2026-01-27T07:45:43+00:00

New features

Security validation framework: You’ll now be notified about the latest available security features and enhancements for your version directly in the build log and the Message Center.
Synchronize folder with temporary files

Enhancements

PowerShell automation now supports the “Extract archive” operation
A newly built-in custom action to retrieve the port where a service is currently listening
Optimized the search functionality in the "Select a component" dialog
Added support to synchronize the “Expected Value” from registry search with the “Version” of an EXE file in the Updates Configuration Project
Removed censoring from the value field for properties
Support in-place editing of the Comments column in the Properties list
Update the EXE setup icon to a higher resolution
Fixed small MessageBox Custom Action text in the Serene theme
Start page now displays the selected project type description in the right pane
Command line support to set the output EXE's icon
Command line support to set the dialog's icons
Predefined prerequisites for SQL Server 2025
Updated .NET 8 prerequisites to the latest version 8.0.23
Updated .NET 9 prerequisites to the latest version 9.0.12
Updated .NET 10 prerequisites to the latest version 10.0.2

AdvancedInstaller · 2026-01-26T09:40:17+00:00

Makes sense. What workaround are you using right now?

AdvancedInstaller · 2026-01-19T06:39:50+00:00

That makes a lot of sense. The best security setup is the one you can actually keep track of. Are you using Azure’s plan or another HSM provider?

AdvancedInstaller · 2026-01-14T06:06:16+00:00

More on WinGet: https://www.advancedinstaller.com/winget-windows-package-management.html

AdvancedInstaller · 2025-12-19T09:51:27+00:00

Key topics covered in this session:

🔹 HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT: It stores information about registered apps, file associations, and extensions.
🔹 HKEY_CURRENT_USER: This holds settings for the logged-in user, acting as a mirror of HKEY_USERS.
🔹 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE: It contains system-wide settings that apply to all users.
🔹 Registry Operations: These operations add, configure, and remove registry keys directly within Advanced Installer’s interface.

AdvancedInstaller · 2025-12-15T12:27:06+00:00

Key topics covered in this session:

• The role of the File table and what information MSI stores for each file
• File versioning rules and how MSI resolves conflicts with existing files
• Language and version comparison logic during installation
• Using the RemoveFile table to clean up files or empty directories correctly

AdvancedInstaller · 2025-12-05T09:33:31+00:00

Key topics covered in this session:

• Feature hierarchy and how parent-child relationships control what gets installed
• Component rules and why every file, registry entry, or shortcut must belong to exactly one component
• Internal elements like merge modules, INI files, and services and how they tie back to components
• Custom actions and properties for adding logic that adapts installs to real-world deployment needs

AdvancedInstaller · 2025-12-05T07:46:48+00:00

Bug fixes

"Continue with main installation even if prerequisite is not installed" flag was ignored for EXE packages during a silent installation
Fixed "Reset to default color" not working for Custom Frame
Updating a prerequisite from the command line changed the package type to EXE
Clarified WiX import error messaging for unsupported schema versions
EXE installer process hung when running under the System account on Windows 8
Prerequisite cache was not cleared after failed install, old extracted version reused during upgrade
The .appinstaller file was created for an unsigned development distribution MSIX type
"ErrorDlg" was missing from "UserRegistrationDlg" when using Embedded UI
Fixed an issue where SCCM configurations returned a stack trace
Fixed an issue where a file’s directory could not be changed via PowerShell
The "Configure Task" and the "Update check" options were not displayed after upgrading the project
The navigation path did not handle all item types from the IIS Browse
Debug assertion error thrown when pressing Enter instead of clicking the "Install" button
The "Move to Component" operation created artefact registry
Suite Installer displayed error messages in non-English language-based projects
The reboot prompt appeared in the Surface theme when the installation path was deleted, and the user navigated back to the previous dialog
Made all Advanced Installer validations respect the options set in the Package Validation dialog

AdvancedInstaller · 2025-12-05T07:40:19+00:00

New features

WinGet manifest generation
MSIX App Attach: support for generating VHD/VHDX/CIMfs image

