App-V 5.1 Support Dates
App-V is no longer under active development, but still supported. Microsoft have extended the support date for App-V 5.1 to April 2026:
Posts by Category
App-V
App-V Shell Extensions Broken in Windows 10 1903/1909 (Now Fixed!)
Shell extensions for App-V packages are broken in Windows 10 1903 and 1909. Previous OS versions are OK, even when fully patched.
AppVForcelets & App-V Server Package Report
Check out this handy new PowerShell Module from Andreas Nick:
App-V Server Fails To Apply UserConfig With SQL Server 2016
The App-V Server can fail to apply UserConfig files when using SQL Server 2016 or later. This Microsoft article details a fix you can apply to the database:
Resolving Long Application Launch Times in App-V 5 (well, some of them!)
How to fix App-V apps that take a long time to launch due to scanning the contents of HKCR\CLSID at startup.
App-V Performance Improvements in Windows 10 June Updates
Details of the June 2018 update for Windows 10 which includes performance improvements.
Fixes Released for Broken App-V Scripting in Windows 10
The May 2018 Rollup for Windows 10 fixes App-V scripting which was broken by April’s update.
Seemingly Missing Shortcuts in App-V 5.2
The latest sequencer appears to miss non-exe shortcuts and multiple shortcuts pointing to the same exe.
App-V Connection Group Registry Corruption Bug
Prior to the latest App-V hotfixes, trying to write a value containing C:\ to a HKCU key within a connection group would corrupt the virtual registry.
New App-V Hotfixes Available
Details of the March 2018 Servicing Release for MDOP.
Sequencing WinZip 22
How to work around a sequencer bug that does not capture file associations properly in order to sequence WinZip 22.
Demystifying the PVAD
What is the PVAD, and why do some App-V apps only work when installed there?
Fix For Office 365 / App-V Interaction
How to enable Office 365 apps to run in the App-V virtual environment via the AllowJitvInAppvVirtualizedProcess registry key.
Fix for App-V Sequencer Generated MSI Packages
An MST for the MSI packages generated by the Sequencer that adds various enhancements.
IE11 Freezes on First Launch in App-V
The first launch of IE11 for a user will fail if it’s run insidethe virtual environment. Here’s how to solve that.
Office 365 with App-V
Office 365 applications will not run inside the App-V virtual environment by default.
Environment Variables in App-V Shortcuts
If your app creates an environment variable and uses it as part of the shortcut path or parameters, here is the fix to get that working.
App-V and .NET Framework Native Images
What are .NET native images, and how they impact performance and can sometimes break your virtualised apps.
Adding Windows Firewall Rules to App-V Packages
How to add Windows Firewall rules to App-V packages via App-V scripts.
Sequencing LibreOffice
How to sequence LibreOffice 4.1.6 in App-V 5.
App-V 5.1 Released!
The MDOP 2015 release which includes App-V 5.1 is now available.
Creating a Shortcut to an Exe in Another Package in a Connection Group
There are a few use cases where you might want to create a connection group that involves calling an executable from one package from a shortcut belonging to another package.
Powershell Scripts For Testing App-V Packages
Two simple Powershell scripts for importing and removing all App-V packages in a specific folder.
Automate Your App-V Client / Sequencer Test Builds With Boxstarter!
How to automate image builds using the power of Boxstarter and Chocolatey.
Broken Database Connectivity in App-V Apps
A fix for App-V apps that are unable to connect to a SQL server by adding the Services\WinSock2 key to PassThroughPaths.
Today’s Fixed App-V Apps!
Fixing a virtualised Access 2007 that was unable to export to Excel, and an in-house app that was unable to connect to a SQL server.
Beware When Sequencing Access Runtime!
How to disable file associations and app paths from your virtualised app so that it does not conflict with a locally installed one.
Fix for Mouse Freezes in App-V Apps
Solve mouse freezes in App-V by updating the .NET Framework from v4.5.2 and applying a registry setting.
Obligatory "I am now an App-V MVP" Blog Post!
I am honoured to have received the Most Valuable Professional (MVP) for App-V from Microsoft
The latest Internet Explorer preview is virtualised with App-V!
If you download the latest IE preview from the Internet Explorer Developer Channel, you will find it is packaged with App-V and bundles in a version of the App-V client!
App-V 5 Does Not Like Shortcut Names That End With A Space!
If your shortcut name ends in a space it creates a config XML file that SCCM cannot handle.
Supressing UAC Prompts In App-V 5 With __COMPAT_LAYER
How to use the __COMPAT_LAYER environment variable to stop apps requesting admin rights in App-V 5.
How To (sometimes) Fix A Crashing Sequencer! ImgBurn Recipe
How to fix a sequencer crashed caused by badly handled file extension / ProgID registrations.
Issue With App-V 5 and Java Mission Control
Eclipse-based apps have issues with virtualised user profile folders…
App-V 5.0 SP2 Hotfix 5 Released
This update was actually released a few weeks ago but it’s not widely known about so I am spreading the word!
App-V User Group UK 2014
Details of the first App-V User Group conference to be held in the UK!
App-V 5.0 SP2 Hotfix 4 Released!
The VFS write checkbox finally makes an appearance!
App-V and the Flexnet Licensing Service
If an application uses the Flexnet Licensing Service, it can be at first appear to work in App-V, however you can run into problems.
User Scripts Broken In App-V 5.0 SP2 For Local Accounts
This bug is now fixed in Windows 10.
App-V 5.0 and TerminateChildProcesses
A guide to terminating child processes in App-V 5, along with a few bugs to avoid.
