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Dynamics 365 Community / Forums / Microsoft Dynamics CRM (Archived) / MS Dynamics CRM 2013 i...
Microsoft Dynamics CRM (Archived)

MS Dynamics CRM 2013 install via GPO

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Posted on by JeetS 155

Good Afternoon,

I need to rollout MS Dynamics CRM 2013 to all 180 of my users. I would like to do this via GPO but I only have the .exe install files and no .msi files. I have adhered to the following -

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh699775.aspx

I have followed the steps under the section Create the CRMCLient_bitversion.msi file but I am not achieving any administrative installation files. For example I have a network share setup as follows -

\\server\crm_files\test

I have mapped a network folder via command prompt using the net use command to map the Z: drive to \\server\crm_files. As per the instructions I have run the following command -

CRM2013-Client-ENU-i386.exe /a /q /targetdir \\server\crm_files\test

When I run this command I am prompted to click Run or Cancel so I click Run. After 2-3 seconds I then get a dialog box showing the different switches that I can run with the only other option being to close the box. After closing the box I look in my test folder and it is empty.

Should there be something in the test folder? Have I run the wrong command string?

Please note that I only have the installation/.exe file for CRM 2013. The article on the link I posted earlier mentions an XML file that is included with the installation files. I do not have this XML file and I never had it to begin with.

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I have the same question (0)
  • Community Member Profile Picture
    Community Member on at

    Have you tried doing the administrative install (using the /a switch to create an install folder) locally on the server that will be sharing the files out, rather than to a UNC? How about through the mapped Z drive?

    Try turning off the /q switch to see if you get any useful error messages. Or try /qr - I don't know if that is supported with /a but it does an unattended install with errors and dialog boxes visible but no need to answer prompts.

    Have you checked for any log files created by this process?

  • JeetS Profile Picture
    JeetS 155 on at

    Hi Adam,

    Many thanks for getting back to me. I am yet to try running the commands on the server where the install files are sitting. I will try this today and feedback.

    Are you able to confirm that if the command works successfully then my 'test' folder will contain administrative installation files?

  • Community Member Profile Picture
    Community Member on at

    Looks like the switches have changed from 2011 to 2013. Run it with /? for options.

    You need the /extract:<path> option (/targetdir is the switch for the target directory when actually installing it). No need for /a either, it seems.

    This worked for me from an elevated command prompt:

    CRM2013-Client-ENU-i386.exe /extract:.\OutlookAdminInstall

    You end up with client.msi in the extracted folder and should be able to use this in a GPO. Make sure to setup your Default_Client_Config.xml file. I would test this by doing a command line install first to make sure the files all work (don't specify the location of the config file on the command line - let it find it in the default path / filename to prove that it works).

    I would also consider using a script to run the Configuration Wizard (use some kind of flag in the registry or check for the existence of the log file to make sure you only run this once).

  • JeetS Profile Picture
    JeetS 155 on at

    Hi Adam,

    Many thanks for that. I have managed to extract the files out of the .exe. I can see the client.msi file but according to this link -

    technet.microsoft.com/.../hh699775.aspx

    we cannot use the client.msi file to deploy via group policy. Instead I am supposed to create a CRMClient_bitversion.msi file. Apologies for being such a novice but I am still not too clear on how this file is created.

  • Verified answer
    Community Member Profile Picture
    Community Member on at

    Sorry, you are right. The file you need is a few folders deeper:

    .\yourextractedfolder\PFiles\MSCRM\Client\ should have a file such as CRMClient_32.msi (depending on whether you extracte 32 bit or 64 bit client).

  • JeetS Profile Picture
    JeetS 155 on at

    Fantastic! Many thanks for this Adam. Hopefully I should be able to work out the rest from here and not have to bother you again. Thanks again!

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