The 4.8 version delivers full CD/DVD AutoRun support, complete with a Vista-compliant Autorun launcher. Other Windows Vista installer improvements are Default Programs support, digitally signing patches and enabling least-privileged patching without UAC prompts.

An installer's packaging can vary a lot, depending on the goals it has to meet. The installer may be required to allow running the product directly from a CD or DVD, it may need to be as small as possible for quick online downloads or to be a standard MSI for corporate network deployment. Advanced Installer supports all these scenarios and more, allowing you to select the best installer compression for your situation.

The 4.7 version greatly improves the Windows Installer Vista User Account Control (UAC) experience with automatically added (optional) shield icons on MSI dialog buttons, the ability to digitally sign any individual file included in the installation and to configure required execution levels for executable and MSI files.

Staying up to date with the latest installer events can be challenging, considering the fast pace things usually move at. For your convenience, Advanced Installer is now offering two free web feeds you can subscribe to.

The 4.6 version enhances the Windows Vista compatibility by adding support for IIS 7 and the Restart Manager. Also new for IIS is the anonymous access and authentication control (users and groups) support and a quick introductory tutorial. Other tutorials and how-to's on different topics were also added.

Version 4.5 brings Windows Vista compatibility and support, support for database server configuration and SQL script deployment, Windows Task Scheduler, and the ability to pack features in separate CAB files for on-demand web installs. Also new is a testing tool for Windows Installer searches, a custom edit control for visually editing MSI Formatted fields and many more.

Version 4.4 implements the LZMA compression algorithm in bootstrapper for up to 50% smaller install packages. Also new are the support for creating user accounts and groups, a dependency detector for EXE/DLL files, the Ukrainian and Czech localizations, a set of predefined launch conditions, and many more.

Version 4.3 improves the IIS support with conditional installs, MIME types configuration, default document list specification and an error policy when attempting to install already existing entities. Also new are the multi-file Custom Actions, temporary installation files, multi-volume data DVD support and an wizard to create Launch Conditions based on searches.

Version 4.2 improves the Dialog Editor with a full billboard editor, a repository for dialog sharing and clipboard support for copying controls between dialogs or applications. Also new is a visual Automate Windows Application Updates with Advanced Updater project editor for easily creating localizable updates configuration files, .NET Custom Actions support, a New Driver wizard and JPEG and GIF format support for Java application Splash Screens.

Version 4.1 adds a comprehensive set of command line options, enabling a great degree of scripting and automation in the package, patch or merge module creation process. Also new is the multi-file prerequisites support, which allows your packages to ensure the installation of almost any third party software they depend on.

Version 4.0 delivers a powerful dialog editor for unlimited control over every detail of the User Interface of MSI packages. Also new is the support for the creation of configurable Merge Modules, and many other enhancements.

Version 3.9 adds support for creating Merge Modules for packaging independent components used in applications as stand-alone modules (MSM files), a Danish translation, REG files import, improved command line settings and more. Also new is the Enterprise license, introduced with a significant promotional discount.

Version 3.8 adds driver installation support using DIFx, HTTPS support for the Updater and a Norwegian (Nynorsk) localization. Also new are a wizard to create Shortcuts, a basic implementation for serial number validation and more.

Version 3.7 adds support for creating multilingual single-file installs, launching nested installs, and HTTP authentication and server-side license checks for the automatic updater. Also new are a wizard to create Custom Actions, a Polish translation, the ability to add folders to the PATH environment variable of Java products and more.

Version 3.6 enhances the IIS support with: Web Application mappings, Front Page server extensions and web site default document list. Also new are the side-by-side installs, two more wizards, online installs, Japanese localization, MD5 signatures for the install or downloaded files (prerequisites and updates) and more.

Version 3.5 adds IIS support - the ability to configure and deploy web sites, web applications, virtual directories, ISAPI filters, etc. Also new are the isolated components support, qualified/published components support, extracting registration registry entries from self-reg DLLs, Russian localization and more.

Version 3.4 adds Advanced Updater - a tool that automatically checks for, downloads and installs patches and updates, making sure your users always have the latest release of your product. Also new are the condition editor, user defined launch conditions and much more.

Version 3.3 adds support for registering COM components, configurable Merge Modules, building Mac OS X packages for Java projects, inclusion and exclusion filters for synchronized folders and more. A new wizard is included, simplifying the project creation process.

Version 3.2 adds support for scheduling Custom Actions in the UI sequence, the ability to set the Feature and Directory for each Merge Module, localization for launchers and bootstrappers and more. Thirty additional graphics setup themes are included.

Version 3.1 adds a new type of prerequisite handling, improvements in the Organization page, support for editing the Library Path of a Java product, the ability to enforce a single instance with notification and parameter passing on secondary launch attempt, and more. Two new languages (French and Norwegian) were also added.