WIX MSI Package Uninstallation

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+4 Q:

WIX MSI Package Uninstallation

I am using WIX for an installer package. When I uninstall the package by double clicking the original msi package everything is fine.

When I uninstall from the control panel it gives me a miminal UI uninstallation. I have written into my MSI a custom action which asks the user whether they want to uninstall some databases etc. This does not occur on the minimal UI uninstallation.

How can I make the uinstall from control panel work with a full UI?

+1 A:

Look at the registry key for your product in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall. In there look at the Uninstall value and see if adjusting it does what you want.

I'm pretty sure that there is a property in the MSI for this if that fixes your issue I just can't remember it off the top of my head. Searching the MSI for the string you find in the registry should help you suss it out though.

EBGreen 2009-08-12 23:37:55

+3 A:

A reply by Bob Arnson in this thread:

Yes, that's the behavior of the Add/Remove Programs applet. It always uninstalls MSI packages in basic mode after prompting. The only thing you can do is set ARPNOREMOVE to force a user to use maintenance mode -- and surface a Remove option in your maintenance UI.

Wim Coenen 2009-08-12 23:59:34

I don't know that I buy this. I think it can be overridden without resorting to maintenance mode. I am 90% sure that I have uninstalled games that were MSI's that asked me if I wanted to remoev saved games or not without ever going to the maintenance UI.

EBGreen 2009-08-13 00:34:48

It is generally possible to override anything - but it isn't always a good idea. If your MSI is being uninstalled remotely, for example via SCCM / SMS, then you have to be able to run the uninstall silently. The ARPNOREMOVE suggestion isn't too bad - the MSI will still be capable of uninstalling in silent mode, but for the casual user the maintenance dialog is shown and the appropriate question is asked.

Glytzhkof 2009-10-02 04:51:14

+2 A:

You can't do that natively with MSI. You'd need to refer to a boostrapper/external UI to do the uninstall. The other answers to this question point in the right direction.

Rob Mensching 2009-08-17 19:02:07

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