Application Isolation: Basics and

Directions
Application Isolation is the process which ensures that the packages that we create won't interfere with
each other by scanning them to determine if they are using only local resources and DLLs. Isolating an
application with its support files ensures that your application always uses the version of shared files with
which it was installed.
Why isolate an application?
1. Application isolation is one solution to component versioning conflicts, or DLL hell.
2. Isolation reduces versioning conflicts by modifying an application so it always loads the versions
of components such as DLLs with which it was originally developed and tested.
3. Application isolation provides increased stability and reliability for applications because they are
unaffected by changes caused by installation and ongoing maintenance of other applications on
the system.
4. Resolve incompatibilities between different versions of shared components.
5. Reduce the complexity of the installation by storing COM activation data in a manifest instead of
the registry.
6. Insulate the application from changes to shared components.
How to isolate an application.
Application isolation can be performed using one of these two methods.

Assemblies and manifests

MSI isolated components

Assemblies and Manifests:

Application isolation using assemblies and manifests is the recommended isolation method for Windows
XP. Assemblies are DLLs or other portable executable files that applications require to function, and
manifests are XML files that describe either an isolated application or an application's assemblies. These
assemblies and manifests provide the same end result as Windows Installer isolated components, but
keep all information outside of the registry and do not require the components to be installed in the same

folder as the application. This reduces the chance of errors after isolation resulting from how the
application was written.

MSI Isolated Components:

Application isolation using Windows Installer isolated components is best applicable for Windows 98 SE,
Me, and 2000. It can also be used on Windows XP, but using assemblies and manifests is the better
solution. The isolated component method copies shared files (typically DLLs) into an application's folder
instead of a shared location. The application then uses these files instead of global ones, preventing
modifications made by other applications from affecting the shared files. As a result, the application
always uses the versions of these files with which it was deployed.
Application Isolation Using Admin Studio:
To isolate applications within a Windows Installer package (.MSI) or merge module (.MSM) using
AdminStudio:
1. Open AdminStudio and launch the Application Isolation Wizard.
2. From the Welcome panel, click Next.
3. From the Windows Installer File Selection panel, specify the Windows Installer package (.msi) or
merge module (.MSM) containing applications you want to isolate. Click Next.
4. From the Isolation Method panel, select the isolation method(s) (discussed above) you want to
use.
5. If you are using manifests, you can click Advanced to configure manifest properties and digital
signature information (if required).
6. Click Next.
7. From the Summary Information panel, confirm the isolation selections. If you are using manifests,
you can click Advanced to configure manifest properties and digital signature information (if
required).
8. If you want to manually configure isolation, click Modify.
9. Click Isolate.
10. From the Completing the Application Isolation Wizard panel, click Finish.
Depending on the isolation method used in the Application Isolation Wizard, you can partially or totally
isolate an application.
Application Isolation Using Wise Package Studio:

The Application Isolation wizard in Wise Package Studio provides a quick and easy way to isolate
applications with their shared .DLL or .OCX files (support files).
The below steps describe how to implement the process using WPS.
1. Invoke the Application Isolation wizard from the side pane of Wise package studio as shown
below.

2.Browse the .WSI or .MSI file on which the isolation has to be performed.

3.Choose on the isolation method and the isolation type. The next screens depend on the options
selected here.
4. Choose how the process of isolation has to be taken place.

5.Isolation is ready to be performed.

2.The updated Windows Installer file can be either the default MSI file appended with _isolated or a
new MSI file or a MST file, as shown here.