[WiX-users] Single deployable bootstrapper EXE in 7Zip self extracting archive

[Jesse E. <jen...@at...>]

How does one create a single EXE to distribute to customers that 
installs a WiX built MSI and handles the necessary bootstrapping (i.e. 
installing Windows Installer, .NET, etc....).  I came close to the 
following solution but failed due to Windows Installer 3.1 requiring a 
reboot:

I would like to install an MSI(setup.msi) that is dependent on Windows 
Installer 3.1.  I have a bootstrapper (setup.exe) to install Windows 
Installer 3.1 before installing the MSI.  The bootstrapper(setup.exe) 
expects the MSI(setup.exe) and the Windows Installer 3.1 redistributable 
to be in the same directory as the bootstrapper(setup.exe).  So, I am 
using a 7Zip self extracting archive to package the MSI(setup.msi), 
bootstrapper (setup.exe), and Windows Installer 3.1 redistributable.  
The 7Zip archive will self extract when double clicked into a temp 
directory and start the bootstrapper(setup.exe).  The problem is that 
Windows Installer 3.1 redistributable requires a reboot so the temp 
directory is deleted during the reboot.  When Windows restarts, the 
bootstrapper(setup.exe) picks up where it left off and tries to run the 
MSI(setup.msi).  The MSI(setup.msi) is no longer there due to the temp 
directory being deleted during reboot.

Any insights on how to solve the issue of having to reboot or creating a 
single deployable exe?

-Jesse