FAQ - Actual Installer Help

To bypass the security warning message "Unknown Publisher" when launching your setup program, you need to digitally sign the setup file with your code signing certificate.

If you have the certificate, you can sign your setup files using SignTool (command-line tool). Actual Installer has a feature to automatically sign the setup file after building (open menu "View \ Options \ File Options"). This feature supports only command-line signing tools. It's recommended to use SignTool.exe .

Command line example:
To automatically close the sign dialog, change /K to /C. Variable <SetupExe> will be replaced with the full path to the setup executable file. Do not remove this variable. For more details, see the Help file (press F1).

/K signtool sign /f "C:\My Certificate.pfx" "<SetupExe>"

If the setup file is not signed, then Windows SmartScreen may show the "Unknown program" warning when trying to open the downloaded file. This is standard behavior for newly released executable files. When the file have sufficient reputation to ensure that it's trustworthy, SmartScreen will not show the warning. Please read more about SmartScreen app reputation, and Microsoft Defender SmartScreen https://stackoverflow.com/questions/33414291/how-can-i-stop-my-installer-from-triggering-windows-10s-this-app-has-been-bloc
https://www.sectigo.com/knowledge-base/detail/MS-SmartScreen-and-Application-Reputation/kA01N000000zFJx

Antivirus flagged the setup file created with AI as suspicious (malware). How to fix it?

This is a false positive detection. Signing setup files with your digital certificate may help with this issue. If you use Updater or Downloader, then you also need to sign them. Actual Installer has a feature to automatically sign these files (go to the menu "View \ Options \ File Options" and select "Sign setup file after building" and "Sign Uninstall.exe, Updater.exe, Downloader.exe").

If antivirus still flags your setup file as suspicious or malware, then you need to send the file to them for checking and removing this false detection. The following are submit pages of major antivirus companies (usually, they remove false detections from their products within 1-2 days):

Microsoft Defender: go to https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/wdsi/filesubmission and select Software developer, then submit your file to remove the false detection.
Avast False Positive File Form - https://www.avast.com/false-positive-file-form.php
McAfee submit false positives - https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-support/dispute-detection-allowlisting.html
BitDefender False Positive Form - https://www.bitdefender.com/consumer/support/answer/29358/
Avira False Positive Form - https://www.avira.com/en/analysis/submit?utm_source=CS&utm_medium=KB
Webroot False Positive Form - http://snup.webrootcloudav.com/SkyStoreFileUploader/upload.aspx
AVG False Positive Form - https://www.avg.com/en-us/false-positive-file-form#pc
Symantec Norton False Positive Form - https://submit.norton.com/?type=FP

See more at https://docs.virustotal.com/docs/false-positive-contacts and https://gist.github.com/skmedix/6cdce9d6d3b464c1bd719b72d1f6bce4

How to set Full Control (Read, Modify, Write access) security permissions to folder / file that was created with the installer?

Note: An app installation directory (variable <InstallDir>) inherits permissions from its parent directory. When the app is installed in the Program Files directory, the installation directory (files and subfolders) do not have Write access for non-Admin users. If your app is launched without administrator rights, it will not be able to save files to the install directory (Access Denied error appears).

Note: Microsoft does not recommend to store user or application data in the Program Files directory (read more), and in the User Document folder, as it is protected folder.

It is possible to change security permissions for a folder or a file using Windows utility icacls.exe. Go to the System \ Commands page, and add:

Set Full Control permissions to the install folder for the Users Group:

File: 		<SystemDir>\icacls.exe
Parameters: 	"<InstallDir>" /grant:r Users:(OI)(CI)F /T
Launch on OS: 	All
Show: 		Normal or Hide
Timing: 	After Installation
Wait: 		No
Run as admin: 	No*

Note: To set permissions for the Everyone Group, replace Users with Everyone. On non-English Windows this may not work, it is recommended to use SIDs (security identifiers) instead of text group names - for Users use *S-1-5-32-545 , for Everyone use *S-1-1-0 . Example for Users group: "<InstallDir>" /grant:r *S-1-5-32-545:(OI)(CI)F /T

To set permissions for a single file, in the Parameters field type "<InstallDir>\file.txt" /grant:r *S-1-5-32-545:F

*This command requires administrator rights. If you configured your setup to install for All Users, then the setup program will have administrator rights (and commands will be executed with admin rights), so you don't have to select the option "Run as admin". In other case, select the option "Run as admin".

For Windows XP and earlier, use the following command.

