topic Re: Possible to customize installation to EXCLUDE Autodesk Desktop Connect Servi in Installation & Licensing Forum

Possible to customize installation to EXCLUDE Autodesk Desktop Connect Service?

jferrell77 — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 19:46:35 GMT

I'm working on upgrading my users to Inv Pro 2019. Unfortunately, during the install our AV program is blocking the tmp msi file that is created when 'AutodeskDesktopConnect.msi' is ran. It will still install Inventor properly, but when I then try to install Inventor2019.1 update, AV blocks it again, and that install will fail completely.

Is it possible to install Inventor or the update without having to include the Desktop Connect Service? I've looked into the custom install settings and there was no option to not include it, so I am wondering if their is some special workaround without having to disable AV (IT is not in favor of this).

Re: Possible to customize installation to EXCLUDE Autodesk Desktop Connect Servi

SBix26 — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 00:32:30 GMT

I don't know the answer, but you're much more likely to get it in the Installation & Licensing Forum.

Sam B
Inventor Pro 2019.1.1 | Windows 7 SP1
LinkedIn

Re: Possible to customize installation to EXCLUDE Autodesk Desktop Connect Servi

jferrell77 — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 13:10:16 GMT

Great idea. Thanks!

Re: Possible to customize installation to EXCLUDE Autodesk Desktop Connect Servi

DarrenP — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 13:41:55 GMT

you can probably modify the setup.ini to not install the desktop app would be the only way i know

Re: Possible to customize installation to EXCLUDE Autodesk Desktop Connect Servi

m_latz — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 14:10:03 GMT

What you can do is extract the msi patches (msp files) and msi files from the update exe package (WiX) and install only those parts you need.

The package contains the following updates:

regards

Markus

Re: Possible to customize installation to EXCLUDE Autodesk Desktop Connect Servi

natasha.l — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 16:20:11 GMT

Hello @jferrell77,

Thank you for posting.

The Autodesk Desktop Connector service is required to connect to Autodesk servers. Please try the following steps below:

Please temporarily disable security settings like Antivirus, Firewall & UAC on your Windows operating system.
Also, be sure you have Windows Administrator permissions while installing the update.
Adjust Lan Settings & Proxy Settings

Let us know if you have any questions.

Please "Accept Solution" if a reply or replies have helped resolve the issue or answered your question, to help others in the community.

Re: Possible to customize installation to EXCLUDE Autodesk Desktop Connect Servi

jferrell77 — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 18:18:57 GMT

@natasha.lThanks, but IT is looking for a solution that doesn't require disabling our AV software every time we have to do an install. As far as being required to reach the servers, I don't think that is something we need to be able to do.

Re: Possible to customize installation to EXCLUDE Autodesk Desktop Connect Servi

jferrell77 — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 18:20:05 GMT

@m_latzThanks! That seems like the best option for now. How can I extract the files?

Re: Possible to customize installation to EXCLUDE Autodesk Desktop Connect Servi

m_latz — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 22:01:58 GMT

@jferrell77,

as I said, the developers used WiX (Windows Installer XML) to build the package.

There is a WiX Toolset available, with which you can extract the files.

Try to download https://github.com/wixtoolset/wix3/releases/download/wix3111rtm/wix311-binaries.zip

Extract to a folder and use:

dark.exe Inventor2019.1.exe -x .\out

Then all parts of the package are extracted to the ".\out" folder.

Look at the .\out\AttachedContainer folder, there you find all msi and msp packages.

Hope that helps.

regards

Markus

Re: Possible to customize installation to EXCLUDE Autodesk Desktop Connect Servi

jferrell77 — Sat, 11 Aug 2018 01:59:51 GMT

@m_latz I'm sorry, but apparently I am going to need a more dumbed down version of your instructions.

I was able to download the wix311, but I cannot do anything with it. I'm not sure exactly what you mean by:

Extract to a folder and use:

dark.exe Inventor2019.1.exe -x .\out

Use it where exactly?

Re: Possible to customize installation to EXCLUDE Autodesk Desktop Connect Servi

m_latz — Sat, 11 Aug 2018 16:48:50 GMT

Okay,

I've created a short film to show the usage.

dark usage from WiX (Windows Installer XML)

If you have further question let me know.

regards

Markus

Re: Possible to customize installation to EXCLUDE Autodesk Desktop Connect Servi

jferrell77 — Sat, 11 Aug 2018 21:41:37 GMT

@m_latz

You are AWESOME! Thanks so much!