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Microsoft's documentation for msiexec says this:

/lv Turns on logging and includes verbose output in the output log file.

/l* Turns on logging and logs all information, except verbose information (/lv) or extra debugging information (/lx).

Examples To install package C:\example.msi, using a normal installation process with all logging information provided, including verbose output, and storing the output log file at C:\package.log, type:

msiexec.exe /i "C:\example.msi" /L*V "C:\package.log"

I think it might help to have an example installer log. What is 'all logging information' vs verbose logging? Isn't verbose just that & historically shows all logging info? Guessing this is going to be a unique Microsoft thing

gregg
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2 Answers2

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Debug Logging (Verbose): Advanced, slow logging for maximum details captured. This is - as far as I can tell - the most information you can capture in an MSI log:

msiexec.exe /i C:\Path\Your.msi /L*vx! C:\Your.log

Interpreting MSI logs: MSI log files can be very verbose indeed. Advanced installer and an old blog from the MSI team of many years ago have a few clues to their content:

This old dialog from a log-command generation tool might help. The flush to log means the log is written directly and continuously and not in batches. This continuous writing slows things down a lot, but no log buffer is lost if there is a crash:

Generate MSI command line

WiLogUtl.exe: The Windows SDK contains this tool to analyze MSI log files. It can be helpful, although it is quite old-fashioned to look at GUI-wise. Search for it under: C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits - if you have Visual Studio or the Windows SDK installed. Here is a screen shot:

WiLogUtl.exe

Some pre-existing answers on logging:

Stein Åsmul
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The /l switch takes a bunch of switches, each of which identifies particular items to log and is independent of the others. Likewise, v indicates a particular set of items to be logged; it's not a generic verbose logging level.

/l* says include all the switches except for v and x so it's equivalent to /loicewarmup. /l*vx includes all the switches and adds v and x to get everything.

Bob Arnson
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  • Do you mean `/voicewarmup` with a V? Can you explain what that is, this appears to be [an article you can link](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/windows-client/application-management/enable-windows-installer-logging). Guessing its telling Windows to log ALL .MSI installs vs telling msiexec to log THIS install file? – gregg Oct 14 '20 at 13:45
  • No, the logging switch always starts with `/l`. Logging policy applies to all installs; the `/l` switch applies to one install. – Bob Arnson Oct 14 '20 at 15:25