For optimal results when using AdminStudio Repackager to repackage applications, you should perform the process on a clean system. A clean system typically consists of a computer with only the operating system and necessary service packs installed. It's the baseline system that the computer requires to run.
Although it may be tempting to consider basic software, such as Microsoft Office, as part of the clean system, this can result in poor snapshots and repackaged setups. Each application you install on the baseline system adds to the DLLs, changes versions of files, makes new registry entries, etc. This may cause Repackager to miss these during capture, leading to missing files or registry entries in repackaged setups or unexpected conflicts between the operating system and Windows Installer packages.
Tips to consider when repackaging applications
- Communicate with your organization's Systems Administrator before creating the initial repackaging snapshot. Ask them about their current set of default user images for various departments, and identify what applications are guaranteed to exist for all images.
- The repackaging developer must consider the minimum set of files all computers will initially possess. This set of files is the base case or lowest common denominator.
- Always repackage using the image you define as your base case, or you may spend many hours trying to understand dependencies and prerequisites, attempting to make an application function as intended. Repackaging will generate a robust installation if the base image is defined correctly. Each computer will always be capable of running the repackaged program(s).
Configure Repackager on a clean machine
Repackager can be configured on a clean machine via the following ways:
- If you have network connectivity from a clean machine to the computer that contains the AdminStudio Repackager tool, you can launch Repackager remotely by following the steps described in Launching Repackager remotely.
- If you don't have network connectivity from a clean machine to the computer that contains the AdminStudio Repackager tool, you can install the standalone Repackager on the clean machine by following the steps described in Installing Repackager on a clean machine.
- Use Hyper-V. A Hyper-V Virtual Machine is a convenient and simple way to get a Virtual environment you can use for repackaging. Follow the instructions in Step-By-Step: Enabling Hyper-V for use on Windows 10.
