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| Operation Flashpoint Little guide to .msi file creation |
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| The Flash Install The intention of this guide is to provide you with a step-by-step method of creating your own .msi file for Operation Flashpoint. You may use it to create .msi files for any program. The final size of the package is almost the same as the installed program. This is not a space saving exercise. I have an immense amount of unused hard-drive space, and so have ample room to store the completed package without concern. If you are intending to burn this package to disk, expect it to still require two CD's, or a DVD, or even an 800 or 900mb CD if your CD writer can handle them. This method has been tested on Win98SE, Win2K Pro and Win XP Pro. Requirements: -WinInstall LE2003 - www.ondemandsoftware.com/SP_Download/wiLE2003.asp- www.ondemandsoftware.com/SP_Download/wiLE2003.asp -Hard Disk space equivalent to 3x the size of your total flashpoint folder. -A registry with no Operation Flashpoint entries.** -Your original Flashpoint CD's and updates. ** If you have just uninstalled OFP, use a registry cleaner to find and remove any stale registry entries. It is better if you follow this guide for installing onto a machine, on which you have never installed OFP, but not absolutely essential. It is imperative that you are not installing over the top of and old installation, or into a folder created beforehand. If your Windows installation has had OFP installed on it before, it's up to you to remove as much of it as possible. Method: 1. Install WinInstall 2003 2. Ensure that the directory that you will be installing OFP into does not exist. 3. Run a registry cleaner, just to be safe. You can get away without doing this in most circumstances. Read the ** paragraph above if you skipped it. 4. Restart your machine. 5. Shut down as many programs as possible. This includes your Firewall, so if you're nervous about doing this, unplug your internet connection to put your mind at rest. Seriously, shut them down. About now you're glancing at all your pretty icons next to your windows clock, and thinking, "They'll be alright." Well in most cases they may be, but if a problem with your .msi package arises, then this is likely to be why. Although having said that, I always leave my Anti-Virus software running, and have never had a problem. (I say "always" because I create .msi files regularly at work for other programs.) 6. Run "Disco32.exe" located in the folder that you installed WinInstall to. 7. Read the welcome page if you like, and then press "next." 8. In the "Selecting Target" window, there are two input boxes. In the top area, write the name that you would like to call your .msi file. Be aware that this name will also appear in your Add/Remove Programs menu. I called mine OperationFlashpoint, but you can call yours whatever you like. 9. Notice in the bottom area, the wizard has filled in the location that the package will be created. You may change this location if you like, but do not change the filename at the end. Make sure that this drive has enough space for an entire installation of flashpoint, or two installations if it is the same drive as you will be installing the game. My installed game will live at; "D:\GamesOperationFlashpoint" however my working directory is "X:\ emp\OFP\opertationflashpoint.msi" To recap this step: "OperationFlashpoint" in the top space "X:\tempOFP\opertationflashpoint.msi" in the bottom 10. Click "next" and more then likely a message will pop up saying the directory doesn't exist, create one? Answer "yes." If you didn't get a message don't worry, just make sure nothing exists in the folder you chose to create the package in. 11. The "Specifying Work Drive" page. This is best explained by reading the information on the page. Specify a drive with sufficient space for one entire game installation. 12. The "Drive Selection" page. This is very important. As I mentioned above, my game will live on my D drive, but I am creating the package on my X drive. Also, as with most people, my Windows directory is on my C drive. In my case, I only need to add C and D to the "Drives to Scan" list. X does not have to be added, as it does not matter to the end product. C must be added, because Windows is on the C drive, and we need to monitor its changes also. Select your required drives, and click "next." 13. The "Exclusion File Selection" page. Do nothing here - unless, you have left programs running that may create file system (or registry) changes while you are creating this package. This is up to you to know what your machine is doing here. If you are unsure, shut the programs down as instructed in step 5. Click "next." 14. The "Exclusion Registry Selection" page. Exactly the same as step 13. Do nothing unless - same reason as above. Click "next." 15. Read the page and then click "Finish." Don't start surfing the web or checking emails. Don't do anything at all. Allow the WinInstall program to do its thing, after which it will shut itself down. Again, be told, do not start web-surfing or using other programs, until you have finished with this guide. I mean the whole guide, not just this step. 16. Now install your game, just as you normally would. Update it, add whatever mods and addons you like if you so desire, but be aware that this will directly reflect the final size of your entire package. Due to addons being regularly updated, I have found it preferable to stick with the officially installed files and updates. My standard, fully updated, OFP directory is still 1.08 GB, due to resistance. Yours will be more if you install "Red Hammer" as well. 17. As soon as you have finished installing the game, run "Disco32.exe" again. You will notice that the welcome page is different. If it is not different, you have stuffed up and need to start again. 18. Ensure that "Perform the 'After' snapshot now" is the selected option, and click "next." 19. WinInstall will now create your package. So don't touch anything. When it is done, it will close itself down, and your package will have been created in the location you specified in step 9. If I missed anything or you have some queries, post them on the forum or email me at evolmatt@hotmail.com You may edit this document as much as you like, claim it as your own, sell it, sleep with it, whatever you like, I don't care. |
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