Hi John,
It is VERY straightforward with SSE Setup to install both a frontend and backend to the same folder. That's literally the easiest scenario.
Did you read the 10-step Access Deployment Guide as mentioned above? Here is the relevant sentence from Step 2 of the guide relating to your situation of split databases (frontend and backend):
"If you are intending both to be installed/used locally on one machine OR you are wanting your program to be used in a multi-user/multi-machine scenario where the backend is on a network location separate from the frontend and you are intending to have your frontend take care of transferring the backend file if it doesn't yet exist to the correct network location, then you will create one install and continue on with this guide, making sure to add the backend database file to be installed to your program folder in step 6 below."
Literally all you have to do is add the Backend file to be installed on the Install Files page (described in Step 6 of the guide which also contains this sentence: "If your database is a split database and you are wanting to only have one install (see step 2), then you also will need to add your backend database file to install on this page."
I just don't know how it can be any easier.
You also state that the Access tutorial video assumes Access is installed, which is exactly opposite of reality - the whole point of the video is to show SSE Setup's Access-related capabilities and actually shows the detection where Access was missing and then shows SSE Setup downloading and installing the runtime.
Then you post a screenshot of an odd error that I'm struggling to see how you could have encountered.
For whatever criticisms could be levied towards SSE Setup (and even as the developer I acknowledge there can be some per the above), I (and most users I've ever heard from) consider SSE Setup to be a very straightforward and easy-to-use installer. But it seems like you are having issues for whatever reason with it, so I think I'm inclined to echo others in this thread in saying that perhaps you will find another installer product more to your liking.
In any event, considering that there is a very straightforward 20-minute tutorial video for Access projects, an easy-to-follow 10-step guide which SSE Setup itself prompts you to read when you start an Access project, and to me both of those together clearly address what you have said you are trying to do and even show it to you (with the exception of it showing you in the video you adding the 2nd install file for the BE), I feel like there's not much more help I can provide for you. So I agree with others that you might be better served trying a different product. I see you said you are looking into SamLogic's product - I wish you success with that.
Chris Long
SSE Setup