does MSI allow installation of x86 interops in the GAC if the GAC already has the same interops have a higher versioned x64 already installed?

• Saturday, March 14, 2009 10:20 PM

   

   
  

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  Hi,
  

    I have found that if there are x64 interops of a particular version installed in the GAC, then MSI does not allow x86 interops (the same interops as the already installed x64) of a lower version to be installed into the GAC. It seems like if the x64 interops are installed beforehand, MSI technology does not take into account that they are x64 while trying to install x86 versions of the interops and instead simply looks at the versions and if they installed interops have higher version, irrespective of the fact that they are of a different architecture (x64 in this case), the x86 interops are not able to be installed.
  

   Interesting if the x86 interops are installed beforehand, that has no bearing on the MSI trying to install x64 versions of those interops irrespective of the actual file version of the interops.

   So, looks like when trying to install x86 interops, MSI technology does not take cognizance of the assembly architecture if there are x64 versions already installed, and instead just looks at the file version. I did run some tests by bumping the version numbers of the interops in question and turns out the above analysis is true.

    Is this correct. Looking for some confirmation.  

  Thanks,

  Manas