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IExpress Technology and the IExpress Wizard

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You can use the IExpress Wizard and command-line options that come with Windows® XP, Windows Server 2003, and Windows Vista® to simplify the creation of a setup program. Using the IExpress Wizard, you can create self-extracting files that automatically run the setup program that is contained inside. The setup program can be an .inf file or an executable program. IExpress automatically removes the setup files after installation.

The IExpress Wizard can help you carry out installations of your customized browser package, such as determining whether the computer needs to be restarted after installation. You can find the IExpress Wizard (Iexpress.exe) in the <systemdrive>:\WINDOWS\system32 folder. Certain choices you make in the wizard correspond to particular command options.

IExpress uses a Self-Extraction Directive (.sed) file to store information about your package. When you run the IExpress Wizard, you can start with an existing .sed file or create a new one by using the wizard. The .sed file contains information and instructions about the setup package.

Features of IExpress technology

  • Silent, unattended installation of Windows Internet Explorer®.

  • Support for upgrading without having to remove a previous installation.

  • Support for updating or performing a clean installation of the same build.

Settings you can specify in .inf files used by IExpress

  • Determine whether the self-installing package is for administrators or general users.

  • Set multiple ways of running the installation command, such as normal or silent modes.

  • Determine whether the IExpress dynamic-link libraries (.dll files) on a user's computer are to be updated if they are older than the current ones.

  • Specify versions, such as the operating system version range, the browser version range, or any application version range (identified by one or multiple file versions) that the package is compatible with.

  • Update and add files to the IExpress package with the UPDFILE tool without having to rebuild the package.

  • Replace Runonce with RunOnceEx (if the newer version of Iernonce.dll exists). This gives the author control over the job run order and status display.

  • Provide a mechanism for corporate administrators to set up any necessary support for roaming users.

  • Enable Internet content providers and Internet service providers to generate packages that include preconfigured desktops that present custom content to the user.

  • Provide support for multiple download sites.

  • Provide support for internal and external development, customization, expandability, and enhanced debugging.

  • Save disk space through hard-disk cleanup (Recycle Bin, Occache, Wininet cache, Temp folder) during setup, uninstallation, and maintenance mode.

  • Provide support for the extended character set beyond single-byte characters (SBCS).

  • Provide support for using the .inf file format for downloading Internet components. For more information, see Setup Information (.inf) Files.

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