Extract the content of a .MSI file

Today Greg Duncan has signalled a tool that exactly feets the needs that sometimes I had: extracting a single file from a Microsoft's .MSI installer file.

The tool is called Less MSIèrables and it's a little program written with .NET Framework. It permits you to choose a .MSI file, view its contents and extract the files you want simply by selecting them.

A useful utility that sometimes can help you to save time...

Print | posted on Wednesday, February 08, 2006 11:30 PM

Comments on this post

# re: Extract the content of a .MSI file

Requesting Gravatar...
hi.
can u tell me how to extract the contents of a .msi file speacially downloaded from microsoft..
plz help me.
bye
Left by rakesh on Jan 14, 2007 1:56 PM

# re: Extract the content of a .MSI file

Requesting Gravatar...
Wow. Love the pic on the side.
Left by on Jan 18, 2007 11:49 PM

# re: Extract the content of a .MSI file

Requesting Gravatar...
""Wow. Love the pic on the side."" what a loser
Left by man3 on Jul 16, 2007 12:59 PM

# re: Extract the content of a .MSI file

Requesting Gravatar...
From his home page:
"I'm spending most of my professional life to work with Microsoft Tecnologies."
while he should be spending time studying English.

love the scarecrow picture
wonder how he might look without a mask
Left by Foombler Jack on Nov 07, 2007 10:17 AM

# re: Extract the content of a .MSI file

Requesting Gravatar...
How can I extract .msi files????
Left by SAJI GEORGE on Jan 08, 2008 3:34 PM

# re: Extract the content of a .MSI file

Requesting Gravatar...
how about shutting the fuck up. cunt?
Left by Greek on Sep 20, 2008 5:12 PM

# re: Extract the content of a .MSI file

Requesting Gravatar...
Very nice! Would it be possible to copy all the filenames to the clipboard, for inclusion in documentation?

Brian
Left by Brian Abernathy on Sep 30, 2008 7:11 PM

# re: Extract the content of a .MSI file

Requesting Gravatar...
msiexec /a filepath to MSI file /qb TARGETDIR=filepath to target folder
Left by Melwin on Feb 15, 2009 6:06 PM

# re: Extract the content of a .MSI file

Requesting Gravatar...
pl. help me, .msi file compaile in visual studio and i need to extract the content of a .msi file.
Left by dr. yashindalal on Apr 13, 2009 7:47 PM

# re: Extract the content of a .MSI file

Requesting Gravatar...
To extract files from a .msi file at the command line, type:

msiexec /a PathToMSIFile /qb TARGETDIR=DirectoryToExtractTo

For example, to extract files from f:\zenworks\zfdagent.msi into c:\zfd701 you would type:

msiexec /a f:\zenworks\zfdagent.msi /qb TARGETDIR=c:\zfd701
Left by Yathi on Jun 30, 2009 4:09 PM

# re: Extract the content of a .MSI file

Requesting Gravatar...
Quite a useful tool, weasled me out of a small bind I got into with a MSI installation I needed to automate. Needed to automatically remove (deselect) unnecessary components - specifically, "languages". I was able to use this tool to find the component/package names ("Program" and "Localization") which I combined with ADDLOCAL= to install it just the way I needed.

Thanks for the great tool! Well, thanks to the developer, and to you for bringing it to the internet's attention ;)
Left by FalconFour on Nov 06, 2009 9:53 AM

# re: Extract the content of a .MSI file

Requesting Gravatar...
msiexec /a <YourPackageFullPath> TARGETDIR=<ExtractedMSIFullPath>

For example

msiexec /a c:\setup.msi TARGETDIR=c:\ExtractedMSI

The uncompressed setup.msi and all files along with fold structures will be extracted into c:\ExtractedMSI
Left by emma on Mar 04, 2010 6:25 PM

# re: Extract the content of a .MSI file

Requesting Gravatar...
I have hotel management.msi
window instoller package and i want to see the real content means i want to extract before install it and to see please help me what can i do?
Left by gebrehiwet on Mar 20, 2010 7:20 AM

# re: Extract the content of a .MSI file

Requesting Gravatar...
I've been getting the same "command line" solution everywhere I go, and it hasn't helped one bit. It just brings up a window titled "Windows Installer" with a bunch of commands on it and no buttons. (I have xp sp3) Is there ANY other way to extract .msi files???
Left by Cameron on May 22, 2011 9:16 PM

# re: Extract the content of a .MSI file

Requesting Gravatar...
msiexec /a <path to the msi> /qb targetdir=<path to extract msi>

wank wank wank.
Left by Big Dick Mick on Aug 24, 2011 11:20 AM

Your comment:

 (will show your gravatar)
 
Please add 7 and 4 and type the answer here: