Installing Windows Live Wave 3 beta on non-supported operating systems (like x64 and Server 2008)

In another frustrating move by a unified setup program, which I disagree with for the most part, the new Windows Live Wave 3 setup program will not allow installation on Server 2008 x64, even though it is technically running the same kernel as Vista SP1.

Not only can you not uncompress the ~140MB WLSetup-All.exe into individual .MSI files, which would be ideal, the web downloader, WLSetup-Web.exe, will not download the individual files on an unsupported OS.

I have, however, been able to install every single piece of Wave 3 on my x64 OS except the Family Safety product, which is strictly x86 only.

Unfortunately, this requires a supported OS, which in my case, was an XP VM. If you install all of the applications on a supported OS, you will have a new directory: %ProgramFiles%\Common Files\Windows Live\.cache\. The '.cache' directory will not show up in Explorer if you not have hidden files shown.

You will want to look into the %ProgramFiles%\Common Files\Windows Live\.cache\cache.ini file to find out which directory contains the Wave 3 binary that you want to install on your unsupported OS.

A cut-and-paste of the contents of my cache.ini:

[neutral::Watson-x86::any]
Path=C:\Program Files\Common Files\Windows Live\.cache\ddfb16b01c918f7
Name=DW 2.0 Client - x86

[neutral::crt80::any]
Path=C:\Program Files\Common Files\Windows Live\.cache\e3d930001c918f7
Name=Microsoft Visual Studio Runtime

[neutral::Contacts-ship::ship]
Path=C:\Program Files\Common Files\Windows Live\.cache\e6c900401c918f7
Name=Contacts

[neutral::SegoeFont::any]
Path=C:\Program Files\Common Files\Windows Live\.cache\ea4257601c918f7
Name=Segoe UI Font

[en::wlc-ship::ship]
Path=C:\Program Files\Common Files\Windows Live\.cache\ee1d7a801c918f7
Name=Windows Live Call

[en::signin-5.0::ship]
Path=C:\Program Files\Common Files\Windows Live\.cache\f0716da01c918f7
Name=Windows Live Sign-in Assistant

[en::WLXSuite-ship-14.0.5025.904::ship]
Path=C:\Program Files\Common Files\Windows Live\.cache\f35812c01c918f7
Name=Installer Beta

[neutral::choiceguard-w3::ship]
Path=C:\Program Files\Common Files\Windows Live\.cache\f3b23ad01c918f7
Name=Choice Guard

[en::Messenger-14.0.5027.0908-ship::ship]
Path=C:\Program Files\Common Files\Windows Live\.cache\4c8400d01c918f8
Name=Messenger Beta

[en::Mail-14.0.5027.0908-ship::ship]
Path=C:\Program Files\Common Files\Windows Live\.cache\8a2e8ee01c918f8
Name=Mail Beta

[neutral::WindowsXP-KB954708-x86-ENU::any]
Path=C:\Program Files\Common Files\Windows Live\.cache\8e1f16a01c918f8
Name=Windows Imaging Component Hotfix

[en::PhotoGallery-5026.0905-en::ship]
Path=C:\Program Files\Common Files\Windows Live\.cache\d8e58ab01c918f8
Name=Photo Gallery Beta

[en::writer-14.0.5025.0904-ship::ship]
Path=C:\Program Files\Common Files\Windows Live\.cache\ee9819401c918f8
Name=Writer Beta

[en::familysafety-14.0.5025.904-ship::ship]
Path=C:\Program Files\Common Files\Windows Live\.cache\f86841801c918f8
Name=Family Safety Beta

[en::olc-12.0.6237.1003-ship::ship]
Path=C:\Program Files\Common Files\Windows Live\.cache\56559801c918f9
Name=Microsoft Office Outlook Connector

[neutral::searchenhancementpack::any]
Path=C:\Program Files\Common Files\Windows Live\.cache\ff77b9001c918fc
Name=Search Enhancement Pack

[en::toolbar-14.0.5023.902-ship::ship]
Path=C:\Program Files\Common Files\Windows Live\.cache\8e923a01c918fd
Name=Toolbar Beta

[_CATALOG_]
Path=C:\Program Files\Common Files\Windows Live\.cache\wlc120.tmp
Type=CAB
Language=en
Build=ship

I'm sure as the files get revised, the file contents and version numbers will change. For now, you can use this as a 'cheat sheet' to find which product you want installed.

Ideally, I would like these available for download without jumping through hoops like this to get the actual binaries. I'm not a fan of unified installers like this.

Update: Rafael Rivera Jr. has provided a much more elegant method of providing support for unsupported operating systems:

#1. Download Resource Hacker.
#2. Open the Live installer executable (either WLSetup-All.exe or WLSetup-Web.exe) inside Resource Hacker.
#3. Locate CONFIG -> CONFIG0 -> 0
#4. Strip out the following XML, leaving the surrounding text:

#5. Compile the script.
#6. Save the modified executable.
#7. Run the modified executable, and the OS check is no longer there!

Posted by Aaron Tiensivu in Microsoft, Server, Vista, Windows Live!, Windows OS at 21:58 | Comments (10) | Trackbacks (0)

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Tried the Resource Hacker method.

Error!
TBD: Installer Package Was Not Signed

#1 Mild on 2008-09-24 14:58 (Reply)

I tried this with the web set up and got the same error. Downloaded setup-all and it worked

#1.1 Steve on 2008-09-30 13:46 (Reply)

this failed for me under vista x64. i tried running the setup-web and setup-all, and hacked both of them with resourcehack to remove the OS check, and nothing worked.

web said the package was not signed, and the other tried to install messenger, but it failed. :S

#1.1.1 Anthony on 2008-10-10 22:24 (Reply)

Do I need to do this workaround in 32-bit Server 2008 or is it only incompatible with x64?

#2 Geo on 2008-09-27 15:50 (Reply)

Yes, it checks if the SKU is Server or Workstation - doesn't matter if it is 32-bit or 64-bit.

#2.1 Aaron Tiensivu (Homepage) on 2008-09-28 20:02 (Reply)

ResourceHack worked here on Windows Server 2008

#3 Scott on 2008-10-06 00:50 (Reply)

[URL=http://www.zshare.net/download/203545203a03a638/]wlsetup-web.exe - 0.97MB[/URL]

Moded and uploaded the installer to zshare if anybody here just wants to avoid doing the mod themselves(its the web installer)

I may seed the moded full installer on a torrent to help other server 2008 users out who lack the tech skills to do the mod comfertably OR who are just to lazy to do it

enjoy

#4 Ashen (Homepage) on 2008-10-10 22:22 (Reply)

thanks a lot. i did exactly as specified in resource hacker method section and it all worked smoth

. horrey now i have win live wave 3 on my win 64 OS

). me happy! thanks again.

#5 madalimba on 2008-10-20 19:58 (Reply)

i downloaded windows live messenger beta bt it says TBD:installer was not signed. wot do i have to do? plz help...plzzzzzzzzzz

#6 kenzie on 2008-10-25 12:08 (Reply)

Thanks a lot. The ResourceHacker way works great! Much better than getting the .msi

#7 CharlyAR on 2008-11-01 03:41 (Reply)

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