So I’m working on some automated lab build “stuff” and I tried to silently install the Windows 7 AIK using a simple call to msiexec. Apparently there is something built into the Windows 7 AIK MSI package that prevents it from being installed non-interactively. This is a bit frustrating.

Upon execution of the msiexec command, I received a message in the MSI log, stating: “This MSI can only be installed with full UI.”

I would surmise that, with some MSI hacking, or using a transform, this behavior could be circumvented.

Update (2011-02-09)

Simon and Samuel both posted a solution in the comments. You can use a transform included in the WAIK, like this:

msiexec /i waikx86.msi TRANSFORMS=”waikx86.mst” /qn
msiexec /i waikamd64.msi TRANSFORMS=”waikamd64.mst” /qn

Thanks for the help folks!