Recently i have had to deploy Google Earth across a network using group policy and it was a bit of a pain so i thought i would share how i did it.
Firstly I rolled out the Latest version which was version 6.2, but it has worked fo versions 5.x and im sure this method will allow you to work with other versions in the future.
So first of all you need to download an offline installer version of Google Earth. The one you download through the main site is a setup program which goes off and downloads extra files. So to get the offline installer go here :
Google Earth Offline Installer
Once you have downloaded the Offline executable we need to extract the MSI package from it. To do this you can use a free program called 7 zip available here : 7-Zip
Once you have used 7-zip to extract the msi. Copy the contents to a network location where you will install google earth from. You need to ensure the folder has the correct permissions to allow a network installation.
So now we have an MSI and its in a location that we can install from but we need to make some alterations to the msi to allow it to install correctly. If you dont make these changes you may likely get the following error 'Add operation failed. Unable to extract deployment information from the package. Run validation on the package to ensure that the package is correct.'
You can either edit the msi you need to use a program called Free program called ORCA. You can download it here : ORCA or you can you can download my altered MST file (Download the Modification.MST file)
If you are going to make the changes yourself you need to make the following changes :
Transform -> new transform
Select Property from the sidebar, add a row titled ALLUSERS with a value of 1
INSTALLTOOLBARNOW 0
ISCHECKFORPRODUCTUPDATES 0
LAUNCHPROGRAM 0
AgreeToLicense Yes
generate & save the transform
Transform -> close transform
view -> summary information
Delete everything except for 1033 in the Languages field (1033 is English)
save and exit
This allows the following :
To be installed for All Users
Suppress the Google toolbar
Stop it launching after install
To auto accept the EULA
Once you have the MST file, pop that in the same directory as the Google Earth msi and then create an GPO on the server. Under Computer Configuration > Policies > Software Settings > Software Installation point it to the Google Earth MSI you copied to the network location. Choose advanced option rather than assigned. Then in the modifications tab add the modifications.mst file you downloaded (or the one you create with orca) and then also add 1033.mst (that is the English language pack). See image below :
All you need to do now is link the GPO to the Organisation Unit of the machines you wish to install it on. Once you have done leave the machines for a while to pick up policy (depending on how quick your network is set to replicate). Then reboot the machines and the software should be installed.
As you can see it was a little bit of an awkward install but it actually worked extremely efficiently and i didnt get an problems.
Just like to thank a few edugeek members who's thread helped guide me to install Google Earth and allow me to write this up a blog in a little more depth and in step by step way.
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