Non-interactive installation of an additional Python environment on a computer which already has Python installed

Question

I'm working on a deployment tool which will build a python environment with a number of dependancies pre-installed. According to the documentation on Python's web-site I should be able to do something like this:

msiexec.exe /i python_installer\python-2.4.4.msi TARGETDIR=c:\temp\install\fooX

However in the case where that version of Python is already installed on the system (in the regular C:\Python24 location) this command-line will attempt to repair the existing installation. It will not create a new installation in the TARGETDIR.

Does anybody know of additional command-line arguments which will help me achieve the following:

I want the installation to block until the installation is complete. That way I can start the next process of my environment build once the current process has ended.
I want the installation to always install to the TARGETDIR regardless of whether a valid Python installation exists elsewhere.

FYI, I'm using Python 2.4.4 on Windows XP 32bit.

UPDATE1: We have a solution to the "awlays installing problem", I just need a way to make the program block until completed. If I do /qn the process spawns a background process and terminates immediatly. I've always wondered why so many Windows tools work this way - it makes command line scripting impossible!

Jacob · Accepted Answer · 2011-06-22 14:18:07Z

2

You could try the /a instead of /i flag:

From msiexec help:

/a <Product.msi>
    Administrative install - Installs a product on the network

Another option to consider is /qn:

/q[n|b|r|f]
    Sets user interface level
    n - No UI

You can get to the help window of msiexec by executing only msiexec without parameters.

answered Jun 22, 2011 at 14:18

Jacob

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4 Comments

Salim Fadhley Over a year ago

/a solves the problem of isntalling regardless of whether a valid Python install exists. I just need a way to force the process to block until the installation has finished.

Jacob Over a year ago

I noticed that too, msiexec instanstly returns to prompt, even when install is not finished.

Salim Fadhley Over a year ago

I think I might cheat by using a zip of the project. Scripting on windows is just a pain.

Salim Fadhley Over a year ago

Wait, I just spotted this: blogs.msdn.com/b/heaths/archive/2005/11/15/493236.aspx

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