# Automated install (silent) on windows

**URL:** <https://community.naturalcapitalalliance.org/t/automated-install-silent-on-windows/5746>\
**Category:** Software Support\
**Tags:** invest-workbench\
**Created:** [January 22, 2025, 9:57am UTC](https://community.naturalcapitalalliance.org/t/automated-install-silent-on-windows/5746 "2025-01-22T09:57:09Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Martin\_Amm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9dc877/32.png) [@Martin\_Amm](https://community.naturalcapitalalliance.org/u/Martin_Amm)\
**Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 9:57am UTC](https://community.naturalcapitalalliance.org/t/automated-install-silent-on-windows/5746/1 "2025-01-22T09:57:09Z")

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#### What is the issue or question you have?

#### What do you expect to happen?

#### What have you tried so far?

### Upload the logfile using the 📤 button

I want to install the invest workbench on a Windows machine (Server 2022), but in an automated manner. Using the defacto standard, HashiCorp Packer.

This means I need to run the installer (invest\_3.14.3\_workbench\_win32\_x64.exe) on commandline.

The documentation states that it is possible, and parameters can be listed by running the exe with “/?” on the commandline.

But that does not work, it just start the graphical interface of the isntaller, and returns no information on the command line.

I want to run the installer for all users, with a silent install.  
I have tried common parameters, like “/S” “/SILENT” “/QUIET”, but none seems to work.

How can I run the windows installer in an automated manner?

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**Author:** ![jdouglass](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.naturalcapitalalliance.org/jdouglass/32/9_2.png) [@jdouglass](https://community.naturalcapitalalliance.org/u/jdouglass)\
**Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 7:52pm UTC](https://community.naturalcapitalalliance.org/t/automated-install-silent-on-windows/5746/2 "2025-01-22T19:52:22Z")

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Hello @Martin_Amm , and welcome to the forums!

It looks like we need to update the documentation, as the `/?` flag used to work before we updated our installer process.

Having said that, the installer is still an NSIS installer, so the [usual NSIS installer flags should apply](https://nsis.sourceforge.io/Docs/Chapter3.html#installerusage), plus a few extras that are specific to the output of `electron-builder`. For a `packer` build, I’d guess you’ll want `/S /allusers`, assuming you want InVEST installed to the default location. If not, I believe the `/D` flag is the standard way to install InVEST to a custom directory. The `/S` flag will initiate a silent install (no GUI interactions) and `/allusers` will install for all users.

I forget if packer runs the above as administrator, but be sure to escalate privileges if it doesn’t!

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jdouglass](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.naturalcapitalalliance.org/jdouglass/32/9_2.png) [@jdouglass](https://community.naturalcapitalalliance.org/u/jdouglass)\
**Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 8:02pm UTC](https://community.naturalcapitalalliance.org/t/automated-install-silent-on-windows/5746/3 "2025-01-22T20:02:17Z")

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I just updated the getting started page to reflect this change. Thanks for letting us know!

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**Author:** ![Martin\_Amm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9dc877/32.png) [@Martin\_Amm](https://community.naturalcapitalalliance.org/u/Martin_Amm)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 1:45pm UTC](https://community.naturalcapitalalliance.org/t/automated-install-silent-on-windows/5746/4 "2025-01-24T13:45:36Z")

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Hi there,

Very thanks for you prompt response. The parameters “/S /allusers” seem to do the trick. It does seem that the installer is case sensitive.

Kind regards,  
Martin

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**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/uploads/naturalcapitalproject/original/2X/8/8d95591aa074da87ea0fdd61ca47c1c3c0588aa7.png) [@system](https://community.naturalcapitalalliance.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [January 31, 2025, 1:46pm UTC](https://community.naturalcapitalalliance.org/t/automated-install-silent-on-windows/5746/5 "2025-01-31T13:46:18Z")

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