Install of IE8 pushed out to users via cmd line

[jcolma]

Hey All,

I was asked by my company to write a script using autoit that installs IE8 onto user's machines via the command line upon logging onto the domain. Problem is, I have never written script in autoit, or any other program before! I do have some vague knowledge of the scritping language, I merely can understand the concepts.

I have already done the easiest part and saved the IE8.exe onto a location on our server.

Our company is running Windows XP workstations. Windows 2003 servers. I know you need more information than that, so please let me know what you need from me.

I am obviously not asking for the whole script, just help! I appreciate this so so much and have great respect for all of you.

Thanks! I look forward to hearing back from you all.

[MrMitchell]

Does it not have a silent install switch?

Example something like this: IE8-WindowsXP-x86-ENU.exe /quiet /update-no /log:C:\temp\IEinstall.log

Edited July 28, 2011 by MrMitchell

[BrewManNH]

You could create a script that is executed when the user logs on using Group Policy, and just have that script run the executable. If your users have the credentials to install software you could just use the Run() command, if they don't you'd need to use the RunAs() command to run the program from the server.

[sleepydvdr]

If you use a logon script (for assigning shares or installing printers), you can just add a line to it to install IE8.

start \\servername\share\IE8.exe /qn

If you don't use a logon script, you can create one and assign it to all users. It should be located:

%SystemRoot%\sysvol\sysvol\<domain DNS name>\scripts

You can make an self-installer like this:

$version = FileGetVersion(@ProgramFilesDir & "\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe")
If $version < 8 Then
    FileInstall("ie8_installer.exe", @TempDir & "\ie8_installer.exe")
    RunAsWait("administrator", "yourdomain", "password", 1, @TempDir & "\ie8_installer.exe /qn")
    FileDelete(@TempDir & "\ie8_installer.exe")
EndIf

Otherwise, then you will need to publish it in Group Policy (which can be a bitch):

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/816102

[jcolma]

Wow - Thanks for the fast responses.

Let me make some things clear.

This is going to be pushed out to users via the everdream client. It needs to run via the cmd line. It should recognize if any IE windows are opened and close them automatically, then start the install.

Anything I can answer for you guys?

One more edit: if someone wants to write this script for me and has a paypal account I will award you!!! LOL --- just a thought.

Edited July 28, 2011 by jcolma

[sleepydvdr]

Wow - Thanks for the fast responses.

Let me make some things clear.

This is going to be pushed out to users via the everdream client. It needs to run via the cmd line. It should recognize if any IE windows are opened and close them automatically, then start the install.

Anything I can answer for you guys?

From what you just told us, you could do it either way (logon script or Group Policy). Whichever is easiest for you.

[jcolma]

From what you just told us, you could do it either way (logon script or Group Policy). Whichever is easiest for you.

Thanks, thanks -

If I wanted to just make a script that when you execute it, automatically, silently installs IE8 and closes any IE windows opened - how would I go about that?

[sleepydvdr]

Thanks, thanks -

If I wanted to just make a script that when you execute it, automatically, silently installs IE8 and closes any IE windows opened - how would I go about that?

Go back to my post where I gave you the script to silently install and add in this bit of code:

Do
    If ProcessExists("iexplore.exe") Then
            ProcessClose("iexplore.exe")
    Else
        ExitLoop
    EndIf
Until Not ProcessExists("iexplore.exe")

[jcolma]

Go back to my post where I gave you the script to silently install and add in this bit of code:

Do
    If ProcessExists("iexplore.exe") Then
            ProcessClose("iexplore.exe")
    Else
        ExitLoop
    EndIf
Until Not ProcessExists("iexplore.exe")

I apologize - I am more novice than I had originally expressed. Are you referring to this self installer? And in the top line below, do I just swap out "(@ProgramFilesDir & "\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe")" with where the location of the .exe is on the server? I really appreciate the help. You guys are life savers.

