Google earth

This is a silent installer and uninstaller for Google Earth.

Version 5.x-7.x

Download

Download the installer from [1], not from the main download site. The file you'll get from the main download site is a wrapper that downloads and executes the installer. If you insist on using it, you'll have to use this procedure from the Spiceworks community to get an MSI.

Current Download (always latest release, 7.1.2.2041 as of this writing): http://dl.google.com/earth/client/advanced/current/GoogleEarthWin.exe
Older Release 5.2: http://dl.google.com/earth/client/GE5/release_5_2_1/GoogleEarth-Win-Bundle-5.2.1.1329.exe
Older Release 5.1: http://cache.pack.google.com/edgedl/earth/client/GE5/release_5_1_0/GoogleEarth-Win-Bundle-5.1.7938.4346.exe
Older Release 5.1: http://dl.google.com/earth/client/GE5/release_5_1_0/googleearth-Win-5.1.3509.4636.exe
Older Release 5.1: http://dl.google.com/earth/client/GE5/release_5_1_0/GoogleEarth-Win-5.1.3506.3999.exe
Older Release 5.0: http://dl.google.com/earth/client/GE5/release_5_0/GoogleEarth-Win-Plus-5.0.11337.1968.exe and http://cache.pack.google.com/edgedl/earth/client/GE5/release_5_0_1/GoogleEarth-Win-Plus-5.0.11733.9347.exe

MSI

To get the Google Earth.msi file, extract it from the .exe installer file using an unzip program, or use the .exe installer's '/A' command line option to perform a installation to a network share.

WPKG Installer

<package
      id="googleearth"
      name="Google Earth"
      revision="%VERSION%"
      reboot="false"
      priority="10">

        <variable name="VERSION" value="7.1.2" />
        <check type="uninstall" condition="exists" path="Google Earth" />
        <install cmd='%COMSPEC% /C "md %SystemDrive%\netinst\logs\"' >  <!-- install fails if log dir doesn't exist -->
                <exit code="0" />
                <exit code="1" />  <!-- directory already exists -->
        </install>
        <install cmd='msiexec /qn /l* %SystemDrive%\netinst\logs\googleearth.txt /i "%SOFTWARE%\googleearth\google earth.msi" ALLUSERS=1' />
        <upgrade cmd='msiexec /qn /l* %SystemDrive%\netinst\logs\googleearth.txt /i "%SOFTWARE%\googleearth\google earth.msi" ALLUSERS=1' />
        <remove cmd='MsiExec.exe /qn /x {4D2A6330-2F8B-11E3-9C40-B8AC6F97B88E}' >
         <!-- 
                This uninstall string is correct as of 7.1.2.2041.
                For other versions check out the line beginning "ProductCode=" from Setup.ini in same directory as google earth.msi.
                Note that setup.ini is in the self-extractor, but won't appear when you use /a to make an administrative install point!
         -->
          <exit code="0" />
          <exit code="1605" reboot="true" />
        </remove>
</package>

Version Check

To implement a check type between versions you should be aware that Google frequently changes the path to the executable between versions.

5.1.X - 7.x

<check type="logical" condition="or">
  <check type='file' condition='versiongreaterorequal' path='%PROGRAMFILES%\google\google earth\client\googleearth.exe' value="%VERSION%" />
  <check type='file' condition='versiongreaterorequal' path='%PROGRAMFILES(x86)%\google\google earth\client\googleearth.exe' value="%VERSION%" />
</check>

5.0.X

<check type='file' condition='versionequalto' path='c:\program files\google\google earth\googleearth.exe' value='5.0.XXXX.XXXX' />

Corresponding upgrade commands should first uninstall 5.0, then install 5.1:

<upgrade cmd='MsiExec.exe /X{CC016F21-3970-11DE-B878-005056806466} /quiet /norestart' />
<upgrade cmd='msiexec /i "%SOFTWARE%\GoogleEarth-Plus-5.1.3533.17131\google earth.msi" /qn ALLUSERS=2' />

Version 4.2.198.2451

I used the following commands:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<packages>

<package id='GoogleEarth' name='Google Earth' revision='421982451' priority='50' reboot='true' >
  <!-- Google Earth -->
  <check type='uninstall' condition='exists' path='Google Earth' />
  <install cmd='"%SOFTWARE%\Google Earth v.4.2.198.2451\Google_Earth_BZXD.exe" /S /v/qn' />
  <install cmd='"%SOFTWARE%\Google Earth v.4.2.198.2451\postinstall.cmd"' />
  <remove cmd='msiexec.exe /qn /x{407B9B5C-DAC5-4F44-A756-B57CAB4E6A8B}' />
  <upgrade cmd='"%SOFTWARE%\Google Earth v.4.2.198.2451\Google_Earth_BZXD.exe" /S /v/qn' />
  <upgrade cmd='"%SOFTWARE%\Google Earth v.4.2.198.2451\postinstall.cmd"' />
  <depends package-id='shortcut' />
</package>

</packages>

While using the following postinstall.cmd:

@echo off

echo Create shortcut
set PRGPATH="%ALLUSERSPROFILE%"
Shortcut.exe "/f:%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Startmen\Programme\Google Earth.lnk" /a:c /t:^%%ProgramFiles^%%"\Google\Google Earth\googleearth.exe" /w:^%%ProgramFiles^%%"\Google\Google Earth"
Shortcut.exe "/f:%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs\Google Earth.lnk" /a:c /t:^%%ProgramFiles^%%"\Google\Google Earth\googleearth.exe" /w:^%%ProgramFiles^%%"\Google\Google Earth"

REM exit 0

This will create the shourtcuts within the all users profile since google earth will install them only to the current user. So in case you run WPKG using WPKG-Client it installs it to the SYSTEM user start menu only and the icons will never appear somewhere.

NOTE: For this to work you need the shortcut.exe tool.

NOTE: For version ending with BZXD you can use the command

Google_Earth_BZXD.exe /S /v"/qb ALLUSERS=2"

This will put the shortcut in the all users profile