How to Deploy an MSI Package Using Active Directory

If you are using Microsoft SCCM to deploy and manage software, this article is not required as the EXE and MSI packages are suitable for you.
For deploying software across all computers in your organization using Active Directory, download the MSI installation package first.

View screenshots of the deployment process

Deploy MSI with Windows Server Versions

Step 1: Create a Distribution Point

• Log in to Windows Server with an administrator account.
• Create a shared network folder, e.g., d:\deploy.
• Set permissions on d:\deploy to allow all users to read.
• Copy the MSI file (e.g., SetupOfficeTabMSI.msi) to d:\deploy.

Step 2: Edit Properties of the MSI Package

• Install the Orca tool if it is not already installed. Download Orca here.
• Right-click the MSI file in d:\deploy and select "Edit with Orca".
• In the "Tables" pane, select "Property". Add the license name and code to "PROP_LICENSENAME" and "PROP_LICENSECODE".
• Tip: Combine multiple lines of the license code into a single line for the "PROP_LICENSECODE" property.

Step 3: Assign the Package

Use this method if SCCM (System Center Configuration Manager) or SMS (Systems Management Server) is unavailable:

• Open Active Directory Users and Computers from Administrative Tools.
• Right-click your domain in the console tree, then click Properties.
• Navigate to the Group Policy tab, select Default Domain Policy (or another group policy object), and click Edit.
• Under Computer Configuration, expand Software Settings.
• Right-click Software Installation, point to New, and select Package.
• Enter the UNC path of the shared MSI package (e.g., \\MyServer\share\SetupOfficeTabMSI.msi) in the Open dialog.
• Important: Always use the UNC path to the shared installer package.
• Click Open, select Assigned, and click OK. The package will appear in the Group Policy window.
• Close the Group Policy editor and Active Directory Users and Computers.
• When client computers restart, the software will install automatically.