Activinspire Silent Install Exclusive -

To perform a silent, "exclusive" (unattended) installation of Promethean ActivInspire, you must first extract the MSI packages from the standard executable and then deploy them using standard Windows Installer switches. Step 1: Extract the MSI Packages

The standard ActivInspire setup file is a "wrapper." You need to extract the raw MSI files to deploy them silently.

Download the latest version from the Promethean Support Download Page.

Run as Administrator and select the Network Install option when prompted.

Alternatively, you can use the command prompt to extract the files by adding the /a switch to the executable. Example: ActivInspire_setup.exe /a

Save the files to a designated folder. This process typically creates three key files that must be deployed individually: ActivInspire.msi, ActivInspireMainRes.msi (Core Resources), and Help.msi. Step 2: Silent Installation Commands

Once extracted, use the following commands in a batch script or your deployment tool (like SCCM or Intune) to install the components without user interaction.

Main Application:msiexec.exe /i "ActivInspire.msi" /qn /norestart

Core Resources (Essential for images/tools):msiexec.exe /i "ActivInspireMainRes.msi" /qn /norestart

ActivDriver (Required for board connectivity):msiexec.exe /i "ActivDriver.msi" /qn /norestart Step 3: Configuration & Activation

For a truly "exclusive" experience where users aren't prompted for license keys or EULAs upon first launch:

License File: During the network extraction process, the installer may prompt you to enter your Activation Key and accept the License Agreement. Completing this generates a license file within the extracted folder that the MSI uses to pre-activate the software.

MST Transforms: Advanced admins can use tools like Orca to create a .mst transform file. This allows you to pre-set properties like PIDKEY (Serial Number) and COMPANYNAME directly in the installer. Key Considerations activinspire silent install exclusive

Permissions: Always ensure you are logged in with Administrator rights before running deployment scripts.

Dependencies: Ensure Java is up to date, as ActivInspire may fail to launch if there are conflicting versions.

File Structure: Keep each MSI in its own folder on your server to avoid file path errors during the extraction process. Promethean Activ Studio unattended install - EduGeek

How to Perform an ActivInspire Silent Install (Exclusive Guide)

Deploying software across a large network of classroom computers requires precision. For IT administrators, manually running the ActivInspire installer on dozens or hundreds of machines is not a viable option. Using a silent install (unattended installation) allows you to push the software remotely using tools like Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager (MECM/SCCM), Intune, or PDQ Deploy.

This exclusive guide covers the specific switches, MSI commands, and configuration tweaks needed to deploy ActivInspire without any user intervention. Prerequisites for Deployment

Before initiating the silent install, ensure your environment meets these requirements:

The MSI Package: You must use the .msi version of the installer, not the standard .exe. You can usually extract this from the full suite or download it from the Promethean Support portal.

Administrative Privileges: The deployment tool or command prompt must have elevated permissions.

Frameworks: Ensure .NET Framework 4.6.2 or higher is pre-installed on target machines. The Core Silent Install Command

The standard syntax for a silent installation of ActivInspire via Windows Installer is as follows: msiexec.exe /i "ActivInspire.msi" /qn /norestart Breakdown of Switches: /i: Installs the package. /qn: Sets the UI level to "None" (completely silent).

/norestart: Prevents the machine from rebooting automatically after the installation completes. Advanced Configuration: Using Properties if a reboot is pending

To make the installation truly "exclusive" and tailored to your school's needs, you can pass specific properties to the MSI. This bypasses the need for teachers to manually configure the software upon first launch. 1. License Key and Organization

You can bake your activation details directly into the command line so the software is ready to use immediately.msiexec.exe /i "ActivInspire.msi" /qn ACTIVATIONKEY="XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX" OWNER="School District" ORGANIZATION="Main Campus" 2. Disabling Automatic Updates

In a managed environment, you don't want users prompted to update.CHECK_FOR_UPDATES=0 3. Setting the Primary Profile

You can choose whether the software starts in the "Primary" (younger learners) or "Studio" (older learners/traditional) interface.INTERFACE_STYLE="Studio" Deploying the Core Resources

ActivInspire is often split into two parts: the Application and the Core Resources (the library of backgrounds, shapes, and sounds).

