How to extract content from MSI file

While there are plenty of utilities available to extract the contents of an MSI file, you can do it straight from the command line without using some third party application.

Here's how:
First, access an elevated command prompt, to do this:
1. Click the Start button.
2. Click All Programs.
3. Go into Accessories.
4. Right-click on Command Prompt.
5. Select Run as administrator.
6. When the UAC Prompt appears, click Continue.

Once you have your elevated command prompt, input the following:
msiexec /a filepath to MSI file /qb TARGETDIR=filepath to target folder
using the desired locations to fill the above mentioned filepaths.
(Example: msiexec /a c:\testfile.msi /qb TARGETDIR=c:\temp\test)
Press the Enter button on your keyboard.
If you have entered the command correctly, the MSI file's contents will be extracted.

How to install .MSI files in Windows Vista

One way around this is to create a small bach file that uses the msiexec.exe executable to launch the msi. When referencing the file names, you must fully qualify them.

Here's an example of one used to install the Power Tools for Team Foundation Server:
C:\Windows\System32\msiExec.exe -i
C:\Users\rternier\Documents\Downloads\tfpt.msi

Once you have a batch file (.bat) with that in it, right click it, and choose Run As Administrator.
And there you go.