ALLUSERS parameter is ignored by Wix installer

[liangming2003]

I have very simple Wix installer, it extracts a installer and a script(install.cmd) to c:\Windows\temp and run the script.

If run the Wix installer, the INSTALL.log is like this:

Property(S): WixPerUserFolder = C:\windows\system32\config\systemprofile\AppData\Local\Apps\Remote Desktop

If run the install.cmd in command line, the INSTALL.log is like this:

Property(S): WixPerUserFolder = C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Apps\Remote Desktop

It seems that ALLUSERS parameter is ignored by Wix installer. Any solution for this problem?

AppInstaller.wxs

<Package Description='AppInstaller script' InstallerVersion='200' InstallScope="perMachine" Compressed='yes' />
<Property Id="AllUSERS" Value="1"/>

<Media Id='1' Cabinet='setup.cab' EmbedCab='yes' />

<!-- Package components: define which files to be included in self-extracting package. -->
<Directory Id='TARGETDIR' Name='SourceDir'>
    <Directory Id="WindowsFolder">
        <Directory Id="INSTALLLOCATION" Name="Temp">
            <Component Id='AppInstallerComponent' DiskId='1' Guid=''>
                <File Id="File0" Name="RemoteDesktop_1.2.5255.0_x64.msi" Source="Files\RemoteDesktop_1.2.5255.0_x64.msi" />
            </Component>
        </Directory>
    </Directory>


    <Directory Id="TempFolder">
        <Directory Id="tmpdir" Name="~_tmpdir">
            <Component Id='AppInstallScript' DiskId='1' Guid=''>
                <File Id="File100" Name="install.cmd" Source="Files\install.cmd" />
            </Component>
        </Directory>  
    </Directory>  

    
</Directory>

<Feature Id='InstallFeature' Title='Install Feature' Level='1'>
    <ComponentRef Id='AppInstallerComponent' />
    <ComponentRef Id='AppInstallerScript' />
</Feature>

<!-- Run Action: define which file to run after the package is extracted -->
<CustomAction Id="RunWrapExe" Return="asyncNoWait" Execute="deferred" 
              FileKey="File100" ExeCommand=""
              HideTarget="no" Impersonate="no" />

<InstallExecuteSequence>
    <Custom Action="RunWrapExe" 
            After="InstallFiles">NOT REMOVE~="ALL"</Custom>
    <PublishComponents Suppress="yes" />
    <PublishFeatures Suppress="yes" />
    <PublishProduct Suppress="yes" />
    <RegisterProduct Suppress="yes" />
    <RegisterUser Suppress="yes" />
</InstallExecuteSequence>

install.cmd

REM The following is required in all INSTALL.CMD files
Call c:\system.sav\util\SetVariables.cmd
Set block=%~dp0
Set TMP=C:\Windows\Temp
Set TEMP=%TMP%
 
REM Install Remote Desktop & capture logs
start /wait msiexec.exe **ALLUSERS=1** /i C:\Windows\Temp\RemoteDesktop_1.2.5255.0_x64.msi /l* C:\Windows\Temp\INSTALL.log /quiet /norestart

REM if %ERRORLEVEL% equ 0 del /F /Q C:\Windows\Temp\RemoteDesktop_1.2.5255.0_x64.msi

[liangming2003]

logs comparison:

[chrpai]

You claim to be using an MSI to lay down another MSI and install it from the InstallExecute sequence in deferred no impersonation context. That simply isn't possible due to the _MSIMutex limitation of Windows Installer.

You should look at Burn, WiX's bootstrapper/bundler. It's an EXE and can cache and install MSIs like this scenario.