Bootstrapper and MS Explorer

[clint]

When I start the Bootstrapper exe from MS Explorer, and there is a prerequisite which needs to be installed, the setup window always goes behind Explorer and is not automatically the top-foreground window.
Is this a bug?

[GabrielBarbu]

Hello,

We have managed to reproduce this behavior. We shall investigate and get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

Regards,
Gabriel

[nvsoft]

Hi,

Can you post a solution/workaround for this problem?

I'm having the exact same problem (also same as in http://www.advancedinstaller.com/forums ... 03&start=0) but I could not find a solution in any of the posts.

Thanks.

[pemue]

I've got the same problem now.
I will also need a workaround or anything else.

Please can anyone help us?

[Cosmin]

Hi,

Please note that newer Windows versions prevent applications for bringing windows in front. This is to prevent unwanted popup windows from installed applications.
The EXE bootstrapper is also affected. So it's prerequisites wizard will not be automatically shown on top of all other windows. This is handled automatically by the Windows operating system.

Regards,
Cosmin

[nvsoft]

The problem isn't related to prerequisites. It is related to the bootstrapper.

In case there are any open windows on screen when executing the exe bootstrapper, the setup window will appear behind these windows. It does not open minimized but rather gets the lowest "z-order" and the user
have to minimize all other windows (or click the setup's icon in the TaskBar) to see the setup window.

It doesn't seem right that you execute an application and its window remains in the background. It doesn't seem like "normal" Windows behavior or otherwise all the applications we are using under Windows would behave this way.

Also, there are many ways to bring a window to the font programmatically (For example: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library ... 85%29.aspx).

We've gotten complaints about this issue as it appears that users execute the setup more than once or simply think that it's not working because they cannot see a setup window on screen.
Please recheck this issue.
Thanks.

[Cosmin]

Hi,

The problem isn't related to prerequisites. It is related to the bootstrapper.

I was referring to the prerequisites wizard which is shown by the bootstrapper, not to the prerequisite installers.

and the user have to minimize all other windows (or click the setup's icon in the TaskBar) to see the setup window.

If the setup is launched in the background it's taskbar icon will flash. So the user can click the flashing icon to show the installation dialogs.

It doesn't seem right that you execute an application and its window remains in the background. It doesn't seem like "normal" Windows behavior or otherwise all the applications we are using under Windows would behave this way.

This is mostly applied to setup packages and only on Vista and Windows 7. You can reproduce it easily even with Microsoft installers (for example .NET Framework) by clicking another window while the setup is extracting files.

Also, there are many ways to bring a window to the font programmatically (For example: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library ... 85%29.aspx).

Starting with Vista this no longer works. There is a hack which can be used to bring a window on top, but we don't use it because we want the bootstrapper to meet the Microsoft recommendations and best practices.

Regards,
Cosmin