Abstract: A solution for generating an installation medium for a program product is provided. A runtime profile for a customer is used to recreate the customer's runtime environment. The program product is installed in the recreated runtime environment and it is tested to ensure that the program product operates as intended in the recreated runtime environment. A custom installation medium is generated based on the installed program product.

Abstract: Monitoring silent installation of a subordinate program on one or more data processing systems. While the subordinate program is being installed silently, at least one activity associated with the installation is monitored. As each activity is performed, a status report regarding the progress of the installation is updated. The process of updating the status report is performed independently of any installation program associated with the subordinate program. The status report is displayed to a user so that the user knows that the installation of a primary target program has not hung during installation of the subordinate program.