How to get the installation directory?

Question

The MSI stores the installation directory for the future uninstall tasks.

Using the INSTALLPROPERTY_INSTALLLOCATION property (that is "InstallLocation") works only the installer has set the ARPINSTALLLOCATION property during the installation. But this property is optional and almost nobody uses it.

How could I retrieve the installation directory?

Answer 1

Use a registry key to keep track of your install directory, that way you can reference it when upgrading and removing the product.

Using WIX I would create a Component that creates the key, right after the Directy tag of the install directory, declaration

Answer 2

I would try to use Installer.OpenProduct(productcode). This opens a session, on which you can then ask for Property("TARGETDIR").

Answer 3

Try this: var sPath = this.Context.Parameters["assemblypath"].ToString();

Answer 4

I'd use MsiGetComponentPath() - you need the ProductId and a ComponentId, but you get the full path to the installed file - just pick one that goes to the location of your installation directory. If you want to get the value of a directory for any random MSI, I do not believe there is an API that lets you do that.