Windows Installer

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Windows Installer (msiexec.exe, formerly named Microsoft Installer, codename Darwin) is a software component and application programming interface (API) of Microsoft Windows, used to install, maintain, and remove software. The installing information, and optionally the related files, are packaged in installation packages, loosely relational databases structured as COM Structured Storages and commonly known as "MSI files", from their default filename extensions. The packages with the file extensions mst contain Windows Installer "Transformation Scripts", those with the msm extensions contain "Merge Modules" and the file extension pcp is used for "Patch Creation Properties". Windows Installer contains significant changes from its predecessor, Setup API. New features include a graphical user interface (GUI) framework and automatic generation of the uninstallation sequence. Windows Installer is positioned as an alternative to stand-alone executable installer frameworks such as older versions...

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