Xperf: Install Windows Performance Toolkit (WPT) with 242MB Download, Not 2.5GB Windows 7 SDK: Part 2

In my first post on Xperf, I described the simple 4.4MB download necessary to install the Windows Performance Analyzer (WPA) & the other tools which comprise the Windows Performance Toolkit (WPT), including Xperf.

I was surprised to learn that the WPT is no longer available in a discrete download.

As I explained in Part 1, the nominal way to install it now is through a humongous 2.5GB download of the Microsoft Windows SDK for Windows 7 and .NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1.

Unlike my buddy & fellow MCM Jens Suessmeyer (twitter|blog) whose “Developer hearted / Relational minded” blog betrays his expertise, downloading multiple gigabytes of developer tools on my workstations would be a waste of bandwidth & disk space.

Fortunately there’s a much faster, easier way.  Here are the 8 steps to do so.  The key step is selecting only “Win32 Development Tools” in the SDK Installations Options (step 6).

1. Browse to the Windows 7 SDK download page
You can go directly to the download page (the fourth URL below), but let’s start with the WPA home page & drill through. 

<ADD> Don’t get distracted now, but there’re lots of great items here to bookmark & peruse later. </ADD>

  1. Windows Performance Analysis Developer Center
    https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/performance/default.aspx
  2. Windows Performance Analysis Tools
    https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/performance/cc825801.aspx
  3. Windows SDK
    https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsserver/bb980924.aspx
  4. Microsoft Windows SDK for Windows 7 and .NET Framework 3.5 SP1
    https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=c17ba869-9671-4330-a63e-1fd44e0e2505

2. Run the Win 7 SDK Web Executable
Clicking the download button initiates the download of winsdk_web.exe.  Save/run the file (493KB).

3. Installation Screen Shot: Windows SDK Setup Wizard
Click the Next > button on the first page of the Windows SDK Setup Wizard.

4. Installation Screen Shot: EULA
Choose “I agree” & click the Next > button on the End-User License Agreement page.

5. Installation Screen Shot: Install Locations
Select destination folders for "Documentation and Tools" & "Samples", then click the Next > button.  The default location root is:

C:\Program Files\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v7.0

6. *KEY STEP* Installation Screen Shot: Installation Options
This is the key step in avoiding the SDK’s 2.5GB default download (4.5GB installed).  Clear all checkboxes except one:  Win32 Development Tools, which is “only” a 242MB download requiring 529MB to install.

Developer Tools > Windows Development Tools > Win32 Development Tools

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7. Install
Click Next > on the Begin Installation page.  patiently watch the progress of the Installation Progress page.  On the Installation Complete page, consider enabling the checkbox labeled, “Help improve our products by sending your installation report to Microsoft…”  Click the Finish button.

image 

8. Find & Install the Appropriate WPT MSI
Now that the selected SDK components are installed, we can install WPT.  You’ll find the wpt_x86.msi & wpt_x64.msi files in the folder defined in step 5 above, by default: 

C:\Program Files\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v7.0

Walk through the Microsoft Windows Performance Toolkit Setup:

  • On the Welcome page, click Next >
  • Accept the EULA, click Next >
  • Choose Setup Type, click the Custom button
  • On the Custom Setup page, click the Browse button, & on the Change Current Destination Folder page consider modifying the default
    C:\Program Files\Microsoft Windows Performance Toolkit\
    to
    C:\xperf\
    Click OK on , Click Next
  • On the Ready to Install page, click the Install button to invoke the Installing Microsoft Windows Performance Toolkit page
  • Click the Finish button on the Completing… page

Jimmy May , MCM, MCDBA, MCSE, MCITP: DBA + DB Dev | Principal Performance Engineer: SQL Server | MS IT Assessment Consulting & Engineering Services (A.C.E.)
https://msinfosec.com
https://blogs.msdn.com/jimmymay
www.twitter.com/aspiringgeek
jimmymay@microsoft.com
317.590.8650
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