How to remove installation folder completly on msiexec.exe

Question

How to remove installation folder completly on msiexec.exe

Deepak Joy Joseph 1

Hi All,
I am using this script to uninstall my product.

try { WshShell.Run("msiexec.exe /quiet /x {ProductCode}", 1, true); } catch(e) { }

The product is getting uninstalled but the root folder is not getting removed and it contains some file ( logs and all)

Is there any way to forcefully remove the entire folder even if it contains any folders or files.

Thanks in advance...!!!

1 answer

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Answer 1

cheong00 3,486 Volunteer Moderator

You just "take ownership" of such folders and delete them afterwards.

By default, Windows Installers will not remove non-empty folders, and it has no knowledge on folders that didn't be created by it, so you need to do that manually.

If your MSI file is created with WiX Toolset, you can add RemoveFile / RemoveFolder / RemoveFolderEx element to tell Windows Installer to remove those files on uninstall.

For other MSI file creation products, you'll need to read their manual to see if they offer similar options.

Deepak Joy Joseph 1 Reputation point

2021-03-18T06:06:19.567+00:00

Hi @cheong00 ,

Thanks for the replay!

I am using the .vdproj project using visual studio for creating MSI.

The root folder is created at the time of installation, so I want this folder to be removed even if it has Folders and Files.

Is there any way or anything I missed?

Thanks!
cheong00 3,486 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2021-03-18T06:45:03.31+00:00

Check the answer here.

You add a new "Class Library" project to your solution to host the custom action before step 3. Then step 3 to 8 is to link that code to "Custom Action" of installer project.
Deepak Joy Joseph 1 Reputation point

2021-03-19T07:29:38.007+00:00

Hi @cheong00 ,

Thanks for this replay.

Is it possible to do the same by modifying this

try { WshShell.Run("msiexec.exe /quiet /x {ProductCode}", 1, true); } catch(e) { }

Is there any command that make msiexec.exe to remove the Application Installed folder forcefully?

Thanks!
cheong00 3,486 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2021-03-19T07:40:11.093+00:00
See my first reply.

You can identify all folders that Windows Installer will not remove for you, then create a .cmd file to remove them completely after executed the "msiexec" command.

takeown /f <foldername> /r /d y rd /s/q <foldername>

After created the .cmd file. just amend the WshShell.Run() paramter to "cmd.exe <filename.cmd>" instead.
Deepak Joy Joseph 1 Reputation point

2021-03-19T12:31:40.187+00:00

Hi @cheono

Thanks for this valuable knowledge.

Wil this below code work?

try { WshShell.Run("msiexec.exe /quiet /x {ProductCode}", 1, true); } catch(e) { }

var cmd = " rd /s/q C:\ProgramFiles (x86)\MyApp";

try {WshShell.Run("cmd", 0, false); }

Instead of passing the hardcoded folder name can I get the folderName (Application installed folder) from {ProductCode} ?

Thanks!

"
cheong00 3,486 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2021-03-20T16:16:38.22+00:00

If you can modify code, then it's probably just easily to perform Directory.Delete() in your code rather than run external code to do it.
Deepak Joy Joseph 1 Reputation point

2021-03-21T19:11:03.92+00:00

Hi @cheong00 ,
Thanks for the reply.

I want script file to execute it.

My main problem now is how to find the application installed folder from application product key stored in is the registry, using script.

I don't want to put the hard-coded path.
Need to find the path from application product key in the Registry.

Thanks in advance !
cheong00 3,486 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2021-03-22T01:42:51.393+00:00

See if there exists a key with path "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\Products\{ProductKeyCode}\InstallProperties" "InstallLocation" Type:REG_SZ

If so you may try use that as path to remove.

Also, if the application has XML config file or registry configuration at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE" you should also check and see if they contains folders that your script should clean up.

Generally application path cleanup should be written in the installer package, it's not that reliable to do it afterwards, especially since lots of software like SQL server allow you to change data/log folder anytime after the installation.

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How to remove installation folder completly on msiexec.exe

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