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Could you recommend good Installer software?

by alextsui
6 replies
Hi everyone,

I'm familiar with VB.net programming and mostly have been creating programs for my own personal use. Currently I'm using Microsoft VB.net 2010 (Express edition)

Now I'm looking at ways in which I can package and create installers for distributing VB.net programs. I don't really like the "Publish" feature that comes with VB.net- doesn't seem very user-friendly. I would like to let my users run a professional-looking installer or setup file and have everything installed smoothly without any problem. What software (free if available) that you recommend or are using for this?

Thanks and regards,
Alex
#good #installer #recommend #software
  • Profile picture of the author Manfred Ekblad
    The Nullsoft installer is good:

    Features - NSIS
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  • Profile picture of the author alextsui
    Thanks for the tip. Looks good, I'll check it out.

    Regards,
    Alex
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  • Profile picture of the author hhunt
    Inno setup is another excellent installer I have used myself. Try it out as well Inno Setup
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  • Profile picture of the author chuawenching
    Actually you can create a setup package from Visual Studio itself .. not sure about the express edition though. Can customise from there.

    Furthermore, you can use the clickonce technology, that is so powerful for software distributions .. else just go ahead with 3rd party installers (which obviously has better look like you proposed)
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  • Profile picture of the author LynxSI
    IMO, you always "get what you pay for". If you are sensitive to getting the highest quality "professional" installer, you'll need to pay for something.

    I use InstallShield. Most users recognize the installer right away as "normal" from seeing so many other apps installed this way. InstallShield will also help you do lots of tasks easily that are difficult to do in other free environments.

    FYI, MS Windows InstallScript is totally free. Its the tools that cost money! Everything you can do in InstallShield for windows isntaller could be done by hand editing script files and such. What you pay for is the ability to author this stuff quickly and easily.
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    Ben Swayne
    Lynx System Integrators Ltd.
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