Use the Install Software task sequence step to specify a Configuration Manager 2007 package and program to install as part of the task sequence. The package program installation will begin immediately without waiting for a policy polling interval.

The Install Software task sequence step runs only in a standard operating system and will not run in Windows Preinstallation Environment (WinPE).

You can configure the following settings:

Name

Specifies a short user-defined name that describes the action taken in this step.
Description

Allows you to enter more detailed information about the action taken in this step.
Install a single application

Configures the task sequence step to install one application. The step will wait until the application installation is complete. To specify the Configuration Manager 2007 package that should be installed, click Browse. When you select a package, you can select a Configuration Manager 2007 R2 Application Virtualization package if Configuration Manager 2007 R2 is installed. Use the drop-down list to select the program to be used to install the package.
Note
Application Virtualization packages for Configuration Manager 2007 R2 do not have a program to select.
The program you select must meet the following criteria:
  • It must run under the local system account and not the user account.

  • It should not interact with the desktop. The program must run silently or in an unattended mode.

  • It must not initiate a reboot on its own. The program must request a reboot using the standard reboot code, a 3010 exit code. This ensures that the task sequence step will properly handle the reboot. If the program does return a 3010 exit code, the underlying task sequence engine will perform the reboot. After the reboot, the task sequence will automatically continue.

Configuration Manager 2007 programs that use the Run another program first option to install a dependent program as part of the package are not supported by Operating System Deployment. If Run another program first is enabled for a program and the other program has already been run on the target computer, the specified program will be run. However, if the other program has not already been run on the target computer, the task sequence step will fail. Configuration Manager 2007 will filter out any disabled programs or any programs with the following settings, and the programs will not appear in the drop-down menu:
  • Only when a user is logged on

  • Run with user rights

Install multiple applications

Select this option to configure the Install Software task sequence step to install multiple applications in sequence. This step specifies the base variable name for a series of task sequence variables that each contain a <packageID: program name> pair separated by a colon. The series of variable names is formed by appending a numeric suffix between 001 and 999 to the specified base name. The variable names and associated values form a dynamic package list. The list of packages ends when no variable name exists with the next sequential numeric suffix. The associated packages will be installed in the order specified in the list. Each package installation will be completed before the installation for the next package begins. When you specify the Package ID always specify the Package ID using uppercase. The program name is case-sensitive and must exactly match the name assigned to the program when it was created.Virtual application packages distributed via the Configuration Manager 2007 R2 application virtualization feature cannot be distributed as part of a list of multiple applications. If the value of a variable is not created in the correct format or does not specify a valid package ID and program name, the installation of the package will fail. If no variables with the specified base name and "001" suffix are found, no packages are installed and the action succeeds.The program you select must meet the following criteria:
  • It must run under the local system account and not the user account.

  • It should not interact with the desktop. The program must run silently or in an unattended mode.

It must not initiate a reboot on its own. The program must request a reboot using a 3010 return code. This ensures that the Install Software task sequence step will properly handle the reboot.For example, to install a single application by using a task sequence variable called AA001, you specify the following:Variable name: AA001Variable value: CEN00054:InstallTo install three applications, you would specify the following additional variables:Task Sequence variable: AA002Value: Package CEN00107:Install SilentTask Sequence variable: AA003Value: Package ID: CEN0031:Install
Important
The program specified must have the Allow this program to be installed from a list of software packages in the “Install Software” task sequence step without being advertised option selected or the installation will fail. This option can be selected when adding a program to an existing package in the New Program Wizard. Alternatively, you can specify this option by right-clicking an existing program, selecting clicking Properties, and then clicking the Advanced tab.
If an application installation fails, continue installing other applications in the list

Check this box to have the Install Software task sequence continue in the event that an application installation in the list fails. If this box is not checked and the installation fails, the task sequence step will end immediately. If the box is checked, the next package or program in the variable list is installed regardless of errors.

See Also