File: 		<SystemDir>\cacls.exe
Parameters: 	"<InstallDir>" /e /t /c /g Users:f
Launch on OS: 	All
Show: 		Normal
Timing: 	After Installation
Wait: 		No

Allow app to make changes to protected / controlled folders (e.g. Documents)

Using the System \ Commands, add a command to execute a powershell script. For example, to add the executable C:\App.exe, specify:

File: 		PowerShell.exe
Parameters: 	"Add-MpPreference -ControlledFolderAccessAllowedApplications "C:\App.exe"
Timing: 	After Installation

How to launch a file as administrator / how to add a flag "Run this program as an administrator"?

If you want to launch a file as admin during the installation, then use the System \ Commands page. There is an option "Run as admin" for the command.

If you want to make a file to be launched as administrator outside the installation (add a flag "Run this program as an administrator" to the file compatibility settings), then you need to add a special registry value on the System \ Registry page. Read more.

For Shortcuts, there is a special option "Run as admin".

How to launch my program automatically when Windows starts?

Go to Installation / Advanced and select "Automatically launch Main Executable on Windows startup".

2nd way: Add the following Registry value on the System \ Registry page:

Registry Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Name Value: <AppName>
Type Value: REG_SZ
Value Data: "select the file to launch"

How to create an URL shortcut?

Go to the Installation \ Shortcuts page, click the Add button and type the following:

Target File: http://www.yourwebsite.com/
Shortcut Destination: <ProgramGroup>
Icon File (optional): Leave empty or click ... and select an icon file (extensions: .ico OR .exe)

How to install and register a font?

install fonts

How to install a device driver from an INF file?

Add your driver file to <InstallDir> (or <SystemDir>) on the Files and Folders page.

Then go to the System \ Commands page and add two commands: 1st command will register the driver After Installation (after the file is created); 2nd command will unregister the drive Before Uninstallation (before file is removed):

File: <SystemDir>\rundll32.exe
Parameters: setupapi,InstallHinfSection DefaultInstall 132 <InstallDir>\MyDriver.inf
Launch on OS: Any
Show: Normal
Timing: After Installation
Wait: Yes

UnRegister driver:

File: <SystemDir>\rundll32.exe
Parameters: setupapi,InstallHinfSection DefaultUninstall 132 <InstallDir>\MyDriver.inf
Launch on OS: Any
Show: Normal
Timing: Before Uninstallation
Wait: Yes

Alternative method to Register driver (using InfDefaultInstall.exe):

File: <SystemDir>\InfDefaultInstall.exe
Parameters: <InstallDir>\MyDriver.inf
Launch on OS: Any
Show: Normal
Timing: After Installation
Wait: Yes

How to use rundll32.exe

Using rundll32.exe you can launch special procedures or functions from DLL files. For example, to open the "About Windows" dialog box, you need to execute: rundll32.exe shell32.dll,ShellAbout

In Actual Installer, you can launch it using System \ Commands:

File: rundll32.exe
Parameters: shell32.dll,ShellAbout

Hint: when specifying the full path to the DLL file, it must not contain quotation marks or spaces. List of Rundll32 Commands

How to install a screensaver and set it as the default screensaver for the user's computer?

First, add your screensaver file to the project in the "Installation \ Files and Folders" section. Then go to the "Register \ Other" page and click the "Add" button. Specify the screensaver file in the "File" field and choose "Screensaver" in the "Register As" field.

How to install Windows Service?

http://www.actualinstaller.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=43

How to run an SQL Server 2005 script?

http://www.actualinstaller.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=47

How to ask the user for Password / Key during installation and then write it to Registry?

To ask the user for a password or serial key, go to Interface \ Additional Information, select the Keys option. Create or add keys to the list (one key per line).

To write a provided password by user to Registry, go to System \ Registry and add the following:

Registry Key: specify Registry Key, e.g. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\<AppName>
Name Value: Key
Type Value: REG_SZ
Value Data: <QueryKey>

To save other information provided by user, use the variables that listed here.

How to get a directory path from Registry and use it in the installation?

To read a path from Registry go to System \ Variables and add the following:

Variable Name: <MyVar1>
Registry Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders
Value Name: My Video
Value Type: STRING
Default Value:

Now you can use this variable <MyVar1> anywhere in the setup, e.g. for a file's destination.

I need the user to select two destination folders, one for the program and another for project files (which is a user specified).

Yes, it is possible: on the Files and Folders page, in the Installation Directory specify the main folder for the app installation. Then go to the Interface / Additional Information, here select the Custom Field box, and specify its type as Folder. You can also select the Required check box, so the user must specify it before installation. A folder specified in the field is stored in the variable <QueryCustom> , and you need to spicify this variable as files/folders destination on the Files and Folders page.

How to increase a required free disk space?

