Common MSI Install Commands

These are the common commands used when installing an MSI product

For example, the full syntax for installing an MSI is :
msiexec.exe /i {name of msi installer} /qn

This would install the product with no user interaction (q) and without the user being aware (n)
Replacing /i with /x would do the same but as an uninstall instead

/i Installs or configures a product.

/f     with     p/o/e/d/c/a/u/m/s

• p - Reinstalls a product only if a file is missing.
• o - Reinstalls a product if a file is missing or if an older version of a file is installed.
• e - Reinstalls a product if a file is missing or an equal or older version of a file is installed.
• d - Reinstalls a product if a file is missing or a different version of a file is installed.
• c - Reinstalls a product if a file is missing or the stored checksum value does not match the calculated value.
• a - Forces all files to be reinstalled.
• u - Rewrites all required user-specific registry entries.
• m - Rewrites all required computer-specific registry entries.
• s - Overwrites all existing shortcuts.
• v - Runs from the source file and re-caches the local package.

/a Administrative installation option. Installs a product on the network.

/x Uninstalls a product.

/j with u/m/g/t

• u - Advertises a product to the current user.
• m - Advertises a product to all users.
• g - Language ID.
• t - Applies a transform list to an advertised package.

/l with i/w/e/a/r/u/c/m/p/v/+/! Logfile - Specifies the log file path and indicates the flags to be logged.

• i - Status messages.
• w - Non-fatal warnings.
• e - All error messages.
• a - Startup of actions.
• r - Action-specific records
• u - User requests.
• c - Initial User Interface (UI) parameters
• m - Out-of-memory.
• p - Terminal properties.
• v - Verbose output.
• + - Appends to the existing file.
• ! - Clears each line in the log file.
• "*" - Wildcard. Logs all information, but the use of the v option is not included. To include the v option, type "/l*v."

/q with n/b/r/f  Sets the UI level.

• q , qn - No UI.
• qb - Basic UI.
• qr - Reduced UI. A modal dialog box is displayed at the end of the installation.
• qf - Full UI. A modal dialog box is displayed at the end of the installation.
• qn+ - No UI. However, a modal dialog box is displayed at the end of the installation.
• qb+ - Basic UI. A modal dialog box is displayed at the end of the installation. If you cancel the installation, a modal dialog box is not displayed.
• qb- - Basic UI with no modal dialog boxes.

A full list of commands can be found here:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/227091/en-us