Hi there,
I am trying to configure a way to install Solidworks 2025 SP5 (Admin Image) with PSADT. While I have a "working" script where it prompts me that an application needs to install, it only applies registry keys I specify and nothing else. I can post the script into this thread if needed, but was just curious if anyone has been able to get a script working on PSADT 4.1. Thanks!
I would post the line(s) you are using to launch the Solidworks installer.
And probably the key lines from your "working" script.
Please don't post the whole script as it just creates noise.
We should be able to advise from there.
FYI: Most are probably using PSADT v4.1.8 now. Not v4.1
We are using the command line underneath for the 2024 SP5. and that works ok.
Start-ADTProcess -FilePath "$($adtSession.DirFiles)\startswinstall.exe" -ArgumentList "/install /now" -CreateNoWindow -WaitForChildProcesses
That looks like the uninstall command not the install
... -ArgumentList "/uninstall /now"
Edited, uninstall to install. Same line other action.
I'm unsure which 'SolidWorks * 2025' application you are trying to install,
There are some old guides for a couple of legacy Solidworks apps here:
The versions used in these scripts give the impression that the Solidworks Install is available as an MSI. Would this be an option for the version you are using?
Hi! Thanks for the fast reply and I am using 4.1.8, apologies for not specifying properly.
This is the line I have in the install section:
Write-ADTLogEntry -Message "The application installation begins." -Source 'Install-App'
$ADTProcesResult = Start-ADTProcess -FilePath 'startswinstall.exe' -ArgumentList '/install /now' -WindowStyle 'Hidden' -PassThru
$exitCode = $ADTProcesResult.ExitCode
And I have the entire "admin image" folder structure in the "Files" folder. Does this help? I am fairly new to Powershell entirely and didn't start using PSADT until a few weeks ago (work project brought me in 
)
I appreciate this, I tried and it didn't work. This is what the section looks like with the recommendation looks like if something sticks out to you...
Write-ADTLogEntry -Message "The application installation begins." -Source 'Install-App'
$ADTProcesResult = Start-ADTProcess -FilePath "$($adtSession.DirFiles)\startswinstall.exe" -ArgumentList "/install /now" -CreateNoWindow -WaitForChildProcesses -PassThru
$exitCode = $ADTProcesResult.ExitCode
Also posting the output I see when I run the PS script directly -
[2026-02-06T09:00:30.1612181-06:00] [Initialization] [Open-ADTSession] [Info] :: Deployment type is [Install].
[2026-02-06T09:00:30.1832366-06:00] [Initialization] [PSAppDeployToolkit.Extensions.psm1] [Info] :: Module [PSAppDeployToolkit.Extensions] imported successfully.
[2026-02-06T09:00:30.1964756-06:00] [Pre-Install] [Show-ADTInstallationWelcome] [Info] :: Evaluating disk space requirements.
[2026-02-06T09:00:30.3982836-06:00] [Pre-Install] [Get-ADTFreeDiskSpace] [Info] :: Retrieving free disk space for drive [C:].
[2026-02-06T09:00:30.4013396-06:00] [Pre-Install] [Get-ADTFreeDiskSpace] [Info] :: Free disk space for drive [C:]: [367028 MB].
[2026-02-06T09:00:30.4042850-06:00] [Pre-Install] [Show-ADTInstallationWelcome] [Info] :: Successfully passed minimum disk space requirement check.
[2026-02-06T09:00:30.4102869-06:00] [Pre-Install] [Show-ADTInstallationWelcome] [Info] :: The user has [3] deferrals remaining.
[2026-02-06T09:00:30.4132760-06:00] [Pre-Install] [Invoke-ADTClientServerOperation] [Info] :: Instantiating user client/server process.
[2026-02-06T09:00:32.5860035-06:00] [Pre-Install] [Show-ADTInstallationWelcome] [Info] :: The user selected to continue...
[2026-02-06T09:00:32.6009621-06:00] [Pre-Install] [Show-ADTInstallationProgress] [Info] :: Creating the progress dialog in a separate thread with [StatusMessage: Installation in progress. Please wait…], [StatusMessageDetail: This window will close automatically when the installation is complete.].
[2026-02-06T09:00:32.6618443-06:00] [Install] [Start-ADTProcess] [Info] :: Preparing to execute process [C:\test\Solidworks 2025SP5 (SD)\Files\startswinstall.exe]...
