Reconfiguring of App-V Components on the VDA Does not Behave as Expected

When installing the XA/XD 7.8 VDA software, Citrix components supporting the publishing of Microsoft App-V apps are an optional feature. However, after the initial configuration is complete, attempting to reconfigure the App-V publishing components is not always as expected.

Specifically, if an attempt is made to change the VDA configuration through Programs and Features -> Citrix Virtual Delivery Agent 7.8 -> Change -> Customize Virtual Delivery Agentsettings when the original installation media is not attached to the machine, the reconfiguration may either fail silently or present an error.

When the configuration runs without the original Installation media attached the Install Citrix App-V publishing components on the Features page will be unchecked, regardless of whether the components are already installed or not. Leaving the box unchecked will not remove the App-V publishing components and checking it may result in the configuration failing with the error “Installation of MSI File 'PzAppV_VDA_x64.msi' failed with code 'InstallPackageInvalid' (1620)”

Use the following scenarios to determine your best course of action to work around this issue:
Scenario A: I have configured my VDA with the App-V components and I want to remove them.
Action:Ensure that the original XA/XD installation media is attached to the machine and run the reconfiguration. Either from Programs and Features or from the installation media. Uncheck the Install Citrix App-V publishing components check box and proceed through the rest of the wizard as normal.

Scenario B:I have configured my VDA without the App-V components (or I have already removed them according to Scenario A) and I want to (re)add them.
Action:Ensure that the original XA/XD installation media is attached to the machine, uninstall the VDA, reboot and reinstall it ensuring that you leave the App-V components check box checked.

Scenario C:I want to reconfigure part of my VDA unrelated to App-V components.
Action:Run the reconfiguration (with or without the media attached), making whatever changes you require, but do not make any change to the Install Citrix App-V publishing components check box in the Features page.

Scenario D:I have already received “Installation of MSI File 'PzAppV_VDA_x64.msi' failed with code 'InstallPackageInvalid' (1620)” whilst making changes unrelated to App-V and I am unsure of the state of my VDA.
Action: No changes will have been made to the VDA configuration. Re-run the configuration according to scenario C above.