yelkrebb
13th August 2009 07:26 UTC

MSI Uninstallation
Hi,

I have search the google and this forum about this and I can't find a definite answer. Does anyone here know how windows installer(MSI) handles the uninstallation of the application in the Add/Remove program?

I really thought that it will just call the command found in the uninstallString key in the registry. But even I remove this entry I can still uninstall the application using the Add/Remove programs.

BTW this is the value of the uninstallString of my application.
MsiExec.exe /I{82E46E8B-A4E8-49A2-9B38-3C94C6AF2F8A}
And if this is the command called when pressing remove button in the Add/Remove program menu, Why is it the switch is /I which I think is wrong because the correct switch to uninstall an MSI created application is /X. Right?

I really need help on this.

Thanks,
Yelkrebb.

jpderuiter
13th August 2009 10:39 UTC

Calling /I will give you the option to uninstall or reinstall or add / remove components (The Change button in Add/Remove programs)
See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/227091

So replace /I with /x to remove the application instead.

yelkrebb
13th August 2009 10:52 UTC

Sorry. I am not so clear with my problem.

I wanted to override the functionality of the remove button in the Add/Remove program entry of my application.

I thought that the UninstallString entry in the registry was the one called when I click the remove in the Add/Remove program. But I think it's not, because even I delete this string value I was able to uninstall my application succesfully. So it made me think that the remove button in the Add/Remove program doesn't rely on this UninstallString value in the registry.

jpderuiter
13th August 2009 17:52 UTC

Did you look in HKEY_CURRENT_USER as well?
Some programs put their uninstall info there.