How to Unpack an HP SoftPaq WITHOUT it Executing

[OUgrad]

I need to unpack SP59736.exe (Win8 IDT Audio Driver) without it executing - friend's HP PC. I want to get the unpacked SoftPaq under the C:\SWSetup Folder where it would normally reside and reinstall it as Legacy Hardware. It's not there, but Device Manager has it Installed - same Version as SP59736.exe. There is a widely reported BUG in Windows 10 that has removed the Beats Audio Control Panel in the IDT Audio Driver and possibly removed the SP59736 Folder under C:\SWSetup. Windows 10 is BLOCKING the reinstallation step, EVEN with the IDT Driver uninstalled in Device Manager, running SP59736.exe as Administrator, and ALL Compatiblity Modes, so it will not unpack. The HP Win 8.1 Driver will not Install either. I have proven my work-around will do the Legacy Install and return Beat's Audio, but only with the unpacked SP59736. Here are a couple of links I've found, but they are SERIOUSLY lacking in details, especially what to do BEFORE running the Command Prompt (PowerShell) "sp59736.exe -pdf -s -e" to prevent File Execution and Windows 10 intervention.

https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Commercial-PC-Software/FAQ-23-Unpacking-downloaded-SoftPaqs/td-p/50467...

https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/54231a86-56a8-444b-8601-c9a859d4db0f/anyone-else-w...

How does the PowerShell command know where to find SP59736.exe so it can unpack under C:\SWSetup?

Thanks - OUgrad

[WAWood · Accepted solution]

@OUgrad

Get yourself a copy of 7-zip:  http://www.7-zip.org/download.html

I've used that myself to unpack softpaqs.

Good Luck

[OUgrad]

Before reading your Reply, I found some mixed reviews about unpacking without executing/installing .exe Files here from the 7-Zip Discussion Thread. Sometimes it works, sometimes not.

https://sourceforge.net/p/sevenzip/discussion/45797/thread/6aa84f98/

It sounds like the HP SoftPaq.exe Files are one of the lucky ones. Please re-confirm that 7-Zip unpacked yours without attempting to install the Drivers. I'm ready to give it a try.

Thanks, OUgrad

[WAWood]

@OUgrad

As I said, I have used in on  softpaqs without problems.

The softpaq is a self-extracting archive, so only executing it will cause it to run.

[OUgrad]

MANY THANKS WAWood for the confirmation. I'll try it later today and report back. OUgrad

[OUgrad]

Thanks again WAWood,

7-Zip Works PERFECTLY for me too. As a Test, I copied sp57966, the IDT Audio Driver for my Win10 Commercial Version PC, to my Win10 Preview Build 16232 PC. I installed 7-Zip in my Preview Build 16232 PC and extracted the contents to a Folder I had created. It ended up with the same number of Files (save one) as under C:\SWSetup\sp57966 in my Commercial Version PC. The one missing File was setup.log which is created when sp57966 executes - no execution, no File. I used the 7-Zip 64-bit Version 16.04 (2016-10-04).

I'll Post this link to another Discussion Thread where it may be helpful with Legacy Hardware Installation in Windows 10. Thanks for providing such a simple user friendly solution. OUgrad