Universal Silent Switch Finder

Universal Silent Switch Finder

Introduction

Universal Silent Switch Finder (USSF) is a small free utility that analyses a setup file and tells you which command line switches run it silently. Silent switches are command line options that are not visible in the user interface of the setup program, and they are used for unattended installation, for example when deploying software across a network or building an automated Windows setup. USSF was written in AutoIt by ZoSTeR from the MSFN community, later updated by sadicq, and distributed through wpiw.net, the home of Windows Post-Install Wizard (WPI).

Universal Silent Switch Finder enables users to quickly identify the switches used in silent installations of software.

Features

• Installer Detection: Universal Silent Switch Finder uses the PEiD engine to identify which tool was used to build a setup file - Inno Setup, InstallShield, Nullsoft (NSIS), Wise Installer and others - and which packer compressed it.

• Supports Multiple File Formats: besides EXE installers, the program recognises Windows Installer (MSI) packages, registry (.reg) files and setup information (.inf) files.

• Self-Extracting Archives: Universal Silent Switch Finder also recognises WinZip, ZIP, RAR and CAB self-extracting archives and shows the switches they accept.

• Clear Result Window: the main window shows the file name, file extension, file type and usage, with the ready-to-use silent switches and remarks in the Notes field.

• WPI Integration: a WPI-specific mode prepares the command lines for Windows Post-Install Wizard, so the found switches can be pasted straight into an unattended setup.

• Built-in Updater: the USSF Updater compares your copy with the latest available version and displays the changelog.

• Portable and Multilingual: the program runs without installation, the interface language and skin can be changed in the settings, and the whole tool takes about 1 MB.

Conclusion

Universal Silent Switch Finder is a handy helper for system administrators and anyone who builds unattended installations. It does not recognise every installer, especially EXE files made with less common or custom tools, so the suggested switches should always be tested before deployment. The last version, 1.5.0.0, dates from 2012 and the program is no longer maintained, but it still runs on Windows 10, and its AutoIt source code is available on GitHub under the Apache 2.0 license.