Installation Incomplete error - VS Setup Projects

Question

I have a VS08 solution with some Web/C# projects. I created an installer for it (web setup project) but when I run it in the target machine, I get the error "Installation Incomplete - The installer was interrupted before <MyAppName> could be installed. You need to restart the installer to try again".

 

I get this error even if the machine was just built and that is the first time I'm running it. I've searched the web for many solutions such as changing registry values related to MSI stuff but nothing has worked so far.

 

Any help is appreciated.

 

Thanks,
-- AFurtado

 

Answer 1

It's often a crash in custom action code. If you do the install and generate a log there should be more info:

 

msiexec /i <path to msi file> /l*vx <path to some log file>

 

Answer 2

Hi Phil,

 

The log tells me that SetTARGETSITE failed:

 

MSI (c) (04:28) [12:43:59:404]: Invoking remote custom action. DLL: C:\Users\afurtado\AppData\Local\Temp\2\MSIF4C6.tmp, Entrypoint: SetTARGETSITE
MSI (c) (04!FC) [12:43:59:404]: Creating MSIHANDLE (14) of type 790531 for thread 3836
INFO   : [08/15/2008 12:43:59:404] [SetTARGETSITE                           ]: Custom Action is starting...
INFO   : [08/15/2008 12:43:59:404] [SetTARGETSITE                           ]: CoInitializeEx - COM initialization Apartment Threaded...
ERROR  : [08/15/2008 12:43:59:404] [SetTARGETSITE                           ]: FAILED: -2147221164
ERROR  : [08/15/2008 12:43:59:404] [SetTARGETSITE                           ]: Custom Action failed with code: '340'
INFO   : [08/15/2008 12:43:59:404] [SetTARGETSITE                           ]: Custom Action completed with return code: '340'

 

I have searched the web and found that this is due to IIS not being installed. However, IIS is indeed installed in my machine (the role is enabled, the service is there, up and running, and IIS shows up when I access http://localhost). Other suggestions was to re-register IIS using the aspnet_regiis tool. I did it but it didn't work as well.

 

PS: I'm doing such tests on Windows Server 2008, x64 machine.

 

Any suggestions?

 

Thanks,

-- AFurtado

Answer 3

I've seen this reported in this forum before, so search could turn up something.  That error is "class not registered". You have an x64 system, so did set the setup project's TargetPlatform to x64?  Select the seup project in solution explorer then F4 (or View->Properties Window.

Aspnet_regiis - I'm thinking there's a 64-bit version of this in the 64-bit framework folder somewhere?

 

Answer 4

Yes, the target platform is x64 in the setup project properties window. I'm also using the 64-bit version of aspnet_regiis. But still getting the error...

 

Thanks,

-- AFurtado

 

Answer 5

The issue was solved by removing IIS role from the server and then adding it again, with all IIS sub-roles enabled (not of them are really necessary, though).

 

Thanks,

-- AFurtado

Answer 6

For what it's worth, I found that I get this problem if there are no web sites configured on the target machine.

The VS Setup project does not seem able to create a new website, it only seems able to install to an existing web site, so one must exist before you run the installer. 

If you try and run it before there is a website it will give the rather unhelpful "Installation Incomplete - The installer was interrupted before <MyAppName> could be installed." error.  Using the log file method above you'll see the TARGETSITE is not set.

So create a new blank website using the IIS Manager and then re-run the installer and it should then work as expected.

Answer 7

The setup file needs to have IIS 6 Management Compatibility turned on for the IIS 7 server because the setup file uses an IIS 6 API admin call when accessing the virtual directory for installation.  If you run the installer with log file turned on, you will see the COM error when the set target directory command is issued.

When you are uninstalling IIS 7 and then reinstalling with every Role Service turned on, it is enabling this Role Service.  You should be able to only turn on the IIS 6 Management Compatibility Role Service and your installation file should run smoothly.

Answer 8

Why can't you run the msi without the IIS6 compatibility role service. I want to create an MSI which install on IIS7 without IIS 6 compatibility.

Answer 9

Did you ever find out how to install the application without IIS6 compatibility role service turned on?

Answer 10

by the way, how to removing IIS role from the server ?

Answer 11

How can I remove the IIS role ?

Answer 12

Hi, did you find a solution to run the msi with out the IIS 6 compatability turned on?

---

Kesava

Answer 13

Hi, did you find a solution to run the msi with out the IIS 6 compatability turned on?

---

Kesava