Internet Explorer Silent Install Does Not Reinstall Components

ID: Q197234

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Internet Explorer Administration Kit version 4.01a Service Pack 1
Microsoft Internet Explorer Administration Kit versions 4.0, 4.01, 4.01a

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

SYMPTOMS

When you install an IEAK-created package of Internet Explorer 4.0 in silent mode onto a computer that already has Internet Explorer 4.0 installed, the components are not reinstalled and setup shuts down unexpectedly.

CAUSE

The Internet Explorer Setup program checks the computer to see which components are already installed on the computer. If a component is already installed, setup will bypass the installation of that component. In most cases, this means that setup will bypass installing most, if not all of the components, and then shut down immediately.

WORKAROUND

There are two methods to work around this problem:

Method 1:

Do not run setup in silent mode. When you run setup in a non-silent mode, you are prompted to "Upgrade only newer items" or "Reinstall All."

Method 2:

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys And Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it. If you are running Windows NT, you should also update your Emergency Repair Disk (ERD).

1. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).

2. Locate and remove the Globally Unique Identifier (GUID) key

   for the component that needs to be reinstalled under the
   following key in the registry:

      HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Active Setup\
      Installed Components

   NOTE: The above registry key is one path; it has been wrapped for
   readability.

3. Quit Registry Editor.

NOTE: The Internet Explorer Setup program checks this key to determine what components are already installed. Under this key, each component is identified by a subkey with the GUID number. If this key is deleted, the component will be reinstalled by the Setup program.

MORE INFORMATION

In silent mode, setup defaults to Upgrade Newer items only. There is no method or switch to change this.

Version           : WINDOWS:4.0,4.01,4.01a
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbprb
Solution Type     : kbpending

Last Reviewed: December 11, 1998