The Windows Installer can do more than just install an application onto a target computer. It can install an application in different states. The primary installation states are:
- Run From My Computer -- This installs an application onto a target computer in a manner similar to that of traditional non-Windows Installation applications. The entire application is installed on the computer. If you need to install other features, you must run the setup routine again.
- Run From Network (Source) -- This allows the application or feature to run from the source location. That location can be a distribution server hard disk or CD-ROM. Note that when you select this option, some files will be installed onto the target computer. The main application files will remain on the network server.
- Installed On First Use -- This places shortcuts to applications in the Start menu and in the Office toolbar. However, such an application won't be installed until the user clicks on a Windows Installer shortcut.
The Windows Installer service is responsible for the self-healing capabilities of the appropriate applications. However, you must use the shortcuts created by the installer to begin the program. For example, if you manually create a shortcut to the file Winword.exe, the application won't be able to fix itself in the event of missing or corrupt files. This type of shortcut, known as a hard-coded shortcut, is not Windows Installer service-aware. Creating a custom installation
To deploy Outlook 2000 as part of a custom installation of Office 2000, you must create what is known as a Transform file. A Transform file, which uses the file extension .mst, is a record of the differences between an application's Windows Installer file (the .msi file) and the customisations made to the application's .msi file. The .msi file contains all the instructions required to install a Windows Installer-aware application. The .mst file contains the installation customisations you applied to the .msi file. You'll use the Custom Installation Wizard to create a Transform file that will be applied to Office 2000's .msi file.





