Vista: How to Extract Content from MSI Files

Contributor Icon Contributed by shamanstears Date Icon August 8, 2007  
Tag Icon Tagged: Microsoft Vista

While there are plenty of utilities available to extract the contents of an MSI file, you can do it straight from the command line without using some third party application. Here’s how:


First, access an elevated command prompt, to do this:

1. Click the Start button.

2. Click All Programs.

3. Go into Accessories.

4. Right-click on Command Prompt.

5. Select Run as administrator.

6. When the UAC Prompt appears, click Continue.

Once you have your elevated command prompt, input the following:

msiexec /a filepath to MSI file /qb TARGETDIR=filepath to target folder

using the desired locations to fill the above mentioned filepaths.
(Example: msiexec /a c:\testfile.msi /qb TARGETDIR=c:\temp\test)

Press the Enter button on your keyboard.

If you have entered the command correctly, the MSI file’s contents will be extracted.

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  • Vista user
    No, I get "The Installscript engine is missing from this machine"
  • Sounds like you need to install the the correct version of InstallScript engine.

    http://www.installsite.org/pages/en/msifaq/a/10...
  • jamesta
    wow, i love it, great job. cheers.
  • Sid
    I like 7zip - Right Click on File --> Extract! =)
  • Venny
    did not work
  • Mikey
    Extracting manually worked GREAT! Appreciate the work-around.
  • xpUser
    I still can not open the msi file. I even tried a exe converter. plz help!
  • Mike
    Great! Worked a treat, tnks a 10^6!
  • another satisfied customer
    Worked a treat! Took me a few goes to sort it out but when the penny finally dropped - I had extracted the files I needed. Thanks for sharing your wisdom.
  • Anna
    Superb, you have no idea how much job you just saved me ;)
    Thanks a bunch!
  • bearsomg
    worked great, thanks.
    i hate installing things, they screw up my computer...
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