Silently Installing the Windows 7 AIK
Posted by Trevor Sullivan on 2011/02/08
So I’m working on some automated lab build “stuff” and I tried to silently install the Windows 7 AIK using a simple call to msiexec. Apparently there is something built into the Windows 7 AIK MSI package that prevents it from being installed non-interactively. This is a bit frustrating.
Upon execution of the msiexec command, I received a message in the MSI log, stating: “This MSI can only be installed with full UI.”
I would surmise that, with some MSI hacking, or using a transform, this behavior could be circumvented.
Update (2011-02-09)
Simon and Samuel both posted a solution in the comments. You can use a transform included in the WAIK, like this:
msiexec /i waikx86.msi TRANSFORMS=”waikx86.mst” /qn
msiexec /i waikamd64.msi TRANSFORMS=”waikamd64.mst” /qn
Thanks for the help folks!
Trevor Sullivan's Tech Room 
Simon Giesemann said
Using a transfrom (mst) remove the UILevel = 5 condition from the LaunchCondition table.
Simon Giesemann said
I just had a closer look, there’s already a transform that does this for you, so all you need is one of the following command lines.
msiexec /i waikx86.msi TRANSFORMS=”waikx86.mst” /qn
msiexec /i waikamd64.msi TRANSFORMS=”waikamd64.mst” /qn
Trevor Sullivan said
Rockin’ — thanks so much!
Samuel_b said
If you open the msi file (in anyone of the free tools e.g. Orca, InstEd or AdminStudio ConfigMgr Edition) and create a new transform, in LaunchCondition table drop the row with the condition ULeve l -5 and in the Property table drop the row with property String_MustHaveFullUI. Specify the transform when you call the msiexec command.
Trevor Sullivan said
Thank you! I appreciate the input.
Mike Stitzel said
Hi, I am trying to do a silent install of windows 7 AIK for AMD64. I am a UNIX Admin and got the bright idea
to add the ability to build Windows PC’s from a Solaris
Jumpstart server, you can do anything with UNIX, I mean how hard could it be, that was about a year ago. I have learned a lot since then, and the more I learn, the more I realize how little I know.
Anyway, forgive me if I am missing the obvious, where are you getting the waikamd64.mst file from? I have googled it to death, I must be missing something.
because no one else is having this problem.
Here are the files extracted from KB3AIK_EN.iso:
Docs
en-us
HotFix
WinPE
WinPE_LangPacks
aikamd64.cab
aikia64.cab
aikx86.cab
AutoRun.inf
Background.bmp
datapane.bmp
msxml6amd64.msi
msxml6ia64.msi
msxml6x86.msi
NetFXamd64.exe
NetFXia64.exe
NetFXx86.exe
Neutral.cab
readme.htm
StartCD.exe
StartCD.INI
WAIK_License.rtf
wAIKAMD64.msi
wAIKIA64.msi
wAIKX86.msi
WinPE.cab
I also extracted the 5 CAB files, but not of the cab files that were created from that extraction.
It looks to me like I need to open the MSI file and create a new transform, you are loosing me when you say the transform already exists.
Can you please hold my hand 😉
Now if I can just figure out how to do a Office 2010 x64 silent… x32 is easy, x64 has issues…
And if you could respond to mikekstitzel@gmail.com it would be helpful.
Thanks much!