You are spot-on Edhy, it looks like I will need to get a newer version of InstallAware running in order to build a working install.  

Hi Ben,


I am using the latest version of IA on my dev computer and so far I did not have any issue upgrading from previous versions and my projects were 2-3 versions behind this latest version.  I am on Windows 8.1 Pro 64bits and I installed it on drive C:

Please let me know if I can be of any assistance.

Edhy Rijo

We don't actually have the latest and greatest, we have the previous version, which should work fine for Server 2012.  The problem is, when we install it on our new build server, it gives us some sort of plug-in error when you try to launch it.  We contacted InstallAware's support, and they're telling us that the error is not possible because it's coming from features that weren't introduced in our version and that the only way we're getting the error is that we have a Frankenstein build of old and new stuff that is pirated and unlicensed, so they won't help us.  So, we're going back and forth with their support right now.

Hi Ben,

Wow, that is becoming a nightmare Their product have changed a lot in the last 2 versions and due that new OS are coming next month it would probably be good to get the latest version from them.
In my case I don't have a build server, may have one now for my latest project, but have you tried building the new package from another workstation instead of the build server?

Edhy Rijo

Hi Ivan,

I'd be willing to try that since I haven't had any luck so far but I don't have a copy of the 1.7.3.5 setup program. I've been doing manual updates for so long I stopped downloading the full setup program. If someone from SF could post a link to the 1.7.3.5 ES installer I can give it a try.

-Larry

OK I finally got a working server built manually using the ES development license. I hate Microsoft. Even when you're logged in as an administrator there still seems to be a multitude of permission issues that get in the way. Once I got that sorted out the rest was easy. To turn this server into the production server I'm assuming all I need to do is change the name, IP address, update the server name in web.config and drop the production license file in the bin directory.

On another note we use to use Installaware but recently switched to Advanced Installer. In addition to building installers for in-house apps, we re-package a lot of commercial products for use with Microsoft System Center. We found that Installaware didn't un-install things cleanly when used with Systems Center. Also I feel the recent versions of installaware are suffering from feature bloat.

-Larry

Larry, I'm glad you got it up and running.  If you had any problems, I would probably have TeamViewer'ed in and set it up for you to get you running.  After yesterday, it looks like we will be switching from InstallAware, too.  We've been using them since shortly after they split from InstallShield, but after our less than cordial communications yesterday, it seems pretty apparent that they don't want us as a customer.

Hi Larry.