This question is somewhat similar to another question of mine:
http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/sqlsetupandupgrade/thread/62383ceb-d287-4c29-b49a-acd6c57b5511
We would like to bundle SQL Server 2008 R2 Express installer with our software's installer, and install SQL Server silently via the command line since it's required by our software. A few questions:
1) The Windows Installer 4.5 redistributable comes in many varieties, depending on target OS.
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8483
Do I need to include all of these with our installer, at least, all of the ones for OSes I intend to support? Or is there some way to get a "master installer" that will work for any OS?
2) Nothing is mentioned for Windows 7 or 8. Do I need to do anything for these OSes, or is Windows Installer 4.5 (or a newer equivalent) already included, such that I can just run SQL Server 2008 R2 Installer without having to install Windows Installer 4.5 first?
Or, is all of this totally unnecessary? Will the SQL Server 2008 R2 Express installer install any required prerequisites itself, even when installed silently via the command line?
Thanks!
-Vern