$version = FileGetVersion(@ProgramFilesDir & "\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe")

If $version < 8 Then

FileInstall("ie8_installer.exe", @TempDir & "\ie8_installer.exe")

RunAsWait("administrator", "yourdomain", "password", 1, @TempDir & "\ie8_installer.exe /qn")

FileDelete(@TempDir & "\ie8_installer.exe")

EndIf

[sleepydvdr]

I apologize - I am more novice than I had originally expressed. Are you referring to this self installer? And in the top line below, do I just swap out "(@ProgramFilesDir & "\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe")" with where the location of the .exe is on the server? I really appreciate the help. You guys are life savers.

$version = FileGetVersion(@ProgramFilesDir & "\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe")

If $version < 8 Then

FileInstall("ie8_installer.exe", @TempDir & "\ie8_installer.exe")

RunAsWait("administrator", "yourdomain", "password", 1, @TempDir & "\ie8_installer.exe /qn")

FileDelete(@TempDir & "\ie8_installer.exe")

EndIf

Download the IE8 executable installer (not the .msi because the .msi includes some junkware). Name it ie8_installer.exe and put it in the same directory as your script. When you compile the script, it will pack the installer into your compiled executable. When you run it, it will extract the IE installer to a temp directory and install it silently and delete it when finished. Below is the combined code to create an unattended installer. Since you say the users are allowed to install software, I changed RunAsWait to RunWait and deleted the credential information.

$version = FileGetVersion(@ProgramFilesDir & "\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe")
If $version < 8 Then
    Do
        If ProcessExists("iexplore.exe") Then
                ProcessClose("iexplore.exe")
        Else
            ExitLoop
        EndIf
    Until Not ProcessExists("iexplore.exe")
    FileInstall("ie8_installer.exe", @TempDir & "\ie8_installer.exe")
    RunWait(@TempDir & "\ie8_installer.exe /qn")
    FileDelete(@TempDir & "\ie8_installer.exe")
EndIf

[jcolma]

Download the IE8 executable installer (not the .msi because the .msi includes some junkware). Name it ie8_installer.exe and put it in the same directory as your script. When you compile the script, it will pack the installer into your compiled executable. When you run it, it will extract the IE installer to a temp directory and install it silently and delete it when finished. Below is the combined code to create an unattended installer. Since you say the users are allowed to install software, I changed RunAsWait to RunWait and deleted the credential information.

$version = FileGetVersion(@ProgramFilesDir & "\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe")
If $version < 8 Then
    Do
        If ProcessExists("iexplore.exe") Then
                ProcessClose("iexplore.exe")
        Else
            ExitLoop
        EndIf
    Until Not ProcessExists("iexplore.exe")
    FileInstall("ie8_installer.exe", @TempDir & "\ie8_installer.exe")
    RunWait(@TempDir & "\ie8_installer.exe /qn")
    FileDelete(@TempDir & "\ie8_installer.exe")
EndIf

That looks great. Thank you. Now what if I did not want to so it via the command line? What if I just wanted to make a .au3 and when the user clicks on it, it installs IE8, closes windows, etc... by the way, the location where the .exe is, is, \\"servername"\xp software\ie8_installer.exe (that should help you when writing the script) If you can, just make it known where I need to do some replacing.

Pretty much what I am asking is, when I c/p'ed the above script into AutoIt and then saved and ran it-- it closed my IE windows, but it didn't run the .exe -- where do I need to put the file location of the .exe in the above script for it to work when I click on it?

Thanks so much for the help.

Edited August 1, 2011 by jcolma

[sleepydvdr]

That looks great. Thank you. Now what if I did not want to so it via the command line? What if I just wanted to make a .au3 and when the user clicks on it, it installs IE8, closes windows, etc... by the way, the location where the .exe is, is, \\"servername"\xp software\ie8_installer.exe (that should help you when writing the script) If you can, just make it known where I need to do some replacing.

Pretty much what I am asking is, when I c/p'ed the above script into AutoIt and then saved and ran it-- it closed my IE windows, but it didn't run the .exe -- where do I need to put the file location of the .exe in the above script for it to work when I click on it?

Thanks so much for the help.

