Visual Basic 6.0 Installer, via Inno Setup

This script converts the conventional Visual Basic 6.0 installer into new and compact setup using Inno Setup. Installing Visual Basic 6.0 on later version of Windows is getting harder due to its outdated installation method especially on Windows 10 where NTVDM is need to enable in order to run VB6 setup. This installation is solved by porting VB6 installation from MS ACME Setup to Inno Setup.

Benefits of Porting

Small and compact (Only 40+Mb single executable file.)
Easy and less hassle installation (No reboot needed).
Smart installation. The installer can detect what components are need to install.
Can install on Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8/8.1, Windows 10, WINE, and ReactOS with least or no problems.
Application Virtualization and Desktop App Converter ready.

About this post

Posted: 2019-11-21
By: Rizalmartin
Viewed: 2,985 times

Requirements

VB6-generic.iss, SP6-generic.iss, and VB6-VS6-generic.iss are Inno setup Script files.
Use VB6-generic.iss for porting Visual Basic 6.0 installer CD.
Use SP6-generic.iss for porting Visual Basic 6.0 SP6.
Use VB6-VS6-generic.iss for porting Visual Studio 6.0 installer CD (Creates VB6 installer only).
Having a knowledge in Inno script is an advantage for customizing this script.
Use the output installer for personal use only. Always keep the conventional VB6/VS6 installers or CD for future use.
Conventional VS6 SP6 will not work on these ported version.

Special Instructions

Download the script file attached on this article.
Download and install Inno Setup 5.4.3. Download link: http://files.jrsoftware.org/is/5/isetup-5.4.3.exe
Copy all the contents of VB6/VS6 installer CD into a directory
Place the inno setup script beside SETUP.EXE
Open the script with Inno Setup.
On menu bar click BUILD->COMPILE or press CTRL+F9
Wait until it finish compiling.
When compiling is finished. The created installer was on a folder named OUTPUT beside SETUP.EXE (For example if the path of setup.exe is C:\VB60, then the created installer is located at C:\VB60\OUTPUT)

Loading Comments ...

Comments

AnonymousCoward posted this comment on 2023-02-19:

If installed VB6-VS6-generic.iss, that worked well, how to get SP3 in then?

Per Boman

dwirch posted this comment on 2023-02-19:

Looks like the original source for VB6 SP3 is no longer available. Why not go to SP6?

Download Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 Service Pack 6 Security Rollup Update from Official Microsoft Download Center

You must be logged in to make a comment.