# Deploy Software Packages for Computers | Endpoint Central Last Updated On: 06 Jul 2026 10 minutes read The Software Installation configuration helps you to install MSI and EXE packages remotely to several computers of the Windows network from a central location. ## Step 1: Name the Configuration Provide a name and description for the Software Installation Configuration. ## Step 2: Define Configuration You have an option to install either an EXE or an MSI package: - [Install MSI Package](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/configuration-management/installing_msi_software-computer.html#Install-MSI-Package) - [Install EXE Package](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/configuration-management/installing_msi_software-computer.html#Install-EXE-Package) ### Install MSI Package Select the Installer type as **MSI** and specify the following values: | Parameter | Description | |---|---| | MSI Package Name | This will list all the MSI packages that are available in the Software Repository. Select the MSI that has to be installed. | ### Install EXE Package Select the Installer type as **EXE** and specify the following values: | Parameter | Description | |---|---| | EXE Package Name | This will list all the EXE packages that are available in the Software Repository. Select the EXE that has to be installed. | ### Common Package Parameters (MSI and EXE) The following parameters apply to both MSI and EXE package installations. | Parameter | Description | |---|---| | Operation Type | To specify how the installation should happen. Select any of the following options:

- **Install Completely:** Selecting this option will install the application automatically.
- **Advertise:** Selecting this option will notify the user about the availability of the software. They can choose whether to install the software or not.
- **Remove:** Selecting this option will remove (uninstall) the application from the system. | | Install as | The user as whom the package has to be installed.

**System User:** Default system user privilege
Run as User: **User Account with specific privilege** | | User interaction | You can choose to allow the user to interact with the installation/uninstallation window. This comes in handy when a few applications require user intervention and cannot be installed/uninstalled silently. | Click **Add More Packages** to install/uninstall additional software. **Note** You can also uninstall a previous version of the software either by running a pre-installation script (should be specified while creating a package) or by selecting the Operation Type as Remove. In the latter case, you need to add two packages, one to remove the older version and the other to install the new version. ### Scheduler (MSI and EXE) Specify the Scheduler details for installing the software: | Parameter | Description | |---|---| | Schedule time to perform the operation | - Select this option and specify the date and time after which the installation should begin. It is to be noted that the installation/uninstallation will still be based on the Operation Type & Installation / Uninstallation Option selected, but this will begin after the time specified here.
- Set an expiry date: Enable the checkbox if you do not wish to apply this configuration after a specified time period. | ### Deployment Settings (MSI and EXE) Specify the Deployment Settings for the software. If you have defined [Deployment Templates](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/general/configuring_deployment_templates.html), you can load the Deployment Settings directly from a template by selecting the required template from the list. | Parameter | Description | |---|---| | Installation / Uninstallation Option | Specify whether the installation/uninstallation should happen during or after system startup:

- **During startup:** Select this option if the software has to be installed/uninstalled during computer startup.
- **After startup:** Select this option if the software has to be installed/uninstalled after the computer startup when the next GP update happens (within 90 minutes).
- **During or After Startup:** Either of the above, whichever is earlier. | | Install Between | If you want the installation to happen only between a specified time of a day, you can specify the Start and End time within which the deployment should begin. The Start Time can also be greater than the End time - in such cases the End time is assumed to be on the following day. For example, if you wish the deployment should happen between 10.00 PM and 4.00 AM, you can specify the Start Time as 22:00:00 and End Time as 04:00:00. | | Allow Users to Skip Deployment | Specify whether the user can skip the deployment at a later time by selecting the "Allow Users to Skip Deployment". When you do not select this option, the deployment will be forced and the user will not have any control on the deployment. When you allow users to skip deployment, you can also specify whether they can skip it as long as they wish or force deployment after a specific date. | | Reboot Policy | - **Do not reboot:** Select this option if the client computers should not be rebooted after installing the software.
- **Force Reboot when the user has logged in:** Select this option to force the user to reboot the computer. Specify the time within which the client machines will be rebooted and the message that has to be displayed in the client machines. This option is applicable if the computer is turned on and even if there is no logged on user, the computer will get restarted after the specified time.
- **Force Shutdown when the user has logged in:** Select this option to force the user to shutdown the computer. Specify the time within which the client machines will be shutdown and the message that has to be displayed in the client machines. This option is applicable if the computer is turned on and even if there is no logged on user, the computer will get restarted after the specified time.
- **Allow user to skip Reboot:** Select this option to allow users to reboot later. Specify the message that has to be displayed in the client machines.
- **Allow user to skip Shutdown:** Select this option to allow users to shutdown later. Specify the message that has to be displayed in the client machines. | ## Step 3: Define Target Using the [Defining Targets](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/general/defining_targets.html#Defining-Configuration-Target-Computers) procedure, define the targets for deploying the Windows Installer Configuration. ## Step 4: Deploy Configuration Click the **Deploy** button to deploy the defined Windows Installer Configuration in the defined targets. The software installation for the selected targets will happen as scheduled. To save the configuration as draft, click **Save as Draft**.