Wise for Windows Installer

[JohnD]

We have been using Wise for Windows Installer, for some time (unfortunately), and following an extensive test with Setup Factory 6, we are now about to take the step of using it as our main installer.

However one very important question has arisen. We want to seemlessly migrate our existing client base to using SUF6, it seems that we have to ask them to use thw windows Control Panel to uninstall the last version, before using the SUF6 install the new version, from then on no problem.

Is it possible to automatically uninstall a program from the Control Panel without having to ask the client to do this. The Wise programs we have distributed, do not have an Unwise.exe program, and can only be uninstalled from the control panel. This is by design.

A solution to this issue would ensure SUF6 will replace other installers, so we can create one Corporate installation for all our software.

John

[Brett]

Re: Wise for Windows Installer

JohnD,

Good to hear that you have seen the light

What you want to do should not be too hard at all. You see, the programs that appear in the control panel's Add/Remove application are just read from Registry entires. The entries are in:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Uninstall\<<Your Product Name Here>>

Under the specific key for your application you will see two data values:

"DisplayName" and "UninstallString". The "DisplayName" is the name that appears in the CP, the "UninstallString" specifies the full command line needed to remove the program.

So, what you can do is create Startup actions in your SUF60 setup to read in that UninstallString key, break it into its program path and command line arguments and then run the uninstall using an Execute Program action. All of this can be done with no user interaction.

Try it out with the eval and see how well this works. If you get hung up on any details, email [email protected] and we would love to help you out.

- Brett

[JohnD]

Re: Wise for Windows Installer

Just now and again you come across a company that really tries to serve its customers. IndigoRose is one such company.

Many thanks, your suggestion was spot on, and the command line that creates a silent uninstall for the Wise/Windows Installer is

msiexec.exe /qn /x {PROGRAMS GUID REF}

/qn no user interface ie silent
/x Uninstalls the product.

Originally posted by Brett:
JohnD,

Good to hear that you have seen the light

What you want to do should not be too hard at all. You see, the programs that appear in the control panel's Add/Remove application are just read from Registry entires. The entries are in:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Uninstall\<<Your Product Name Here>>

Under the specific key for your application you will see two data values:

"DisplayName" and "UninstallString". The "DisplayName" is the name that appears in the CP, the "UninstallString" specifies the full command line needed to remove the program.

So, what you can do is create Startup actions in your SUF60 setup to read in that UninstallString key, break it into its program path and command line arguments and then run the uninstall using an Execute Program action. All of this can be done with no user interaction.

Try it out with the eval and see how well this works. If you get hung up on any details, email [email protected] and we would love to help you out.

- Brett

[dan37_123]

Re: Wise for Windows Installer

welcome,
i too migrated from installshield.

SF in my opinion is real good tool.

An installer should be easy to learn, and flexible. Installation routine development should never become an other lingo in itself.

hope u will enjoy sf.

daniel