Evaluation version of ThinApp 4.7, virtualizing QuickBooks Premier 2012 R5.
During OOBE, users can choose from among 5 "Editions" of QuickBooks. Later, users can change Editions from within QB.
Either way, what is SUPPOSED to happen is--
1. Most QB Processes are closed.
2. An MSI is launched to reconfigure QB, and exchange files for the various Editions.
3. QB is relaunched under the new "Edition".
When VIRTUALIZED, steps 1 & 2 are the same, but step 2 ends partway through the MSI with this message:
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QuickBooks Product Configuration
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An error occurred while attempting to reconfigure your new edition of QuickBooks.
You must temporarily return to your previous edition by reinstalling it from the original CD. When prompted, please enter the installation code printed on the CD case.
When your new edition arrives in the mail, install it using the Reinstall CD included in the package. When prompted, enter the new installation code that you just purchased.
If you have any questions, please contact a customer service representative.
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OK
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That's followed by the virtualized .EXE crashing. When manually relaunched, the "previous edition" always loads, however, without any apparent damage.
There is no MSIEXEC log generated. Application log contains only this:
The only Edition that doesn't crash is the "General Business" edition. That is the "base" version, whose bits are presumably baked in to the program, and which are added to by the other "Editions".
Based on what I learned here, http://communities.vmware.com/thread/342233?tstart=0, ThinApp is very wrong about when the last process closes with QB, so my hypothesis is that the sandbox is closed before QB is done with it, and the trick will be how to keep it open--if that's even possible.
Next step is to monitor which processes are opening and closing on a non-virtual installation, and on the ThinApp client, enable verbose MSI logging and comb through ProcMon logs.
But if someone's already been through this ugly process ahead of me and can give me a shortcut to the finish line, I'd be grateful!