How do I run a Windows installer and get a succeed/fail value in PowerShell?

Question

I would like to install a set of applications: .NET 4, IIS 7 PowerShell snap-ins, ASP.NET MVC 3, etc. How do I get the applications to install and return a value that determines

Answer 1

msi's can also be installed using msiexec.exe, msu's can be installed using wusa.exe, both have a /quiet switch, /norestart and /forcerestart switches and a /log option for logging (specify the file name).

You can read more about the options if you call them with /?

Note: wusa fails silently when they fail, so you have to check the log file or eventlog to determine success.