dotNetInstaller

dotNetInstaller is a widely used, general-purpose setup bootstrapper for Microsoft Windows XP, 2003, Vista, 2008, 7, 8, 2012, 8.1, 10, 2016, 2019, 2022, and 11.

View the Project on GitHub dotnetinstaller/dotnetinstaller

dotNetInstaller Setup Bootstrapper

dotNetInstaller

dotNetInstaller is a widely used, general-purpose setup bootstrapper for Microsoft Windows XP, 2003, Vista, 2008, Windows 7, 8, 2012, 8.1, 10, 2016, 2019, 2022, and 11.

Essentials

Bootstrapper

dotNetInstaller enables the developer to define the application prerequisites and install the correct version(s) of these components in a predictable order based on the processor architecture, user operating system type and language, allow the user to download these components from the web, install these components directly from a single packaged setup, local media or both. dotNetInstaller is very feature rich and runs on all known Windows operating systems with a very tiny footprint.

A boostrapper doesn't replace tools like InstallShield, Wise, Visual Studio Setup and Deployment Project or Wix. The goal is to create an application to help users with installing the correct prerequisites. Most real world applications need to install several components to work properly, including Windows Service Packs, Internet Explorer, MDAC or .NET Framework. This kind of applications are most commonly known as bootstrappers. dotNetInstaller is such a bootstrapper.

Getting Started

  1. Download and install dotNetInstaller.
  2. Launch InstallerEditor.exe and create a configuration file.
  3. Add configurations, components and installed checks. Edit messages and various options.
  4. Deploy your installer. This may involve linking a single executable package or copying support files onto fixed media.

dotNetInstaller ships with a CHM help file with a detailed Getting Started section and a complete configuration reference. If you have trouble viewing the help file content, Right Click on it and choose Unblock in Properties.

Bootstrapper Scenarios

A bootstrapper enables additional scenarios not supported by the installer alone.

dotNetInstaller Components

This project consists of the following elements:

Project History

This project began as a CodeProject article and was maintained on the DevAge website and SourceForge by Davide Icardi. It continued its journey through CodePlex and is now officially maintained on Github.

License and Copyright

Copyright (c) 2009-2012 Davide Icardi, Daniel Doubrovkine and Contributors.

This project is licensed under the MIT License.