BestNotes offers two Windows installers: the Standard installer and the MSI installer. Both install the same application — the difference is how the app is installed, where it lives on the computer, and who manages updates.

The standard installer is the default and the right choice for most users. The MSI installer is designed for organizations with IT departments, shared computers, or software deployment policies.

Quick Comparison

Standard Installer (Default)

The standard installer writes the app into your Windows user's own AppData folder. It needs no administrator rights and keeps itself current automatically. This is the right choice if:

• You are a solo clinician or small practice with no IT staff
• You are the only person who logs into your computer
• You cannot easily get an administrator to assist with installation
• You want to stay on the current release without anyone managing updates

The key benefit: nobody has to remember to update. The application handles it automatically.

When to Use the MSI Installer

Any single one of the following is enough reason to choose the MSI installer. You do not need to weigh them against each other.

Multiple people log into the same computer

A shared front desk PC, a nurses station, or a group room laptop. The standard installer only exists for the Windows profile that installed it — the next person to log in will not see the app. The MSI installs once for the entire machine.

Your organization has an IT department or managed IT provider

If your IT team deploys software with Group Policy, Intune, SCCM, or an RMM tool, only the MSI installer supports that workflow.

Your IT policy blocks software running from AppData

Many organizations use AppLocker, Windows Defender Application Control, or EDR rules to block software from running out of AppData. In those environments, the standard installer will either fail to install or be blocked from launching. The MSI installs to Program Files, which is where these policies expect software to live.

Remote Desktop, Citrix, or VDI

Per-user installs on a shared session host multiply across every profile and cause version conflicts. The MSI avoids this entirely.

Roaming profiles or redirected AppData

If AppData is redirected to a network share, a per-user install can be slow at best and broken at worst.

Your organization requires change control over software versions

Some organizations require that a version be tested and approved before it reaches staff. The standard installer's automatic updates take that decision away. The MSI lets your team control the timing.

Important: The MSI Does Not Auto-Update

NOTE: Once you choose the MSI installer, keeping the app current becomes your organization's responsibility. Someone on your IT team must deploy each new version.

This matters because BestNotes continues to sunset old versions. An organization that falls behind on updates will eventually have staff who cannot log into the application at all. We always announce version sunsets ahead of time, but the announcement only helps if someone on your team is watching for it and acting on it.

If your organization chooses the MSI path, make sure someone is assigned to monitor for new releases and deploy them promptly.

Things to Watch For

Do not leave both installers on the same machine

If a computer already has the standard (per-user) install and your organization moves to the MSI, uninstall the per-user copy first. Otherwise there will be two copies of the app and two shortcuts, and no one will know which one they are using.

The standard install is invisible to other Windows profiles

If the app works on one login but not another on the same computer, this is almost always the reason. The standard installer only installs for the Windows profile that ran it. If multiple people need to use the same computer, the MSI installer is the solution.

Version mismatch across machines

An organization running a mix of both installer types will see version drift: the standard installs stay current automatically, while the MSI installs do not. If you notice inconsistent behavior between computers, check which installer type and version is running on each one.

Next Steps

• To download BestNotes or request the MSI installer, contact BestNotes Support by clicking submit a support ticket.
• If you are unsure which installer is right for your organization, our support team can help you decide based on your setup.