CAB vs MSI
A side-by-side feature comparison.
Summary
CAB is a pure compressed archive used inside Windows installers; MSI is a Windows Installer database that often references or embeds CAB payloads. Confusion comes from the fact that both extensions appear in install media — you usually do not handle CAB directly because MSI orchestrates it.
Feature comparison
| Feature | CAB (Cabinet) | MSI (Windows Installer) |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Compressed archive | Installer database |
| Created by | MakeCab | WiX, InstallShield |
| Holds metadata | No | Yes |
| Runs scripts on install | No | Yes |
| Admin install | No | msiexec /a |
| Silent install | No | msiexec /qn |
About CAB (Cabinet)
CAB is the Microsoft Cabinet format, used since Windows 95 to package Windows installation files, device drivers, and Windows Update payloads. It supports multi-volume layouts and was historically used for the floppy-distributed Office and Windows installers.
Read the full CAB (Cabinet) guide →
About MSI (Windows Installer)
MSI files are Microsoft Windows Installer packages. They are not pure archives but small relational databases (in OLE Compound File format) describing files, registry edits, and install actions, often with embedded or external CAB archives. Enterprise admins love MSI because it can be deployed silently via Group Policy and uninstalled cleanly.
Read the full MSI (Windows Installer) guide →
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