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Editorial Team
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Asked: 2026-05-11T20:42:59+00:00

I am having no success in modifying a Windows Installer MSI to run a

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I am having no success in modifying a Windows Installer MSI to run a batch file after the primary output has been installed. I have searched for this and found many suggestions, but nothing that works.

Add a Custom Action
Custom actions can only be executable files. A batch file is not executable.

Create a Windows Scripting Host executable that runs the batch file
Many people have tried to do this, including on SO, and no one has been able to get this to work.

Use WIX or InstallShield
I do not have the time or authority to change company installer technology.

Edit the .msi with Orca and add a custom property, then a custom action, then edit the InstallExecuteSequence, …
I have been trying this for hours and have only created installers that throw a system error when I run them.
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1 Answer

  1. Editorial Team

    What you said above is incorrect:

    Custom actions can only be executable
    files. A batch file is not executable.

    Custom Actions (even without tools like InstallShield) can be .EXE, VBScript, JScript, or DLL based. If you write a DLL, you can write whatever code you want to call a batch file or make any changes you want to the system — there is no limit.

    Update: an example that worked for me: (entry in CustomAction table)

    Action Test
Type 34
Source SystemFolder
Target cmd.exe /c c:\test.bat
ExtendedType <blank>
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