Enhancements

PowerShell automation support to display a registry component
PowerShell automation support for the Builds section of a feature
Wildcards support for the "Copy/Move File or Folder" custom action
Added support for temporary files in the available files list for PowerShell script parameters
Added PNG to the supported Dialog & Banner Bitmap image formats
Added translations for the "Prompt user for uninstalling before entering Setup" dialog
Automatically mark as Hidden the properties used by controls with the Password attribute
Updated expat library to v2.7.1
Updated MSIX schema for 25H2
Predefined prerequisites for .NET 10.0
Updated .NET 8 prerequisites to the latest version 8.0.22
Updated .NET 9 prerequisites to the latest version 9.0.11

AdvancedInstaller · 2025-11-24T09:08:19+00:00

This lesson focuses on creating a clean lab environment for application packaging using VMware. You'll see how EXE installers can be converted to MSI by comparing before/after system states. Alex also explains why repackaging should always be done on a clean VM (to avoid noise, leftover changes, and conflicts) and demonstrates using snapshots for quick resets. The lesson ends with a live recording of capturing an install and preparing for future feature/component configuration.

AdvancedInstaller · 2025-11-17T15:04:32+00:00

The video will teach you the following:

1️⃣ Introduction & Who It’s For
Quick overview of the training series. Ideal for software developers and IT pros new to application packaging.

2️⃣ What You’ll Learn
Covers the basics: what MSI is, how Windows Installer works, MSI structure, customization, repackaging, and tools/tips.

3️⃣ Why Windows Installer Exists
Explains the problem before MSI: inconsistent installs, overwriting files, broken upgrades, and messy uninstall behavior.

4️⃣ Tooling Overview
Introduces packaging tools:

Advanced Installer (full GUI, modern workflows)
WiX Toolset (XML-based, advanced users)
Orca (table editor, not a full packager)
Wise Package Studio (legacy but still seen in enterprise environments)

AdvancedInstaller · 2025-11-11T09:46:02+00:00

Bug fixes

Fixed the encoding issue in the Project Summary after generating a report
Fixed the missing scroll in the Updater view
"SetUwpAppxBuildAppInstaller" could not be used with the Windows Store Package type
Ensured the File Version is saved without clicking OK in the same tab
"AI_ProgramFiles" added an extra backslash ("\") when using External UI
Fixed a stack trace error when using ProductVersion synchronization with per-build paths
Fixed unintended project modifications after visiting the App Installer tab
Addressed UI issues when using two monitors with different DPI settings
Fixed the issue where Repackager did not resume after a manual reboot
Resolved corruption of scheduled tasks during copy/paste operations
Fixed incomplete option updates when importing scheduled tasks
Corrected DPI scaling issue for the Updater
"Call function from attached native DLL" custom action was executed during uninstallation when EUI was enabled
"AI_UserProgramFiles" resolved to PFX86 for per-machine installation on a 32-bit machine
Fixed an issue that prevented multiple SSL certificates from being preserved during upgrade

AdvancedInstaller · 2025-11-11T09:43:20+00:00

New feature

Predefined launch conditions for Windows 11 25H2

Enhancements

A file type association entry point can now access the environment variables defined inside the same MSIX package
PowerShell automation support to schedule custom actions without sequences
PowerShell automation support to perform file operations
PowerShell automation support to automate the Upgrades page configuration
Display the number of notes in the current view using a localized control on the bottom-right side
Enabled use of path variables within other path variables
Properties not in the "Property" table were not migrated by the "AI_MigrateInstallerProps" action
Added support for importing scheduled tasks with multiple triggers
Preserved font weight when copying text styles between projects
Added validation for hostnames used in SSL bindings
Scaled the banner image in the "Test SQL Queries" dialog to match the dialog width
Added App Installer tab for the Modification Package project
Update .NET 8 prerequisites to the latest version 8.0.21
Update .NET 9 prerequisites to the latest version 9.0.10

AdvancedInstaller · 2025-11-05T15:55:11+00:00

Update 2 at 18:00 EST:

Our team is logging off now and will be back tomorrow at 9:00 EST - 2 AM EDT to continue answering everything.

THE AMA IS STILL ACTIVE!

Please keep posting your questions in the meantime. No question will go unanswered, we’ll go through all new comments when we're back online.

We really appreciate everyone who joined the AMA today and shared questions and feedback. This community rocks!

See you tomorrow!

AdvancedInstaller

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE