How to update VS 2010 redistributable merge module in a MSP patch.

Question

I had installed some VS 2010 redistributables with my application. I did this by adding the required merge module into my MSI based installer. However now a new version of this merge module is available and I wanted to update the same in my installer. Major upgrade is not possible in my case and only option is minor update (i.e. MSP).

Now the issue is that when I remove the old Merge module and add the new one then it removes the old components and adds new components. This is happening because Microsoft has changed the Module IDs in the two MSMs causing components and File table keys to change. 

Original Module ID: Microsoft_VC100_CRT_x86.AFA96EB4_FA9F_335C_A7CB_36079407553D

New Module ID: Microsoft_VC100_CRT_x86.1DEE2A86_2F57_3629_8107_A71DBB4DBED2

Question is how do I update the redistributable Merge Module in a msp patch because as per minor update (MSP) rules components cannot be removed in a patch. I also noticed that if these Redistributables are installed as part of MSMs then Windows Update service also does not update them because it does not treat them as a separate product.

Answer 1

Hi Mohd,

Welcome to MSDN forum!

According to your description, I'd like to move this thread to "Where is the forum for". This forum is for general desktop development issues, not VS forum.

Thanks for your understanding!

Regards!

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Answer 2

If this is desktop dev issue then I'd ask them over here.

http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/windowsdesktop/en-US/home?category=windowsdesktopdev

 

 

 

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Regards, Dave Patrick ....
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]

Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties or guarantees , and confers no rights.

Answer 3

I can't find a forum for Windows installer and am not sure where the experts from installer world would be :(

Answer 4

Might try them here.

http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/windowsdesktop/en-US/home?forum=windowsgeneraldevelopmentissues&filter=alltypes&sort=lastpostdesc

 

 

 

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Regards, Dave Patrick ....
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]

Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties or guarantees , and confers no rights.

Answer 5

Hi Dave,

Thanks for your advise. But the forum you have given is to resolve the issue about development not product update.

Regards!

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<font color="0099FF">&lt;THE CONTENT IS PROVIDED &quot;AS IS&quot; WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED&gt;</font><br/> Thanks<br/> MSDN Community Support<br/> <br/> Please remember to &quot;Mark as Answer&quot; the responses that resolved your issue. It is a common way to recognize those who have helped you, and makes it easier for other visitors to find the resolution later.

Answer 6

Why does MS not have a Windows Installer forum. There used to be a newsgroup but that was also closed in 2010 :(

Answer 7

Hi Mohd,

Maybe you could have a try on https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/vstudio/en-US/home?forum=vssetup

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Answer 8

Hi Xiaoliang, My question is not about VS installation. My question is about how to update VC++ merged modules in an MSP. This is purely a windows installer thing. VS installation on my machine has no issues. I'll open up a support case with MS today.

Answer 9

I am moving the question to the MSDN forum closest to MSI, however Visual Studio does not really support MSP, hopefully you can find answer here.

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Visual C++ MVP

Answer 10

VS setups don't support patches, as has been said, so the only option is to use the SDK tools (such as MsiMsp and a PCP file) to create the patch.

However: if there is a new merge module then there should also be a new redistributable.  There's a vcredist_x86.exe (or x64) for the Dlls that are also in the merge module, so maybe just tell your customers to use that. Something like this:

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=5555

However - why do you need to fix it? Are customers reporting bugs? Are your apps broken? It's actually rare for customers to provide routine updates to MS software when there are no reported issues.  And if it was (or is) as serious issue then MS will post a fix and provide it via Windows Update or equivalent for bigger companies with IT control of updates.

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Phil Wilson