The Internet Explorer installer needs to be in the same directory as the script (and it has to be named as it is in the script). Now compile it - don't try to run the .au3 script remotely. Then you can run your compiled script.

Also to note, you may want to change the /qn to /qb. /qn means 100% silent versus /qb shows a progressbar. This will let you know it's working. If the installer stops abruptly, then you are probably missing a hotfix that is necessary to upgrade to IE8. I ran in to that problem myself.

Then run your compiled script like so:

\\"servername"\xp software\IE8_Unattended.exe <-- this is your compiled script, not the original ie8_installer.exe!!!

[jcolma]

Your going to kill me... LMAO...

I tried compiling this script:

$version = FileGetVersion(@ProgramFilesDir & "\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe")

If $version < 8 Then

Do

If ProcessExists("iexplore.exe") Then

ProcessClose("iexplore.exe")

Else

ExitLoop

EndIf

Until Not ProcessExists("iexplore.exe")

FileInstall("ie8_installer.exe", @TempDir & "\ie8_installer.exe")

RunWait(@TempDir & "\\brsrv1\xp software\ie8_installer.exe /qb")

FileDelete(@TempDir & "\\brsrv1\xp software\ie8_installer.exe")

EndIf

Whoever, I get an error when compiling saying that, error adding file ie8_installer.exe

I just want to be able to compile the script, then click on it, and have it close my IE windows, then run the .exe located at \\"servername"\xp software\...

I probably did something wrong. Thanks for helping this novice!!

Edited August 2, 2011 by jcolma

[sleepydvdr]

Your going to kill me... LMAO...

Whoever, I get an error when compiling saying that, error adding file ie8_installer.exe

I just want to be able to compile the script, then click on it, and have it close my IE windows, then run the .exe located at \\"servername"\xp software\...

I probably did something wrong. Thanks for helping this novice!!

If you don't want to pack the installer in your script, then you should remove fileinstall. The script should be this:

$version = FileGetVersion(@ProgramFilesDir & "\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe")
If $version < 8 Then
Do
If ProcessExists("iexplore.exe") Then
ProcessClose("iexplore.exe")
Else
ExitLoop
EndIf
Until Not ProcessExists("iexplore.exe")
RunWait("\\brsrv1\xp software\ie8_installer.exe /qb")
EndIf

[jcolma]

If you don't want to pack the installer in your script, then you should remove fileinstall. The script should be this:

$version = FileGetVersion(@ProgramFilesDir & "\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe")
If $version < 8 Then
Do
If ProcessExists("iexplore.exe") Then
ProcessClose("iexplore.exe")
Else
ExitLoop
EndIf
Until Not ProcessExists("iexplore.exe")
RunWait("\\brsrv1\xp software\ie8_installer.exe /qb")
EndIf

Ok. I tested this out, it closed out of any IE windows opened and started the installer - it appears as if it finished the installer, but when it finishesm this screen appears...see attachment -- "Installl Windows Internet Explorer 8" Availables Switches...

[sleepydvdr]

Ok. I tested this out, it closed out of any IE windows opened and started the installer - it appears as if it finished the installer, but when it finishesm this screen appears...see attachment -- "Installl Windows Internet Explorer 8" Availables Switches...

I forgot that the switches for the executable installer are different from the .msi installer. Sorry about that. You should use this instead:

RunWait("\\brsrv1\xp software\ie8_installer.exe /passive /norestart")

Use /norestart to prevent it from automatically restarting the computer.

[jcolma]

I forgot that the switches for the executable installer are different from the .msi installer. Sorry about that. You should use this instead:

RunWait("\\brsrv1\xp software\ie8_installer.exe /passive /norestart")

Use /norestart to prevent it from automatically restarting the computer.

Thanks! No need to be sorry!

I am running the script now - How will I know when it is completed? Will the computer ask me to restart? Thanks Thanks!

I know this will be a bear, if you'd like to tackle it... now, how would I get this to e-mail me the results? Success or not successful?

LOL, if you don't have time to explain this to me, then don't worry about it. You have done a lot and it's much appreciated.