• Take advantage of several new features in MSI 4.5.
• Enhanced support for patch rollback.
• Modular installation packages make it easier to maintain and support.
• Avoid defects found in MSI 2.0 which require extra work.
• A more stable and reliable installation environment.

• Updating MSI 2.0 to MSI 4.5 or later requires a system restart.
• For details about the available MSI versions, see http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa371185(v=vs.85).aspx

 To identify which version of MSI is running on your host:

Option 1 - Command prompt

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the run window.
2. Type CMD and press Enter.
3. In the command window, type:
   msiexec /?
   
   The Windows Installer (MSI) version displays.

Option 2 - Windows Explorer

1. Start Windows Explorer.
2. Browse to C:\Windows\System32.
3. Hover the cursor over msi.dll.
   
   The Windows Installer (MSI) version displays in a bubble window.

NOTE: With either option above, using as an example: 5.0.7.601.17514, the first two numbers indicate the MSI version (5.0 in this example). The last two numbers are the build and iteration for that specific binary, which are not relevant to the version.
 

Updating to MSI 4.5 or later:
Download the appropriate update package from Microsoft and apply it to your computers from:

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8483

There are five different packages, one for each of the following:

• x86 Windows XP
• x86 Windows Server 2003
• x64 Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 (one package for both)
• x86 Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008RTM
• x64 Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008RTM

IMPORTANT: Make sure that you apply the correct package. If the package is not the right one, it will not run.

NOTES:

• MSI 4.5 is the latest MSI version that can be installed on Windows XP, Vista, Server 2003, or Server 2008 RTM. These Windows versions do not support MSI 5.0 or later.
• Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 ship with MSI 5.0 preinstalled, as do later Windows versions such as Windows 8.x and Windows Server 2012. You do not need to update the MSI version on these systems.
• Your target computer might already have MSI 4.5 installed. For instance, Windows Vista originally shipped with MSI 4.0 preinstalled, and Vista Service Pack 1 included an upgrade to MSI 4.5. 
   

General FAQs pertaining to VSE and MSI

What if I do not update to MSI 4.5?
You will be unable to install or update to VSE 8.8 Patch 5 or later.

Will McAfee provide an update package for MSI 4.5?
No. We recommend that you obtain the update package directly from Microsoft.
 

Will McAfee products automatically update my MSI version to MSI 4.5?
No.

Is the MSI 4.5 update package bundled with any McAfee product installer?
No. customers are recommended to download the MSI 4.5 upgrade package directly from Microsoft to ensure that you have the correct and most up-to-date package.

Will updating to MSI 4.5 require a system restart?
Yes. In fact, the MSI 4.5 update package automatically restarts the computer after it is installed, without prompting. It does not allow you to intercept and postpone the restart. This reason is why McAfee products are not automatically installing MSI 4.5 (when needed) as part of a VSE or HIPS product install or update. Many customers require their computers to continue running uninterrupted during a McAfee product install or update¹. By not including a potential restart in the product install itself, McAfee point products allow customers to schedule the MSI update (with its inevitable restart) during downtime or maintenance windows, at their convenience.

 

1

Any product install from any vendor, not just McAfee, changes the state of the target computer. So, it is an installer's best practice to shut down all other programs while a product install or update is taking place. A new install can disrupt currently running programs and vice-versa (through shared resources such as system DLLs, and so on)

Will an update to MSI 4.5 affect other product installations?
No. MSI 4.5 has all capabilities of earlier MSI versions, including some new ones. So, anything that would have installed using those older versions will also install correctly with MSI 4.5.
 

What if my host has MSI 5.0 or something later than MSI 4.5?
See the section above Updating to MSI 4.5 or later.

Windows 7, Server 2008R2, and all later versions of Windows have MSI 5.0 preinstalled, so the MSI 4.5 upgrade is not needed.