First Windows Installer 3.0 Beta Released

As expected, the first beta release of Windows Installer (MSI) 3.0 has been issued to qualified testers. Selected participants were informed of their acceptance into the MSI 3.0 beta program via e-mail early this week.

The program is one of many initiatives launched by Microsoft to improve its capacity to protect Windows users following the recent spate of security vulnerabilities and viruses such as the Blaster worm.

With MSI 3.0, Microsoft endeavors to simplify authoring, creating, distributing and managing application updates. The changes will result in fewer reboots, and an attempt to avoid nightmare scenarios of files being overwritten improperly.

Release notes for MSI 3.0 viewed by BetaNews indicate plans to allow more than one patch to be installed or removed in a single installation process. Patches installed together in a single transaction can still be uninstalled individually.

In addition to MSI 3.0, Microsoft is preparing to beta test Software Update Services 2.0. MSUS 2.0 automatically tracks installed software applications to ensure they are kept up to date with the latest patches and enhancements. Supported products range from Windows, to Office, SQL Server, and Exchange.

Microsoft spokesperson Stephen Toulouse told BetaNews last month: "Moving forward we believe that technologies like the new Windows Installer and future versions of Software Update Services will continue to incorporate our customers' feedback and the lessons we learned and help drive patch installation."