SWKS 2004 Windows Installer prevents Traditional Installation of SWKS 2003

For any of user who happens to have a traditionally installed
SolidWorks 2003 alongside SolidWorks 2004 (which uses ONLY the Windows
Installer Method) and finds a need to reinstall it and apply service
packs, the following caution should be noted:

After installation of SolidWorks 2004, the Windows Installer Method
dominates and PREVENTS the user from seeing the dialog box for
choosing "Traditional" instead when performing an installation of 2003
(or earlier software).

Mike J. Wilson has posted in (
http://groups.google.com/groups?dq=...solidworks&safe=off&[email protected]
) a Registry editing method for pulling the wool over the eyes of the
Windows Installer.

Please DO NOT perform a Registry edit, unless you are experienced in
doing so; however, a temporary renaming of the appropriate
SolidWorks-related "product" in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Installer\Products\
allows the Traditional Installer Method to be used!

It works beautifully. In fact, coincidentally, I had to use Mike's hot
off the press suggestion this morning on a co-worker's system.

Of course the temporarily renamed Registry Key MUST be reverted to the
ORIGINAL in order to restore the Windows Installer function for 2004!

Per O. Hoel