[2026-02-06T09:00:32.6658425-06:00] [Install] [Start-ADTProcess] [Info] :: Working Directory is [C:\test\Solidworks 2025SP5 (SD)\Files].
[2026-02-06T09:00:32.6678421-06:00] [Install] [Start-ADTProcess] [Info] :: Executing ["C:\test\Solidworks 2025SP5 (SD)\Files\startswinstall.exe" /install /now]...
[2026-02-06T09:00:32.6798469-06:00] [Install] [Start-ADTProcess] [Info] :: Executed ["C:\test\Solidworks 2025SP5 (SD)\Files\startswinstall.exe" /install /now], awaiting completion...
[2026-02-06T09:00:35.7210030-06:00] [Install] [Start-ADTProcess] [Success] :: Execution completed successfully with exit code [0].
[2026-02-06T09:00:35.7300900-06:00] [Post-Install] [Add-RegKey] [Info] :: Entry into registers.
[2026-02-06T09:00:35.7470048-06:00] [Post-Install] [Set-ADTRegistryKey] [Info] :: Updating registry key value: [Microsoft.PowerShell.Core\Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE_CompanyApp\Solidworks CAD 2025] [AppVendor = Solidworks].
[2026-02-06T09:00:35.7667994-06:00] [Post-Install] [Set-ADTRegistryKey] [Info] :: Updating registry key value: [Microsoft.PowerShell.Core\Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE_CompanyApp\Solidworks CAD 2025] [AppVersion = 33.5.0.0053].
[2026-02-06T09:00:35.7862488-06:00] [Post-Install] [Set-ADTRegistryKey] [Info] :: Updating registry key value: [Microsoft.PowerShell.Core\Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE_CompanyApp\Solidworks CAD 2025] [Exitcode = ].
[2026-02-06T09:00:35.8042542-06:00] [Post-Install] [Set-ADTRegistryKey] [Info] :: Updating registry key value: [Microsoft.PowerShell.Core\Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE_CompanyApp\Solidworks CAD 2025] [InstallDate = 2026-02-06].
[2026-02-06T09:00:35.8202565-06:00] [Post-Install] [Set-ADTRegistryKey] [Info] :: Updating registry key value: [Microsoft.PowerShell.Core\Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE_CompanyApp\Solidworks CAD 2025] [ExitcodeNew = ].
[2026-02-06T09:00:35.8272549-06:00] [Post-Install] [Show-ADTInstallationPrompt] [Info] :: Displaying custom installation prompt asynchronously to [DESKTOP-BC2O93I\rsd] with message: [Solidworks Solidworks CAD 2025 installation complete.].
[2026-02-06T09:00:35.8702494-06:00] [Finalization] [Close-ADTInstallationProgress] [Info] :: Closing the installation progress dialog.
[2026-02-06T09:00:35.8902577-06:00] [Finalization] [Close-ADTClientServerProcess] [Info] :: Closing user client/server process.
[2026-02-06T09:00:36.1129861-06:00] [Finalization] [Close-ADTSession] [Success] :: [Solidworks2025SP5] install completed in [6.0067641] seconds with exit code [0].
[2026-02-06T09:00:36.1151712-06:00] [Finalization] [Close-ADTSession] [Info] :: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PS C:\test\Solidworks 2025SP5 (SD)>
According to PSADT, it worked.
that's the weird part....it didn't work. none of the program actually installed. it finished running after about 8 seconds. Solidworks normally takes anywhere between 45 minutes to an hour to fully install.
Well, going by the 136 page installation guide 
, it's definitely NOT a simple install
https://files.solidworks.com/Supportfiles/SW_Installation_Guide/2025/English/install_guide.pdf
i wonder....
with the existing script saying it "installed" correctly.....maybe it doesn't like something about how things are layed out in the "Files" folder? It literally is the same layout one would use if you are doing a regular manual install.
Quick question....
did you have to script out any prereqs to be installed in the ps1file or did the admin image folder stuff do its thing?
Force the MSI to create a log file.
Sorry for the delayed response - I am still working on the script but our company has a contract with a development vendor that is helping me break out the installation in different steps. its a bit tedious but so far what we are doing seems to be working.
If anyone following is curious just because Solidworks is just not fun to support in general, I can post the script here when its finalized.