Installing Software Automatically with AutoIt

Automatic Installs

If you use AutoIt as the computer startup script for computers on your Windows domain, you can also install software before logon. This is useful for non-msi installers.

To make an AutoIt automatic installer, nine times out of ten, the following procedure will work, using Mozilla Firefox 2.0.0.6 as the example:

  1. Download Firefox Setup 2.0.0.6.exe to a shared folder that is readable by all users and computers on the domain.
  2. Open the SciTE script editor that comes with the Extra Tools.
  3. On the Tools menu, click AU3Recorder.
  4. Check the boxes for Record Window Text and Record Mouse. Click Browse and navigate to Firefox Setup 2.0.0.6.exe that you downloaded in Step 1.
  5. Click Click to Record and install Firefox. Uncheck the box that reads Launch Mozilla Firefox now which is on the last installation screen.
  6. Click the stop button to finish recording the AutoIt script.
  7. Save the AutoIt script. It should look something like this file: install_firefox.au3.
  8. Right click the script file to run it as a test.
  9. If all is well put this code in your computer startup script.

Caution: This doesn't always work

Beware! Some application installers work really well in this way, but some others fail miserably. Here is a list of what works and what doesn't work:

See Also