How to edit InstallShield .cab without triggering error -5005 : 0x8007000d

Question

How to edit InstallShield .cab without triggering error -5005 : 0x8007000d?

Did i miss a step?

user_Setup.exe File version: 9.1.0.429

Issue:
Need to remove an exe inside InstallShield.exe, user_Setup.exe.
i have the source file but it is very outdated. Already lost the .ism files used to build the current InstallShield.exe, user_Setup.exe

Used Universal Extractor to get InstallShield .cab files and other files (setup.exe included). Before i edit the .cab file, I can run setup.exe without triggering any error. Then I use iscab.exe to edit the .cab file. When I run setup.exe, it immediately prompt:

An error (-5005 : 0x8007000d) has occurred while running the setup.

Detail>>  

Error Message:  
Error Code: -5005 : 0x8007000d  
Error Information:  
>Kernel\KernelMedia.cpp (95)  
>Kernel\KernelMedia.cpp (95)  
>SetupDLL\SetupDLL.cpp (1619)  

If edit setup.ini, CheckMD5=Y to CheckMD5=N, the same error message appears.

Edit InstallShield .cab
Steps taken:

1. Place iscab.exe in C:\Program Files\InstallShield\2010\System
2. Launch cmd.exe
3. List all file groups and files in cabfile to inifile, allfiles.ini
   iscab.exe C:\Users\user\Desktop\Test\user_Setup\Disk1\data1.cab -i"allfiles.ini" -lx
4. Remove files listed in the inifile, removefiles.ini
   iscab.exe C:\Users\user\Desktop\Test\user_Setup\Disk1\data1.cab -i"removefiles.ini" -r
5. Error message appear when run setup.exe
6. Restore data1.cab with original .cab
7. Replace one existing file listed in the inifile, replacefiles.ini in order to troubleshoot
   iscab.exe C:\Users\user\Desktop\Test\user_Setup\Disk1\data1.cab -i"replacefiles.ini" -a
8. Generate inifile, replacefiles.ini and the compare the contents with allfiles.ini
   Both inifile contents are matching
9. Same error message with step 5 appear when run setup.exe
10. Edit setup.ini, CheckMD5=Y to CheckMD5=N
11. Same error message with step 5 appear when run setup.exe

Edit 20181109 PM1330 harrymc

Convert .exe files into a project file
Steps taken:

1. Open and Edit setup.exe files using InstallShield
   File | Open...
   File name: *
   Open As: Auto or Wizard
   Select setup.exe

2. Error message appear:
   InstallShield cannot open C:\Users\user\Desktop\Test\user_Setup\Disk1\setup.exe. Please contact Acresso technical support for more information.

3. Open and Edit user_Setup.exe files using InstallShield
   File | Open...
   File name: *
   Open As: Auto or Wizard
   Select user_Setup.exe

4. Error message appear:
   InstallShield cannot open C:\Users\user\Desktop\Test\user_Setup.exe. Please contact Acresso technical support for more information.

5. Open and Edit Start.exe files using InstallShield
   File | Open...
   File name: *
   Open As: Auto or Wizard
   Select Start.exe

6. Error message appear:
   InstallShield cannot open C:\Users\user\Desktop\Start.exe. Please contact Acresso technical support for more information.

Reference:
Universal Extractor
How do I extract an InstallShield Cabinet file?
How to update an InstallShield v6.x CAB file
Modified .cab file causes installer to throw error 1334
I Didn’t Know InstallShield Could Do That?

Extra Info:
By using Universal Extractor from LegRoom.net,
i will get the following files/folders:

Disk1 (Folder)
|- data1.cab (File)
|- data1.hdr (File)
|- data2.cab (File)
|- engine32.cab (File)
|- layout.bin (File)
|- setup.exe (File)
|- setup.ibt (File)
|- setup.ini (File)
|- setup.inx (File)

Content of removefiles.ini:

[ISCAB Info]
Product=ISCAB
Version=2.0

[Tools]
File10="common\nircmdc.exe"
File58="Tools\common\nircmdc.exe"

[Language Independent OS Independent Files]
File2="nircmdc.exe"

Content of replacefiles.ini:

[ISCAB Info]
Product=ISCAB
Version=2.0

[AdminScripts]
File6="user.bat"

Content of setup.ini:

[Startup]
AppName=user_Setup
ProductGUID=DD1111D1-1D11-111D-1DDD-D11111111D1D
CompanyName=user
CompanyURL=https://superuser.com
ErrorReportURL=http://www.installshield.com/isetup/ProErrorCentral.asp?ErrorCode=%d : 0x%x&ErrorInfo=%s
MediaFormat=1
LogMode=1
Resource=_Setup.dll
SmallProgress=N
SplashTime=5
CheckMD5=Y
CmdLine=
ShowPasswordDialog=N
EngineVersion=9.1.0.429
EngineBinding=1
[Languages]
Default=0x0009
count=1
key0=0x0009

Answer 1

In many cases, InstallShield may be able to convert a created menu setup file back to a project that can be modified and re-generated.

This is done in the menu File / Open, specifying * in the FileName field and hit enter, then selecting the setup exe file.

In the case of the poster, this resulted in the error

InstallShield cannot open C:\Users\user\Desktop\Test\user_Setup.exe. Please contact Acresso technical support for more information.

Acresso technical support can be contacted through the the page of
InstallShield Technical Support and FAQs.