If you application requires some additional free disk space (e.g. during installation big data file is downloaded), then you need to set the proper required free space (different than at setup build time). To make it just add a special variable name on the System \ Variables page:

Variable: <ExtraDataFileSize>
Bitness: Default
Registry Key: leave this field empty
Registry Value: leave this field empty
Value Type: STRING
Default Data: type additional required size in bytes

How to uninstall previous version of app that was installed with other installer (not Actual Installer)

To make it, you need to know what GUID was used in your old installer.
Example for Actual Installer: {318020E9-4E14-DAB0-1CE4-2EE91C6FF5D0}
It can also be just app name. If you don't know it, you can find it in Registry. Open the following registry key and then search for your app name.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
Now go to System / Variables and add:

Variable: <Var1>
Bitness: Default
Registry Key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\GUID
Registry Value: UninstallString
Value Type: STRING
Default Data: leave this field empty

Replace GUID with your app GUID, e.g. {318020E9-4E14-DAB0-1CE4-2EE91C6FF5D0}
Variable <Var1> will contain a command for uninstalling the app. To execute this command go to System / Commands and add:

File: <Var1>
Parameters: 
Launch on OS: Any
Show: Normal
Timing: Before Installation
Wait: No

If uninstall command looks like this MsiExec.exe /I{GUID}, then use this:

File: <SystemDir>\cmd.exe
Parameters: /C <Var1>
Launch on OS: Any
Show: Normal
Timing: Before Installation
Wait: No

or without variable:

File: <SystemDir>\cmd.exe
Parameters: /C MsiExec.exe /I{GUID}
Launch on OS: Any
Show: Normal
Timing: Before Installation
Wait: No

Replace GUID with your app GUID.
to uninstall silently use: msiexec.exe /x "{GUID}" /qn

How to change Text in Setup Program?

Go to the Interface \ Languages tab;
Select the language to modify;
From the context menu (right-click), select Edit;
After modifying, save the file (admin rights are required as it is located in the "C:\Program Files (x86)" folder).

What is Multi Language Text?

Some fields in Actual Installer support Multi Language Text. When using multi language installation (two and more languages are selected on the Interface / Language page), it is possible to specify separate text/file for each language.
Format of Multi Language Text:
DefaultText#Language1[Text for Language1]Language2[Text for Language2]

The Default Text (specified before #) is used for those languages that do not have their own text specified.

Example for the Product Description:
This program is for Windows#German[Dieses Programm ist für Windows]French[Ce programme est pour Windows]

To disable this feature, add a parameter -nosublng to the Additional Parameters.

How to change Font in Setup Program?

This article describes settings for old versions of Actual Installer (till 8.2). Starting v8.3, the Verdana font is used as default. You can easily change the font on the Interface / Main page and using the Template Editor.

For AI versions till 8.2: By default, the setup program uses the Tahoma font. To use other font or change font sizes, create a file "aifont.ini" (with settings listed below), and then add this file to the <SetupTempDir> folder on the Files and Folders page.

To use a custom font which is not included in the Windows Fonts, just add this font file (extention .TTF only) to the <SetupTempDir> folder. Make sure that the file name of the font is the same as the font name (e.g. Super Font.ttf).

Settings for Classic Wizard theme:

[Font]
File=Super Font.ttf
Name=Super Font
HeaderSize=10
TextSize=8

How to create a new setup language file?

Open the Language folder in the Actual Installer directory (by default: "C:\Program Files (x86)\Actual Installer\Language");
Make a copy of the English.lng file;
Open the new lng file and translate it;
Save the file;
Run Actual Installer. The new language file will be automatically added to the setup languages list.

How to create a custom Wizard interface?

If you want to create a custom setup Wizard interface, like this, make the following:

Open the Bitmaps\Wizard folder in the Actual Installer directory (by default: "C:\Program Files (x86)\Actual Installer\Bitmaps\Wizard");
Open any BMP file from this folder in your image editor (e.g. mspaint);
Make necessary changes and save new bitmap in any folder;
In your Actual Installer project, go to Interface \ Graphics and specify the new BMP file.

How to bundle multiple installers into one installer?

If you want to include several installations in one setup program, then make the following:

Add each installation (for example, Setup1.exe, Setup2.exe) to the main installation program on the page Files and Folders, for the destination folder use <SetupTempDir> . Note: these setup files will be extracted to the temp directory at the main setup program startup, and if the files are big in size, it may take some time for the main setup dialog to appear. In this case, you may use <TempDir> in the destination folder.
Then, go to System / Commands, and add commands to launch each setup program, for example:

File: <TempDir>\Setup1.exe
Parameters: leave empty, or add /S to perform silent installation
Launch on OS: Any
Show: Normal
Timing: After Installation
Wait: Yes

If you want to use the same installation folder in Setup 1 and 2, then in add in Parameters: /D "<InstallDir>" /DFC
Or, use sub-folders: /D "<InstallDir>\Setup1" /DFC