Converting .exe to .msi - Howto?

[blackpearl75]

Is there a process/steps of converting .exe to .msi ?? I recently used MS Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool(Feb'07)..Though it was handy in removing viruses from my PC (Win32.Parite.B) at large...BUT on a safety note it DELETED ALL of my .exe's {It did NOT even Bother to Alert me of its 'findings' }. Luckily i had Most of the setups with me on CD.
On a closer browsing i came to know that Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool had left out my .msi's...so i was wondering to convert my .exe to .msi.
Also another query...{not posting in seperate thread}....if i Password protect my setups in Zip format...ARE there any chances that these will get infected by virus attack's ???
Thnx in Advance..

[ismart]

Repackage your installation into MSI format i.e. capture your existing setup.exe installation using a suitable application (whether you go for Wise, InstallShield, WinInstall, MaSaI Editor etc is up to you) to create your 'proper' MSI package.

[AshishSharma]

About your first question a brief intro:

Microsoft Setup Installer (MSI) is more like an intelligent installer. It's certainly not easy to convert an EXE to MSI but it's not that tough as well. Typically MSI installers are used for application deployment / installation on large scale.

It's interesting that MS Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool removed all .exe files from your computer ... believe me ur machine wouldn't work if it does

Converting those .exe's to MSI wouldn't solve ur purpose here bcz the tool would delete any MSI as well if it's infectious.... but if it's deleting any exe that falls in it's eye ... thats trouble ...

Abt your second question no i guess / infact hope that Virus scanners can scan within zipped files even if they'r password protected. But can't say definitively.

But from all this ur PC does seems to be in some deep trouble so do a thorough virus scan on your machine ... get some malware detection software and scan ur PC with that ,,, nd then run hijackthis on your machine and post the logs here ...

Best of Luck

[blackpearl75]

'ismart' & 'ashishsharma' thnx for your reply...ashish..i luv tht icon next to Best of Luck ..yep..ashish u r right..MS Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool..have cleaned my PC..and now my OS is prompting me fast..(guess its not on viagra ).. Used Kaspersky Virus Scanner...and it took 5 hrs. to scan 240GB (All files included - even inside archive, but it did left password protected archives)..found some more of that Win32.Parite.B virus on other partitions..and now i feel my PC is totally virgin again...
Thnx and Regards