MSI Files - What are they ?

An msi file is an installation file that contains all the necessary components to install an application.

A typical msi file contains the application installation package, an information and data stream, internal and external source files, and may also include additional *.cab files required for the installation.

Windows Live Msi Files:

Windows Live applications files are currently not available for direct download but for most Live programs an msi file for the respective Live application is placed on the machine in a hidden folder during installation.  The msi files can be used for installation or reinstallation on the same machine and also copied for use on another machine or saved for archival purposes.

Finding them in Windows:

The following instructions are for Windows Vista (the location is the same for XP)

1. To view hidden folders

   Open Windows Explorer
      - On the Menu bar, click in sequence on Tools/Folder Options/View

   Scroll to these two items and verify that
    -  'Show Hidden Files/Folders' is enabled(i.e. checked; toggled on)
    -  'Hide Protected Operating System Files'  is disabled

2. Use Windows Explorer to navigate to this location

   C:\Program Files\Common Files\WindowsLiveInstaller\MsiSources

3. Upon inspection it obvious the filenames are not exactly descriptive of the application(s).
    - e.g. Windows Live Mail =  Install_{184E7118-0295-43C4-B72C-1D54AA75AAF7}.msi

4. The following table provides the conversion.

5. The msi file after copying to another location for archiving or later use can be renamed(e.g. LiveMail.msi)

Revisions:

Dec 08, 2007: Original Published Date

May 23, 2008: Windows Live Tags Added

• Windows Live Mail
  Nntp:
       news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.windows.live.mail.desktop
  Web-interface: Http
       http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/list/en-us/default.aspx?dg=microsoft.public.windows.live.mail.desktop

• Windows Live Messenger
  Nntp:
       news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.windows.live.messenger
  Web-interface: Http
       http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/list/en-us/default.aspx?dg=microsoft.public.windows.live.messenger

• Windows Live Photo Gallery
  Nntp:
       news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.windows.live.photogallery
  Web-interface: Http
       http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/list/en-us/default.aspx?dg=microsoft.public.windows.live.photogallery

Revisions:

Dec 07, 2007: Original Published Date

May 23, 2008: Windows Live Tags added