Debugging Installer Errors

Summary: Instructions for generating a log file from a .MSI installer (such as Rhino 4.0, 5.0, Flamingo 2.0, Brazil 2.0)

Problem

When I try to install the product, I get an installer error and the install does not complete.

Solution

Follow the procedure below to generate a text file which is a log of the actions that happen during the install, and then email the text file to McNeel Technical Support tech@mcneel.com

Procedure

Download this zip file http://s3.amazonaws.com/mcneel/misc/DebugInstaller.zip
Unzip the file inside named “DebugInstaller.exe” to your desktop.
If you are installing from a downloaded file, follow these instructions to uncompress the Downloaded Rhino 5 EXE into a folder.
Find the MSI installer. The location is different for different products:

  Rhinoceros 4.0 CD -- Name is "Rhino4_Setup.msi" in the Rhinoceros folder on the CD
  Rhinoceros 4.0 Evaluation -- Unzip the .EXE installer (like rh40eval_en_yyyymmdd.exe) and find the file "RHINO4_EVALUATION_EN.MSI"
  Rhinoceros 5.0 WIP/Beta -- Name is "rh50beta_x86_en_yyyymmdd_hhmm.msi"
  Flamingo 2.0 CD -- Name is "Flamingo2_Setup_English.msi" in the Flamingo folder on the CD
  Flamingo 2.0 Evaluation -- Unzip the .EXE installer (like fl20eval_en_yyyymmdd.exe) and find the file "FL20_.MSI"
  Brazil 2.0 CD -- Name is "Setup Brazil.msi" in the Brazil folder on the CD
  Brazil 2.0 Evaluation -- Unzip the .EXE installer (like brazil_evaluation_yyyymmdd.exe) and find the file "BRAZIL_2.0_ENGLISH.MSI"

Run DebugInstaller.exe by double-clicking on it on the desktop.
Drag the installer .MSI file onto the window with the title McNeel Install Debugger.
The install process will start. Proceed forward until the error is encountered and continue until the installer stops.
On your desktop find the new .txt file named the same as the .MSI installer file but with the extension .txt (example: Rhino4_Setup.txt). The icon looks like a spiral-bound notepad. The file extension may not show.
Email that .txt file to McNeel Technical Support at tech@mcneel.com