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Creating a Network Install Tab

You can create a Network Install tab that will show up in the Control Panel / Add/Remove Program icon.
This will allow you to centrally control applications that users can easily install over a network.
There are two parts to setting this up:

1. Configuring the file with the applications that can be installed
2. Configurating the workstation to look for this file

Configuring the APPS.INI File

The file that controls what applications can be installed is called APPS.INI.

A sample is:

[AppInstallList]
Microsoft Word=\\server\share\apps\word\setup.exe
Microsoft Excel=\\server\share\apps\excel\setup.exe

On the left hand side is the name that will appear to the user in the Network Install tab.
On the right hand side would be your location for the install program.
No DOS paths are allowed. Only UNC names will work

This file should be put on a network server. This way when it needs to be modified, it can be done in one location.

Configuring the Workstation

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_Local_Machine / SOFTWARE / Microsoft / Windows / CurrentVersion
3. Add a String Value called AppInstallPath
4. Its value should be a DOS or UNC path to the location of the APPS.INI file, including the file name

Now when users open up the Control Panel / Add/Remove Programs icon, there will be a Network Install tab with the programs you specify.
This can be usefully for allowing people to automatically update virus definition files, printer drivers, install applications etc.