Free tool launched to check Microsoft Vista installs

The company, which specialises in lifecycle management software for Microsoft Windows-based networks, says that ScriptLogic MSI Readiness Analyser analyses MSI application installers and shows where they can be modified to take advantage of new technology in Vista – as well as potential problems areas. “Our research shows that our customers will install Microsoft Vista; it’s just a matter of time,” said Nick Cavalancia, vice president of marketing at ScriptLogic. “A significant issue for those migrating to Vista is whether applications will run properly when installed on the new operating system. Many companies have home-grown applications. For them, the compatibility is critical to ensuring that business impact is minimised during the migration.” Earlier this year, ScriptLogic released Desktop Authority 7.6, the latest version of its desktop management and administration system. Included in the new version are enhancements specifically for Vista migrations. Cavalancia says it enables administrators simply to add computers running Vista to a network domain and have them automatically configured with application installs, file server connections, user preferences, printer assignments and computer configurations appropriate for the user. Desktop Authority provides a simple migration path; he says, since it centralises machine configurations in one place, an administrator needs to simply image a machine with the new Vista operating system and then let a user log on. It’s also worth knowing that MSI Studio version 3.6 now takes advantage of new Windows Vista installer features, including restart manager, user account control and enhanced logging, allowing users to customise and manage the deployment of applications on machines running Microsoft Vista.