Deployment problem in Win7-64 bit with Office 2010-64bit when using x86 MSI installer

Question

Hi,

I ran into a strange behavior where the registry entry gets written to the "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\" hive instead of

"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft" when using a x86 MSI installer with per-machine installation in the following environment:

Outlook 2010 64-bit

Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit

 

According to http://blogs.msdn.com/b/vsto/archive/2010/03/08/deploying-your-vsto-add-ins-to-all-users-saurabh-bhatia.aspx, the registry entries should be written under the ""HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft" hive for 64-bit office and 64-bit windows 7:
_________________________________________________________________________________________

A 64-bit version of Office 2010 on 64-bit OS will always load the add-ins under this key:

e.g. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Office\application name\Addins\add-in ID

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Additionally, the add-in is not loaded and it is also not listed under the "Add-ins" list (File-->Options-->Add-ins).

However, when i tested with x64 MSI installer, the addin installs correctly under the "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft" hive and gets loaded.

 

How can i make it work?  I am developing using VS2008, VSTO 3.0 targeted to Office 2007.

Your help will be appreciated!

Thank you,

Rajat

Answer 1

Easiest would be to have 2 different MSI's - one for x86 and one for x64, possibly you could a bootstrapper that executes the correct msi by analyzing what type of Office version installed.

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Andreas M.

Answer 2

Hi rbshrestha,

 

Thanks for posting in the MSDN Forum.

 

Did you update the fix http://support.microsoft.com/kb/976811 and http://support.microsoft.com/kb/976477/ ?

 

Please try it, and let’s know whether they work.

 

I hope it can help you.

 

Have a good day,

 

Tom

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Tom Xu [MSFT]
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Answer 3

Tom, do u mean that u can install an x86-compiled addin in an Win x64 + Office x64 environment by installing those 2 fixes?

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Andreas M.

Answer 4

 

Hi Andreas,

 

No, you have misunderstood what I said. I want to know whether OP updated the hotfix. As far as I know, x86-complied add-in can only work on Office 32-bit.

 

If I have misunderstood anything, please feel free to let me know.

 

Have a good day,

 

Tom

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Answer 5

Hi Tom,

Thanks for your reply. The problem I'm having is  specific to Office 2010 and the hotfix is for Office 2007. 

As far as I understand the hotfix will allow install in HKLM hive for Office 2007 for Add-ins developed using VSTO 3.0. I have a different workaround to that problem which seems to work. I only need to fix this for Office 2010.

To be more specific, I'm trying not to have two different installers x86 and x64. Instead simply have a single installer.

Your help would be appreciated.

Rajat

 

Answer 6

Andreas,

Thanks for your reply. I'm trying to avoid having two different MSIs that targets x86 and x64.

Rajat

 

 

Answer 7

Andreas,

The x86 installer that I have right now can install in Win x64 & Office x64 for per-user installation. But when you are using the per-machine installation, the installer in Office 2010 does not register the Addin in correct registry hive.  Please have a look at http://blogs.msdn.com/b/vsto/archive/2010/03/08/deploying-your-vsto-add-ins-to-all-users-saurabh-bhatia.aspx which explains this in detail.

Rajat

Answer 8

Tom,

Any new developments on this issue?

Thank you,

Rajat

 

Answer 9

Hi Rajat,

 

I try to developed a Outlook add-in for 64-bit Outlook and create window installer on my 32-bit machine. Then I installed it on the 64-bit machine which have 64-bit Outlook. It works fine.

 

So, I think there must have some mistake in your process to create window installer. Would you describe your action step by step?

 

And I provide my Solution on skydrive please download and check the different between us.

 

Have a good day,

 

Tom

 

http://cid-bfdf05e934413519.office.live.com/self.aspx/Sample%20Code%20for%20MSDN%20Forum/OutlookAddIn%5E564-bit%5E6.zip (Developed via Visual Studio 2010(32-bit), Win7 (32-bit), Installed to Win7(64-bit), Outlook 2010(64-bit))

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Tom Xu [MSFT]
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Answer 10

Hi Tom,

Thanks for your reply. I will test the installer that you uploaded tomorrow and will let you know how it goes.

Here is my development environment:

Win7 64-bit, Visual Studio 2008(32-bit) VSTO 3.0

Test environment:

Win7 64-bit, Outlook 2010 64bit

The problem arises with the MSI that is built using the "TargetPlatform" set to "x86". When I use this MSI and try to deploy for "ALL users" by selecting "Everyone"  option, it writes the registry under the "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\" hive instead of "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft" which causes the add-in not to load or even appear in the add-ins list.

Also, note that this is not a problem if i install it for single user.

 

Rajat

 

 

 

 

Answer 11

Hi Rajat,

 

I think some of the options you need to pay attention to:

 

1.      In order to run your add-in on 64-bit environment, please set your 64-bit add-in’s Platform target as X64.

2.      In you install project, you need set TargetPlatform as X64. Otherwise, the project will not build.

3.      In registry hive you need write “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHIN\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\Outlook\AddIns\[your add-in alias]” for all user.

4.      X86 add-in only work with 32-bit Office System.

 

Have a good day,

 

Tom

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Tom Xu [MSFT]
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