Decompiler Installshield Wizard

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Some program installations use InstallShield, and the program files are compressed into Data .cab files. But InstallShield decided to be cute, and use their own propriety format with older versions of the Data .cab file. They could have used a standard compression algorithm like .ZIP, but did not.

My guess is that they didn’t want people fiddling with the raw files.

That’s a bummer for those of us who need to get at the files, such as Application Packagers. I discussed this a little in the InstallShield Temp Directory Trick.

So it’s a good thing that CDMediaWorld has utilities, such as i6Comp to extract the files. Just download it (I picked i6comp02.zip) and then run i6comp. This is what i6Comp looks like when listing files from the data.cab file:

C:tempInstallShield>i6comp l -v -r data1.cab InstallShield 6.x Cabinet Util Version 0.2 -] fOSSiL & Morlac - 2000 [-

Date Time OrigSize Attr CompSize Ind FileName 12-16-1999 10:24 28529 ____ 5841 0 corecomp.ini 09-05-2001 04:18 77824 A___ 29916 1 ctor.dll 09-05-2001 04:13 32768 A___ 4483 2 objectps.dll ... 08-22-2003 17:27 278190 A___ 264385 180 PowerDVD.CHM 09-05-2003 16:16 65536 A___ 30014 342 AudioFilterclds.dll 09-05-2003 16:16 45056 A___ 8203 343 AudioFilterclwo.dll 09-05-2003 16:16 245760 A___ 81241 344 AudioFilterCLADR.ax 09-05-2003 16:16 126976 A___ 43046 347 AudioFilterCLAuTS.ax 09-05-2003 16:25 73728 A___ 27800 348 AudioFilterCLAudioCD.ax 09-05-2003 16:25 503808 A___ 239856 349 NavFilterCLNAVX.ax 09-12-2003 18:38 520192 A___ 205346 350 VideoFilterCLVSD.ax 09-05-2003 16:16 45568 A___ 23075 351 VideoFilterCLLine21.ax ---------- ---------- ------------------- 49878589 19880422 311 file(s) total

C:tempInstallShield>

The list output is more interesting than the extract output. which is why I’ve showed list. Other options are:

C:tempInstallShield>i6comp InstallShield 6.x Cabinet Util Version 0.2 -] fOSSiL & Morlac - 2000 [-

Usage: i6comp <cmd> [-opts] <cab> [file index|fmask|path] [disk fmask|path] Commands l: list Files g: list File Groups c: list Components t: list Setup Types s: convert multi-volume cab to a single volume (not recommended) e: extract files (specify <cab index|mask> when specifying <disk path>) x: same as 'e' with subdirs r: replace files in cab (same syntax as 'e') d: delete files from cab (specify <cab index|mask>) a: add files to cab (<cab path> is optional; must specify -g OR -f) z: zero-size files (specify <cab index|mask>) Options v: verbose info mode r: extract subdirs/recurse and store subdirs d: include directories in cab matches g<name|index>: specifies File Group to work with o: suppress supplementary output (start msg, comments, etc.) f: treat File Groups as directories (usefull for GUI, wrappers)

C:tempInstallShield>

Update: this does not work with InstallShield 12 or later. I’ve written a post about that here.

This is would be Legall or Illegal to change the Installer package but sometimes the package makers do something that convince me to change their packges. The most convincing situation is when I get 'This OS is not Supported' (You know I use the Windows Server 2003 / Windows 2003) on package that will install on Windows XP (which I hate) and when the package says that I JUST WANT TO RIP THE PROGRAMMER APART, so these are the times I want to change the packages (but sometimes there are some other reasons, like serial numbers …).

So lets ROLL, there are two most used package types:

1) MicrosoftInstaller – MSI: This is very easy, Search the web for Orca (This is part of Windows SDK, but you might find it!) and install it, it is easy to use, just open the .msi file, all the rest is to search for WindowsNT or Version and change the logic and save the package back.

If you want the installer files, search the web for 'Extract msiexec', or refer to http://blogs.msdn.com/heaths/archive/2006/02/14/532200.aspx or Use the 'MSI Plugin for PowerArchiver 2007'.

2) InstallShield Package: If you want package files search the web for 'Unshield' this is an Open Source software under SourceForge, but you might search for binary in the web and someone might built it before just for you ;).

But if you want to change, this is the hard part, checkout the Setup.ins or Setup.inx these are what you have to DECOMPILE search the web for Sexy InstallShield Decompiler (SID) this is the best (You can download it from http://www.pediy.com/tools/Decompilers.htm), open the ins or inx file with this application and you’ll see a LARGE code appears for you, the only changes you can make is that after you find appropriate line right-click on it and it will show you the valid changes. Those changes are logicly means you can change 'a = b' to 'a != b' or 'a > b' and this is too hard but with a little luck you can. And something else, sometimes the inx files are encrypted that you have to dectrypt them before, but mine never was encrypted.

Last night I used SID for 'DigiOnAudio2 Pro' installer and now I have a package which accept every Serial but the corrent one!!!!

If you find this helpfull or you have any problem, just leave me a message.

Decompiler Installshield Wizard Windows 10

Updated: I’ve uploaded some useful (mentioned above) utilities in Windows Live Folders, hope these will help you:

* Sexy InstallShield Decompiler (SID): http://cid-21f12bb61b822dfa.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/Public/Utilities/SID.zip
* Orca: http://cid-21f12bb61b822dfa.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/Public/Utilities/Orca.msi

Decompiler Installshield Wizard Key

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