Invoke-command for msiexec hangs

Question

Hi,
I'm running a client of Windows 8 Pro against a server of Win2012R2
I have the following script:
  $args = "-i `"$MSIPathFile`" INSTALLDIR=`"$InstallFolderOnTargetServer`" /qn /norestart"
        LogInfo "args: $args"
        $Session = EstablishSession $TargetServer $CommonPowershellScriptPath
        try
            #Invoke-Command -session $Session -ScriptBlock{param($arguments) start-process -FilePath "msiexec.exe" -Wait $arguments } -Argument $arguments
            #winrs -r:$TargetServer msiexec.exe $arguments
            $script = {
                #do preinstall stuff
                [diagnostics.process]::start("c:\windows\system32\msiexec.exe", $args).WaitForExit()
                #do follow up stuff
            invoke-command -session $Session -scriptblock $script
When the invoke-command line is executed, I get no response - I've waited for 10 minutes!
I've checked the event log on the server and client and there's nothing. I know the $Session variable holds a good session because it works with this elsewhere in the script. The credential used by this is a domain account that is a member of the local administrators
group on the target server
If I take the content of $args and run this with msiexec directly on the server then the msi silently installs in about 15 seconds.
I have followed the instructions here in order to Enable-PsWsmanCombinedTrace (http://windowsitpro.com/blog/troubleshooting-winrm-and-powershell-remoting-part-1) but
the only error I see is within the "Windows Remote Management\Operational" log:
WSMan operation SignalShell failed, error code 2150858793
I think this could be caused when I force the debugger to stop - so could be a red herring.
This same script has worked well in the past, though that was different servers and network.
Any suggestions as to what else I can try in order to get the MSI to install remotely?

Answer 1

Not all MSIs will install unattended.  It is pretty certian a message is being shown and stoipping the install.  Check with the vendor to be sure they support full unattended installs.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