To ensure a complete setup, you must silently install the Resources pack immediately after the application:msiexec.exe /i "ActivInspire_Core_Resources.msi" /qn Troubleshooting Common Deployment Issues

Error 1603: Often caused by a previous version of the software or a lack of permissions. Ensure all Promethean processes are killed before starting.

Driver Issues: If the ActivBoard isn't responding after a silent install, you may need to deploy the Promethean ActivDriver separately using its own /qn silent switch.

Logging: If the install fails, generate a log file to see exactly where it hung:msiexec.exe /i "ActivInspire.msi" /qn /L*V "C:\Logs\ActivInspire_Install.log" Conclusion

Executing an ActivInspire silent install saves hours of manual labor and ensures a uniform teaching experience across your institution. By leveraging MSI properties for activation and interface styles, you provide a "turnkey" solution for educators.

While there is no single documented "exclusive" silent install feature name, Promethean ActivInspire achieves a silent and managed deployment through a specific Network Install

workflow that extracts the installer for use with deployment tools like SCCM or Intune. Promethean Support Silent Installation Commands Suppressing Reboots Even with /norestart

To perform a silent installation, you must first extract the

from the main setup executable. Standard deployment scripts typically use the following syntax for the extracted MSI components: Main Application msiexec.exe /i "ActivInspire.msi" /qn /norestart Core Resources msiexec.exe /i "ActivInspireMainRes.msi" /qn /norestart Board Drivers msiexec.exe /i "bc016a.msi" /qn /norestart EduGeek.net Creating the "Network Install" (Extraction)

Before you can run the commands above, you must create a network share of the installer: Run the downloaded ActivInspire setup file. Network Install when prompted.

Choose a server location to extract the individual MSI files. Each component (Core, Help, Resources) should be in its own folder.

Once extracted, these MSI files can be deployed silently via the switch without user interaction. EduGeek.net Professional Edition & License Deployment For professional edition features, you can either: Apply a Transform (.mst) : Use a tool like to add your (serial number) to the property table. Manual Update

: The first launch usually prompts for license info if not pre-configured via the network admin utility. EduGeek.net MST (Transform) parameters

to pre-configure your license and organization details during this silent install? deploy activinspire via mdt - EduGeek.net

Technical Note: Silent Install (Exclusive Mode) for ActivInspire

Purpose: To deploy ActivInspire silently across a network without user interaction, ensuring the software runs in Exclusive Mode (primary interactive display) rather than Secondary Mode.

Silent License Activation (Volume License Key - VLK)

If you have an ActivInspire Volume License (not personal), you can pre-activate during silent install using an exclusive registry import:

  1. From a manually activated machine, export: HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Promethean\ActivInspire\License
  2. Deploy the .reg file via your script after the install.

Example activation script:

msiexec /i ActivInspire.msi /qn
regedit /s "\\server\share\ActivInspire_license.reg"

Free version (ActivInspire Personal) does not require a license key.

Step-by-step:

  1. Download and install Orca (MSI editor from Windows SDK).
  2. Open ActivInspire.msi in Orca.
  3. Go to Transform → New Transform.
  4. Modify the Property table:
    • Set INSTALLDIR to D:\Promethean\ActivInspire
    • Set AGREETOLICENSE = Yes
    • Set REBOOT = ReallySuppress
    • Set ARPNOREMOVE = 0 (allows uninstall)
  5. Under Feature table, exclude unwanted items (e.g., LanguagePacksFrench, HelpFiles).
  6. Save the transform as ActivInspire_Custom.mst.

Suppressing Reboots

Even with /norestart, Windows may force a reboot after certain dependencies (like .NET or C++ runtimes). Use this exclusive sequence:

msiexec /i ActivInspire.msi /qn REBOOT=ReallySuppress /log install.log

Then, if a reboot is pending, you can suppress it via registry:

# Suppress pending reboot flag (use with caution)
Remove-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update\RebootRequired" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue