MSI file for this microsoft visual C++ 2005 Redistributable Package

Download the Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 SP1 Redistributable Package from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=200B2FD9-AE1A-4A14-984D-389C36F85647&displaylang=en


Then have your script execute the vcredist_x86.exe /Q


Commandline switches are

/Q - Silent install

/C - Extract files. If you want to the MSi instead.



If you choose to use the MSI instead then you will need to extract it and use the following command to execute silently.


Msiexec.exe /i vcredist.msi /qb-!


(found here:
http://www.itninja.com/software/microsoft/visual-c-2005-redistributable/8-1662
)

I would like to install this through Group Policy in Active Directory.  Is this possible?

Yup this is possible

Create a distribution point

1. Log on to the server as an administrator.
2. Create a shared network folder where you will put the Microsoft Windows Installer package (.msi file) that you want to distribute.
3. Set permissions on the share to allow access to the distribution package.
4. Copy or install the package to the distribution point. Now run the administrative installation (setup.exe /a) to copy the files to the distribution point.

Create a Group Policy Object

1. Start the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in. To do this, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Active Directory Users and Computers.
2. In the console tree, right-click your domain, and then click Properties.
3. Click the Group Policy tab, and then click New.
4. Type a name for this new policy (for example, Visual C++ distribution), and then press Enter.
5. Click Properties, and then click the Security tab.
6. Clear the Apply Group Policy check box for the security groups that you don't want this policy to apply to.
7. Select the Apply Group Policy check box for the groups that you want this policy to apply to.
8. When you are finished, click OK.

Assign a package

1. Start the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in. To do this, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Active Directory Users and Computers.
2. In the console tree, right-click your domain, and then click Properties.
3. Click the Group Policy tab, select the policy that you want, and then click Edit.
4. Under Computer Configuration, expand Software Settings.
5. Right-click Software installation, point to New, and then click Package.
6. In the Open dialog box, type the full Universal Naming Convention (UNC) path of the shared installer package that you want. For example, \\file server\share\file name.msi.

Important Do not use the Browse button to access the location. Make sure that you use the UNC path of the shared installer package.

7. Click Open.
8. Click Assigned, and then click OK. The package is listed in the right-pane of the Group Policy window.
9. Close the Group Policy snap-in, click OK, and then close the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in.
10.When the client computer starts, the managed software package is automatically installed.

You could also use a login script, startup script...

Or use the technique described here:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms235317%28VS.80%29.aspx

But how do I create an MSI file so that I can assign a package?

run the .exe with /C parameter. The .msi should get extracted then.

It just produces another .exe file

It produces a file with "short name" (VCREDIST~3.exe).
run the produced file this way:
VCREDIST~3.exe /C /T:c:\temp\vcredist  (of course, replace the path after /T: by the actual destination path)
You will then have the .cab and .msi files in the destination folder

Does the resulting file ever get corrupted.  Thats what I get...