I’ve been given a task to create an MSI for deployment for .Net Framework 2.0 for Windows 2000 Server and Windows Server 2003.
The redistributable package downloaded from Microsoft is dotnetfx.exe
I can extract all the files using the command:
dotnetfx.exe /C /T:c:\dotnet2.0
But I’m left with 56 files including the MSI, but also an install.exe. When I run the MSI, it says I need to install using the install.exe.
.Net Framework 1.1 was easy as it extracted an MSI and a CAB, which I was able to include into the MSI using msidb.exe and Orca, leaving just a single MSI file with embedded CABs.
The problem I have is that the deployment method we use will only allow single MSI files to be deployed and executed.
Can anyone suggest any other method to create a single MSI for .Net Framework 2.0?
Failing this, I will be able to either “snapshot” the installation, which I’m not that keen on as they’re not fully portable and may conflict with previously installed applications. Or Zip the package up and deploy silently using a script, but that will double the storage requirements.
If anyone’s curious, we use Opsware as the deployment method, so SMS or any other method of deployment is not allowed. Also, I only have access to “freeware”; Orca, Windows Installer SDK, WinstallLE etc.
Thanks.
(Edited to bump.)
(Edit2 Just to 
)