Applying Dynamic Config To App-V 5 MSI Packages
An MST to modify the MSI packages generated by the App-V sequencer so that they make use of the DeploymentConfig.xml files.
App-V 5 PVAD / VFS Layering Bug
If your VFS is empty, then you won’t be able to see the PVAD folder within the bubble…
Sequencing Java - The Definitive Guide Part 3
Part 2 of the Java sequencing guide - Restricting access to insecure Java versions.
Sequencing Java - The Definitive Guide Part 2
Part 2 of the Java sequencing guide - Problems with App-V 5.0 SP2.
Sequencing Java - The Definitive Guide Part 1
Part 1 of the Java sequencing guide - Introduction and recipe.
Overriding Group Policy Settings With App-V
Group Policy registry settings captured in App-V packages do not alway work in App-V.
App-V 5 and UAC File Virtualisation
App-V does not handle files or registry entries redirected to the VirtualStore via UAC virtualisation.
User Environment Variables in App-V 5 Scripts
In App-V 5, scripts run as the user inherit the environment variables from the Local System account.
Fixing File Permissions in App-V 5
How to grant your App-V 5 app to have full write permissions within the VFS.
App-V and Legacy NTFS Junctions
Apps that write to the old XP-style user profile locations are not redirected properly in App-V.
Launching reg / bat / cmd / vbs files in App-V 5
Not all shortcuts in App-V 5 launch inside the bubble. In particular, any shortcuts to .bat or .cmd files need to be modified to point to cmd.exe.
Fix for MSI packages created with App-V 5.0 SP1
The MSI packages create by the 5.0 SP1 sequencer refuse to install on the client, so here is an MST to fix it.
App-V v4.6 Virtual Registry Bug
An App-V 4.6 bug where having a user-specific path under HKLM breaks the virtual registry.
Fixing Broken Event Messages in App-V 4.6.x
How to handle apps that register custom event types in App-V 4.6.
Troubleshooting 64-bit Apps in App-V 4.6.x
I discovered a few things yesterday when trying to troubleshoot a 64-bit application in App-V - here are some notes!
App-V 5 Book - First Chapter Available Now For Free!
Four App-V MVPs, Nicke Källén, Kalle Saunamäki, Ment van der Plas and Falko Gräfe have come together to write a book about App-V 5, and they are releasing each chapter at a time as they are written for free for a limited time.
European App-V User Group 2013 - Register Now!
For those interested in App-V, and in particular the new v5 release, there is a free European App-V User Group meeting taking place at Microsoft HQ in Amsterdam on the 8th Feb.
Fix For App-V .NET Applications Broken By Recent Security Updates
A fix for App-V applications that may have stopped working after recent updates to the .NET Framework.
A Couple Of App-V 4.6 Environment Variable Bugs
A few bugs in how the App-V 4.6 client handles environment variables.
Using __COMPAT_LAYER when troubleshooting App-V with Regedit
Using the __COMPAT_LAYER environment variable to prevent regedit asking for admin rights.
Running 32-bit MMC snap-ins in App-V on 64-bit Windows
Modifying shortcuts to .mmc files to make them compatible with App-V 4.x.
Finding Hard-Coded Paths In App-V Packages
Using the findstr command to look for hard-coded paths in config files within your package.
Strange Things Afoot In App-V DSC Land
A demonstration of how files and folders may appear hidden in the VFS yet still accessible.
Are Your App-V Components Up To Date?
Where to obtain the latest hotfixes for App-V.
Building an App-V Lab Part 3: Installing App-V
Building an App-V lab with VMware Workstation. Part 3 - installing the App-V client, sequencer and management server.
Building an App-V Lab Part 2: Building the Network
Building an App-V lab with VMware Workstation. Part 2 - configuring the network.
Building an App-V Lab Part 1: Base Image Creation
Building an App-V lab with VMware Workstation. Part 1 - creating the base images.
Report: App-V User Group Conference 2011
A report back from the European App-V User Group Conference 2011 held in Amsterdam.
Other
New Year, New Blog!
Things have been quiet around here lately, but I’ve been busy as ever. I promised myself I’d blog more frequently in 2020 - there’s still a ton of App-V tricks I have to share, and then there’s the elephant in the room, MSIX…
Windows 8 Hyper-V vs VMWare Workstation 9
Discussion and benchmarks on Hyper-V vs VMware Workstation for packagers.
Preventing VM’s From Falling Off The Domain
How to prevent your VMs from falling off the domain every 30 days due to computer password changes.
Welcome
Hi, and welcome to my new blog!
MSIX
Free ebook! MSIX Packaging Fundamentals
A new MSIX book has been released as a free download - MSIX Packaging Fundamentals, a collaboration between Tim Mangan, Bogdan Mitrache and Kevin Kaminski.
BUILD 2018: Accelerating Windows 10 Enterprise App Deployment with MSIX
Another MSIX video from BUILD 2018.
BUILD 2018: MSIX Inside and Out
MSIX may one day end up replacing both MSI and App-V. If you deal with enterprise application packaging and deployment you will want to watch this!
MSI
Fixing VLC’s MSI Package
VLC offer a hidden MSI release on their FTP site. Unfortunately they built it under WINE and the resulting package is corrupt and cannot be modified.
Powershell
Nevergreen: My first Powershell module
Nevergreen is a Powershell module that returns the latest version and download links for various Windows applications. It can be used as an alternative to Aaron Parker’s (and others) excellent Evergreen module.
Windows
Windows 11 Microsoft Store Announcements
After a series of leaks, Microsoft have officially unveiled Windows 11 earlier today. While most of the reporting has been focussed on the UI changes, there was a huge reveal regarding the Microsoft Store that will prove to be very interesting for...