KB197147 - Command-line switches for IExpress software update packages

Article ID: 197147

Article Last Modified on 10/26/2007

Microsoft IExpress

This article was previously published under Q197147

SUMMARY

Microsoft packages software updates by using several different self-extracting file formats that automatically run a Setup program that is contained inside the package. This article describes the command-line switches that you can use with software update packages that use IExpress technology. IExpress technology is used by Microsoft to create software update packages for some versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer, some versions of Windows, and various other products. To determine if a software update package uses IExpress, follow these steps:

Right-click the package, and then click Properties.
On the General tab, note the Description. IExpress software update packages contain Win32 Cabinet Self-Extractor for the package description.

Note If the package description is Self-Extracting Cabinet, the software update package is a Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, Windows XP, or Windows Server 2003 package that uses Hotfix.exe or Update.exe as the Setup program. For additional information about command-line switches that are used by Hotfix.exe and Update.exe, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

262841 Command-Line Switches For Windows Software Update Packages

If the package uses the .msi or .msp file name extension, and then the software update package uses Windows Installer as the Setup program. For additional information about command-line switches used by Windows Installer, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/Aa367988

For additional information about the standard terminology that Microsoft is adopting to describe software updates, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

824684 Description of the Standard Terminology That Is Used to Describe Microsoft Software Updates

MORE INFORMATION

When you run an IExpress software update package with no command-line switches, the default Setup program is automatically run to install the software update. The Setup program for an IExpress package is either a Setup Information (.inf) file or an executable program.

If the IExpress package uses a Setup Information (.inf) file as its Setup program, you can use IExpress command-line switches to control the installation options for the package. If the IExpress package uses an executable program (for example, an .exe file or a .com file) as its Setup program, use the switches for the Setup program to control the installation options instead of the IExpress switches.

Note You can use the /c:path switch to pass parameters (switches) to the Setup program or specify a different Setup program for the package. For example, the following command-line syntax can be used to run the Internet Explorer Setup package (The IExpress package Ie6setup.exe) and pass parameters to the Setup program (Ie6wzd.exe) that is contained in the package.

Ie6setup IExpress switches /c:" ie6wzd Internet Explorer Setup switches"

The following table lists the command-line switches that are supported by IExpress.

Switch	Description
/q	Specifies quiet mode, or suppresses prompts.
/q:u	Specifies user-quiet mode, which presents some dialog boxes to the user.
/q:a	Specifies administrator-quiet mode, which does not present any dialog boxes to the user.
/t:path	Specifies the target folder for extracting files.
/c	Extracts the files without installing them. If /t: path is not specified, you are prompted for a target folder.
/c:path	Specifies the UNC path and name of the Setup .inf or .exe file.
/r:n	Never restarts the computer after installation.
/r:i	Prompts the user to restart the computer if a restart is required, except when used with /q:a.
/r:a	Always restarts the computer after installation.
/r:s	Restarts the computer after installation without prompting the user.
/n:v	No version checking - Install the package over any previous version.

Note The use of the /n:v switch is unsupported and may result in an unstartable system. If the installation is unsuccessful, you should consult your support professional to understand why it fails.

REFERENCES

For additional information , visit the following Microsoft Web sites:

Explorer Administration Kit (IEAK) Home Page

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/ie/bb219517.aspx

IExpress Batch-mode Setup Switches

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/ie/ieak/techinfo/deploy/60/en/iexpswit.mspx

Internet Explorer Batch-mode Setup Switches

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/ie/ieak/techinfo/deploy/60/en/ieswitch.mspx

Additional query words: script batch mode iexpress IE Security Patches ieak updates Windows Update Setup hotfix security update security_update security_patch connector tool driver update rollup critical update service pack feature pack development kit guidance sdk ddk fix HTMLHelp HTML Help HHUpdate.exe DirectX DXSetup IExpress.exe Wextract.exe

Keywords: kbproductlink kbinfo KB197147