Create Program that can Update Itself (Python)

[JoeTheSmiter]

Noob question. I'm currently working in Python and have created the exe using Pyinstaller. My program currently installs and updates itself by using Inno Setup, but every time the program updates the installation wizard has to run to be able to write to C:/Program Files. How do you update a program without having to us an installer and ask for administrator rights every time?
My program currently checks for updates then downloads the installer and runs that, but I'd much rather have it just download a zip and replace only the necessary files without needing to prompt the user.

[Biohazard777]

4 minutes ago, JoeTheSmiter said:

How do you update a program without having to us an installer and ask for administrator rights every time? ...replace only the necessary files without needing to prompt the user.

 

[ghostly_glob]

Why not just have it install to the user directory instead of program files? I don't think admin rights would be needed for a single-user install.

[mariushm]

If your application is installed in Program Files or some other folder which requires administrative rights to install or run from, then the application updating the files (copying files and overwriting existing files) also needs administrative rights.

The easiest would be to have a separate update application which can be launched, then download the latest information about your software (ex version, release date) and if there's something new, the updater can download the zip from a remote server, unpack it into a temporary folder, then overwrite existing application files as needed.  Also, the updater can monitor if instances of your application are opened and ask user to close the application in order to update it, ask for administrative rights if needed and so on.

[Master Disaster]

17 minutes ago, JoeTheSmiter said:

Noob question. I'm currently working in Python and have created the exe using Pyinstaller. My program currently installs and updates itself by using Inno Setup, but every time the program updates the installation wizard has to run to be able to write to C:/Program Files. How do you update a program without having to us an installer and ask for administrator rights every time?
My program currently checks for updates then downloads the installer and runs that, but I'd much rather have it just download a zip and replace only the necessary files without needing to prompt the user.

This might be helpful...

     # Self-elevate the script if required
    if (-Not ([Security.Principal.WindowsPrincipal] [Security.Principal.WindowsIdentity]::GetCurrent()).IsInRole([Security.Principal.WindowsBuiltInRole] 'Administrator')) {
     if ([int](Get-CimInstance -Class Win32_OperatingSystem | Select-Object -ExpandProperty BuildNumber) -ge 6000) {
      $CommandLine = "-File `"" + $MyInvocation.MyCommand.Path + "`" " + $MyInvocation.UnboundArguments
      Start-Process -FilePath PowerShell.exe -Verb Runas -ArgumentList $CommandLine
      Exit
     }
    }

Place it at the beginning on a powershell script and it will cause the script to self elevate.

 

Have your app pull the files and run a PS script then have the elevated script copy the files into Program Files.

[wasab]

You can try using a zero day exploit and hack the system I guess. Any other ideas?