Unpack the Ableton Live Suite installer (v11/v10)

Discussion in 'Live' started by ArticStorm, Sep 22, 2021.

  1. ArticStorm

    ArticStorm Audiosexual

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    [​IMG]

    I found a way to unpack the Ableton Live Suite Installer without installing!

    you need lessmsi for that: https://github.com/activescott/lessmsi/releases
    UniExtract: https://github.com/Bioruebe/UniExtract2/releases

    1. unpack the Ableton Live Suite Installer.exe, we need the MSI file. We can extract easily with UniExtract.
    2. load the MSI file with lessmsi, be sure to have the cab files in the same folder as the MSI file.
    3. Click on extract.
    4. Save the Folder a place, where you want your Ableton Folder to be.

    5. The setup is now not saved on your HDD/SSD. And you dont need to uninstall.
    IMO just faster and better as the installer.

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    For Live 10, we can drop the MSI file in UniExtract and it will unpack just fine.
     
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  3. tchouangtseu

    tchouangtseu Kapellmeister

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    Interesting but what would be the benefits of extracting vs using the regular installer?
     
  4. ArticStorm

    ArticStorm Audiosexual

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    The installer is saved (2,65GB saved), Installer takes long to install sometimes and does nothing.

    Also if you install multiple Ableton versions, the setup will be saved for uninstalling, takes up extra storage.
    Like i wrote somewhere, i had 10 Ableton Setups saved in Package Cache, because i usually dont unisntall, just delete the folder.

    For me it is just faster to do it that way.
     
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  5. PartyShit

    PartyShit Producer

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    That's a really cool solution
    Thanks
     
  6. geaked

    geaked Newbie

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    but where do i get the abletom live installer?
     
  7. ArticStorm

    ArticStorm Audiosexual

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  8. Seckkksee

    Seckkksee Guest

    I'm not sure if English is not your first language, but I'm literally giving myself a headache trying to decipher what u wrote, lol. Do u mean to extract the Live 'Executable' without installing Ableton? The way u wrote it, it extracts the Ableton Setup Installer, to which I'm confused as to why that is an issue. U explained it, but I have no clue what u meant, lol.
     
  9. ArticStorm

    ArticStorm Audiosexual

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    i have assumed you already know a bit about how MSI files work and also what programs like UniExtract work.

    Here is a noob guide:
    Ableton zip files -1-> Ableton Setup file exe + cab files -2-> The MSI file inside + copy cab files to the MSI file -3-> Ableton Folder -4-> Ableton Unpacked + Ready to start the Ableton Suite 1x.exe

    1 Winrar or any zip decompressing tool
    2 UniExtract drag the Ableton exe file into UniExtract, let it analyse.
    3 lessMSI be sure to have the cab files in the same folder, load MSI file into and click extract
    4 Have ableton ready to start.
     
  10. Seckkksee

    Seckkksee Guest

    So, ur doing this to save a minute or two on the original install method?
     
  11. lxfsn

    lxfsn Platinum Record

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    How Ableton installs now:
    - download the installer (2GB) on your hard drive & pres install
    - installer copies the exact same 2GB into a temp location in programdata
    - installer creates thousands of registry entries
    - installer extracts 3.2 GB into corresponding locations but don't delete the programdata cache beucase is needed for uninstall & done.
    - furthermore, some updates will say about file corruption and won't install.
    Results: 7.2 GB hard drive used.

    Is pretty obvious why extracting the stuff is better than just installing.
     
  12. Seckkksee

    Seckkksee Guest

  13. ANTIMONOS

    ANTIMONOS Producer

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  14. geaked

    geaked Newbie

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    where do i get ableton zip files and cab files too
     
  15. PartyShit

    PartyShit Producer

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    Nothing happens for me:

    1. I have Ableton 11.0.11 so it has:
    Ableton Live 11 Suite Installer.exe
    Ableton Live 11 Suite Installer Data 1.cab
    Ableton Live 11 Suite Installer Data 2.cab
    2. I run UniExtract as administrator and I drag Ableton Live 11 Suite Installer.exe to it
    I wait a bit Deepscan...etc...OK I press Extract and it creates a 200 kbyte u files like u0, u1, u2, u3....
    Thats all UniExtract doesnt do anything It can not extract the .msi installer
    What am I doing wrong
     
  16. ArticStorm

    ArticStorm Audiosexual

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    i used it a few days ago. basically UniExtract needs to detect that the Ableton Live 11 Suite Installer.exe is packed with WiX installer, if it does, it will unpack it and in there should be the WiX script and the MSI.

    WiX is based on MSI and scripting on top.

    Have you used the newest Uni Extract version?

    Other option to check, have you looked through all files in the unpacked folder?

    I have tested with Ableton 11.1b4 setup and it worked fine for me.
     
  17. PartyShit

    PartyShit Producer

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    Nice
    Thank you
     
  18. geaked

    geaked Newbie

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    but where is the Wix installer? because i've downloaded an ableton 11.0.1 installer from this site https://ableton-live.netlify.app/ and there is no WiX file or installer in it
     
  19. ArticStorm

    ArticStorm Audiosexual

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    the exe file next tot he cab files is the WiX installer.
     
  20. geaked

    geaked Newbie

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    but that is the point, because there are no WiX files i think they are missing or something. Could you send me a link or tell me which version has WiX files?
     
  21. ArticStorm

    ArticStorm Audiosexual

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    version 11 has definitely. Since the installer grew by a lot and they had to deal with the 2GB limit and splited the setup file into two cab files.
     
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