[2005] Deployment Issues

[wileyj]

Hi, this may be a stupid question, but I'll ask anyways...

I'm finishing up my project and I'd like to be able to deploy it to other computers. Is there a way with VS 2005 Express to create a setup package that ensures that the computer has everything necessary for my application to run seamlessly? I'm using DirectX Audio and .Net Framework 2.0, so these will need to be installed on the computer if they're not already. A good tutorial or something would be fine if anyone knows of one. For some reason I couldn't find much regarding this topic. Thanks!

[jmcilhinney]

VB Express provides the facility to publish your project to a ClickOnce installer. You can include various prerequisites in the package, including the Framework. I would imagine that you could also include DirectX. You should go to MSDN and read about ClickOnce to see if it meets your needs, because it is NOT the same as Windows Installer deployment.

[wileyj]

The ClickOnce publishing looks promising. I keep getting an error when trying to install the program though. I can make the setup package easily, but when it tries to install I keep getting the error that prompts you to continue or quit.

I'm just trying to install it on the computer that I developed the application on, so I know it has DirectX installed. After tracking down the errors though, it appears as though the references to DirectX are what's causing the errors. Anyone know what the hell is going on here? Do I still need to include it in the ClickOnce package even if I know it's already installed on the computer?

[jmcilhinney]

A bit more information on the errors besides the fact that they prompt you to continue or quit could be useful.