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Software Deployment - Bluebeam
Hello Experts,
I am looking for a suggestion of a better way to deploy a software package called Bluebeam. They offer two methods for deployment, a Silent Setup and a MSI Deploy. I currently have used the MSI method several dozen times for each Bluebeam install / upgrade. The problem with the MSI method is that it does not Uninstall the previous version and I need to run a supplied script to remove the previous version before the new version is installed. This is kinda of a pain because I have to set each machine GPO to run the uninstall script, wait for the user to tell me it uninstalled, then assign the install GPO to the machine. This is a pain in the a$$.
Bluebeam also offers a Silent Setup method which automatically removes the previous version and installs the new version which I would like to look at using. My problem is the Silent Setup is a script. I know that scripts run every time the machine starts up. I only want this script to run once, and not every time the machine starts up. How do I do this?
(I have attached the section of the install instructions that discusses the setup methods.)
Pages-from-bluebeam-enterprise-s.pdf
I am looking for a suggestion of a better way to deploy a software package called Bluebeam. They offer two methods for deployment, a Silent Setup and a MSI Deploy. I currently have used the MSI method several dozen times for each Bluebeam install / upgrade. The problem with the MSI method is that it does not Uninstall the previous version and I need to run a supplied script to remove the previous version before the new version is installed. This is kinda of a pain because I have to set each machine GPO to run the uninstall script, wait for the user to tell me it uninstalled, then assign the install GPO to the machine. This is a pain in the a$$.
Bluebeam also offers a Silent Setup method which automatically removes the previous version and installs the new version which I would like to look at using. My problem is the Silent Setup is a script. I know that scripts run every time the machine starts up. I only want this script to run once, and not every time the machine starts up. How do I do this?
(I have attached the section of the install instructions that discusses the setup methods.)
Pages-from-bluebeam-enterprise-s.pdf
ASKER
Sorry experts, this question got put on the back back burner. I'll get to it next week.
ASKER
Sorry for the long delay here...
@ McKnife: According to Bluebeam install I can not use the upgrades tab to upgrade the new MSI package.
@ matrixnz: Can you possibly explain on your idea a little more? I was trying to get something similar to work as a Startup script, but it will not run.
@ McKnife: According to Bluebeam install I can not use the upgrades tab to upgrade the new MSI package.
@ matrixnz: Can you possibly explain on your idea a little more? I was trying to get something similar to work as a Startup script, but it will not run.
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ASKER
I think it will leave multiple versions on the computers, but I should ask them. Otherwise I'll tackle the script again and report back.
ASKER
Hi experts, sorry this is taking so long to get back.
Ok, I think I'm getting closer. I can run the script after the user logs in to the workstation using the admin rights and it runs fine. But set to run as a startup script, it creates the log file but the install line does not run. Could it be that it can not see the UNC path at the time it is starting up?
Here is my script...
Ok, I think I'm getting closer. I can run the script after the user logs in to the workstation using the admin rights and it runs fine. But set to run as a startup script, it creates the log file but the install line does not run. Could it be that it can not see the UNC path at the time it is starting up?
Here is my script...
@echo off
set Logfile="C:\Program Files\Bluebeam_1160.log"
if not exist %Logfile% (
echo Bluebeam 11.6.0 installed on %date% at %time% >> %LogFile%
\\xserver\Deployment\BlueBeam\BbRevuSetup1160.exe /z"/SN:XXXXXXX /PK:YYYYY-ZZZZZZZ" /s /f1"\\xserver\Deployment\BlueBeam\setup.iss" /V"Edition=1")
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ASKER
I basically did that same thing by right clicking the script and running it as the administrator. It runs fine, but when I try to run it as a startup script all it does is create the log file. It does not run the executable to install the program. So I might have a login / network connection to the \\xserver issue. Suggestion?
Sorry, this is not the same. Do as I suggested and run as system, not as administrator.
Please respond or finalize it, this question is growing old :)
ASKER
Sorry, I forgot about this one. This is a startup script and it is suppose to run on a system level. I'm not sure why it is not doing so.
To proceed, please exactly follow https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/28289283/Software-Deployment-Bluebeam.html?anchorAnswerId=39808727#a39808727
ASKER
I'm trying to use the psexec and I don't think it is working correctly. I have not used this command before. I downloaded it and have the file located in a folder on the C:. Do I run this command from the run or within a cmd window?
(I am trying to run this command while I'm logged in as a general user, no admin rights.)
(I am trying to run this command while I'm logged in as a general user, no admin rights.)
ASKER
never mind, I missed the instructions to run in a CMD window with admin rights...stand by...
ASKER
I entered the line 5 in the cmd and it simply returns back to the return prompt. No errors, no response. The command is written to run silently, but after I wait, there is nothing installed. There is also no big hard drive usage, so I can tell nothing is being installed.
I checked the event logs and there are no signs of errors there either. Not sure where to go with this one. Yes, this is getting very old.
I checked the event logs and there are no signs of errors there either. Not sure where to go with this one. Yes, this is getting very old.
Take out the silent switch.
ASKER
Interesting, when I remove the silent switch, the install window opened up to start in installation. Ok...well, now I'm stumped. I need a silent install. I don't need my users interacting with this. Suggestion?
You haven't finished the diagnostic steps. Please continue the installation as user system and see where it fails.
ASKER
Good point...I'm usually better at this and should have done so.
Ok, I manually went through the install prompts and it starts to install the program. HOWEVER, when it reaches towards the end it returns...
"Error: -3 The system cannot find the path specified."
I'm not sure what this is referring to, I have contacted Bluebeam to see what the error means. I also noticed that some of the prompts during the install process should have been defaulted per the script line, and they were not. I'm waiting for a response from Bluebeam.
Ok, I manually went through the install prompts and it starts to install the program. HOWEVER, when it reaches towards the end it returns...
"Error: -3 The system cannot find the path specified."
I'm not sure what this is referring to, I have contacted Bluebeam to see what the error means. I also noticed that some of the prompts during the install process should have been defaulted per the script line, and they were not. I'm waiting for a response from Bluebeam.
ASKER
The interesting thing is that the script runs fine (with the silent flag) when I execute it and run it as the administrator. I think something else is going on here. Thoughts?
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ASKER
Ok I'll see what they come back with.
Add a Documents folder to:
C:\Windows\system32\config \systempro file\
Re-run the install as system
You could create all the folders listed under: [HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-18\Softw are\Micros oft\Window s\CurrentV ersion\Exp lorer\User Shell Folders] if they don't exist already.
Some products check for and/or create folders within the "Documents" folder during installation, if it can't find the path it errors.
C:\Windows\system32\config
Re-run the install as system
You could create all the folders listed under: [HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-18\Softw
Some products check for and/or create folders within the "Documents" folder during installation, if it can't find the path it errors.
Good point, could work.
ASKER
Are you saying to add a documents folder as in this?...
C:\Windows\system32\config \systempro file\Docum ents\
(As in just add a folder called Documents?)
C:\Windows\system32\config
(As in just add a folder called Documents?)
Yes that is correct
ASKER
Ok, I added the folder and executed the 5th line of the script under the psexec command prompt. It still did nothing. Just returned back to the prompt.
ASKER
I have decided to abandon the Bluebeam silent install and go with the scripted uninstall and reinstall method that have been doing. Bluebeam was little to no help with this. Thank for trying experts.
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