Access extracted files? (Not what you think.)

Archive: Access extracted files? (Not what you think.)

nickjohnston
8th October 2003 23:38 UTC

Access extracted files? (Not what you think.)
Hi.

I am trying to figure out where NSIS saves temporary files it extracts while installing. I have an NSIS installer on my web site (http://www.deeplake.com/internet.shtml - the setup program there) provided by a 3rd party. I would like to customise the program in some way (just by hex editing), but I need to get the uncompressed version first of all.

This is not an installer in the traditional sense--it does not ask you where files should be put, and it doesn't even install a program. It just creates a dial up networking connection and that's it.

So, how is NSIS doing this? Is it extracting a file, running it and then deleting it? I've tried killing it half way through and looking through TEMP dirs for a file, but no look. Or is all the functionality implemented in an NSIS script?

Any help would be appreciated.

deguix
9th October 2003 00:59 UTC

A example:

Section

  #Put other things here

  InitPluginsDir
  SetOutPath $PLUGINSDIR
  File "Program.exe"
  ExecWait "$PLUGINSDIR\Program.exe"
  Delete "$PLUGINSDIR\Program.exe"

  #Put other things here

SectionEnd

The $PLUGINSDIR is a directory with different names each time run the installation, that is used to put temporary files (located in $TEMP directory). It is automatically deleted when you exit the installer. If it doesn't be deleted, try RMDir command after all.

nickjohnston
9th October 2003 11:58 UTC

Originally posted by deguix
A example:
Section

  #Put other things here

  InitPluginsDir
  SetOutPath $PLUGINSDIR
  File "Program.exe"
  ExecWait "$PLUGINSDIR\Program.exe"
  Delete "$PLUGINSDIR\Program.exe"

  #Put other things here

SectionEnd
The $PLUGINSDIR is a directory with different names each time run the installation, that is used to put temporary files (located in $TEMP directory). It is automatically deleted when you exit the installer. If it doesn't be deleted, try RMDir command after all.

Thanks for you reply, however I think you have maybe misunderstood me. I am not writing an installer - I have a compiled installer provided by a 3rd party. I want to access the files that are extracted by the installer--that's all.

Is there any way that this can be done?

Thanks,

Nick

kichik
9th October 2003 13:01 UTC

Re: Access extracted files? (Not what you think.)

Originally posted by nickjohnston
So, how is NSIS doing this? Is it extracting a file, running it and then deleting it? I've tried killing it half way through and looking through TEMP dirs for a file, but no look. Or is all the functionality implemented in an NSIS script?

It depends on the script.

Joost Verburg
9th October 2003 15:29 UTC

Watch the Windows Temp dir, maybe it creates files/folders there.