.Net Windows Services and InstallState file - is it really needed?

Question

I've got a number of managed code Windows Services for which we use the Frameworks InstallUtil tool to install into the service control manager. This tool creates a new file at install time with an extension of .InstallState. I have experimented with deleting this file and an uninstall still works fine afterwards.

So my questions is, what is this file for and is there any reason I shouldn't delete it?

Edit 5/3/10: Really? Nobody has any clue what the value of this file is?

Answer 1

The file should be deleted by the uninstall process. If you are using a custom install action you should add it the uninstall process as well. A missing .installstate file will not prevent the service from being uninstalled.

http://adamhouldsworth.blogspot.com/2009/11/c-setup-installstate.html

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/934388