install .msi through GPO

[jordanking]

Hello,

I am trying to install a program to workstations through the group policy. The program is a MS Access packaged solution into a .msi file (which installs a .accdr into the c: drive and adds shortcuts to all users desktops and start menu). This program fequently undergoes changes and I want to be able to uninstall the previous version and install a new version.

Currently I set up a GPO to install the program. The GPO assigns the program to specific workstations, not users. When the computer restarts the program is not installed, but the event log reports that is does.

EVENT LOG:

Event Type:	Information
Event Source:	Application Management
Event Category:	None
Event ID:	301
Date:		1/28/2009
Time:		9:26:42 AM
User:		NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
Computer:	RS-YVONNEV

Description:
The assignment of application Regent Data Management System from policy Regent DMS install succeeded.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at [URL unfurl="true"]http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.[/URL]

I am not sure what to change to get the program to actuall install.

Any help is appreciated.

JK

.....
I'd rather be surfing

 

[ShackDaddy]

Jordan, if I were you, I'd post this in the Windows 2003 Server forum, where more app deployment via SMS and GP is done. You're more likely to get the kind of feedback you need.

This probably isn't too helpful to you at this point, but I'll just say that I worked for a company that deployed changes to in-house apps this way for several years until I came up with a better way: I installed a couple of load balanced terminal servers and we had the apps installed on those and provided a single locked-down user desktop to everyone to access the app. Then we would just redeploy the app on those two systems when there were changes, and troubleshooting was easy. Having two servers allowed us to take one down for changes and then bring it up, taking the other one down next for updates... I know it's a different paradigm, but it drastically reduced the amount of attention that we had to give to the desktops.

Dave Shackelford
ThirdTier.net

 

[markdmac]

Did you add the machines to the GPO security (preferably a group) and did you check "Apply" in the security settings?

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

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