SMSINST: Using 'Execute Path' in Install.log File May Fail (172863)

SYMPTOMS

When an Execute Path statement has been added to the Install.log file so that an external application will run when the application is removed, that external application does not always start successfully. For an example, see the MORE INFORMATION section of this article.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, do either of the following:

Create a batch file that contains the full command that that needs to be run. Then modify the Execute Path statement's command line to run the batch file. -or-
If the file that needs to be acted on by the executable is associated with that executable, the command line only needs to reference the file to be acted on. For example, the following command line would cause the Notetst.txt file to be displayed successfully in Notepad:
C:\Test\Notetst.txt

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Systems Management Server Installer version 1.0. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

For example, if the following command is added to the Install.log, it would not run successfully when the application is removed:

C:\TEST\NOTEPAD.EXE C:\TEST\NOTETST.TXT

The Installer script item would appear like:

   Add "Execute Path: %UNINSTP%\NOTEPAD.EXE %UNINSTP%\NOTETST.TXT" to
   INSTALL.LOG

From a normal command line, this would display the contents of the Notetst.txt file in Notepad. The breaking point occurs when the command line references an executable and subsequent file that the executable should act on.

If the command line only references an executable, it works correctly. In the example above, Notepad will not start at all.