Showing tag results for Code

Jun 23, 2026
Post comments count0
Post likes count1

Add vs Stage and Register

Howard Kapustein

As previously mentioned to 'install' a package, as people think of the term, Windows actually performs two separate operations: staging and registration. To oversimplify: One way to 'install' a package for a user is to explicitly stage it, then register the package: But this scenario is common enough that deployment handles it more effici...

Jun 2, 2026
Post comments count0
Post likes count1

Staging Part 1 – Sharing is Caring

Howard Kapustein

A key phase in installing a package is staging the package: When a package is staged for the first time, deployment performs several actions, including: Deployment secures these directories with strict permissions, typically granting users Read and potentially Execute access - but notably not Write access. This ensures one user cannot ...

May 12, 2026
Post comments count6
Post likes count5

Is This a Packaged Process?

Howard Kapustein

Sometimes you need to know whether the current process has package identity. Certain Windows features require it, and behaviors can differ—both technically and culturally. For example, classic Windows applications often store settings in the registry, whereas packaged applications typically use ApplicationData.LocalSettings. So how can your code ...

May 4, 2026
Post comments count2
Post likes count12

There is no Install – it’s ‘Stage’ and ‘Register’

Howard Kapustein

"Is ContosoParts.msix installed?" is a common - but misleading - question The term install is not a formal concept in MSIX. This may seem paradoxical for a deployment technology, but it makes perfect sense once you understand MSIX deployment’s core architecture. Deployment Requests A caller makes a deployment request to the deployment engine vi...