171265 - Uninstaller removes GRE even when other apps are registered to use it.

Status: VERIFIED INVALID

(Core Graveyard :: Installer: GRE, defect)

Description

[Charles Rosendahl]

20020927 build.

Install the GRE installer by default (aka MREUSER)
run the installer again with the params /app "testapp" /app_path "c:\temp\x.exe" /ms

Notice the registry contains both MREUSER and testapp in the applist subkey.

Run "add/remove programs" from the control panel and remove the GRE.

Notice the registry entries and files are removed.

Expected behavior:
The GRE is not removed.  Only the entry for MREUSER is removed from the applist
sub-key in the registry and the item removed from the "add/remove programs" panel

Comment 1

[Curt Patrick (gone)]

I cannot reproduce this but I think I know what the problem is.  When you pass
in the command-line option '/app_path "c:\temp\x.exe"' you are telling the
uninstaller that the presence of c:\temp\x.exe confirms that testapp is
installed.  Are you creating c:\temp\x.exe on the machine?  (I doubt it since I
don't believe I told you to do so.)  When the uninstaller runs it looks up
testapp in the registry, sees that c:\temp\x.exe is not on the system so
concludes that someone has removed testapp without uninstalling properly, so it
removes testapp from the AppList.  Then it looks at GreUser, determines that it
is the only app left so uninstalling GRE becomes the right thing to do.  

So, if I'm correct, you are getting "As Designed" behavior.  If I misunderstand
than feel free to reopen this bug.

Comment 2

[Charles Rosendahl]

Yes, me sees in the uninstall spec the pseudocode referring to the pathToExe key.

I will reperform the test using an exe physically present on the system.

On the bright side, we know that this works correctly when the exe is not present.

Comment 3

[Curt Patrick (gone)]

For simplicity of testing, the file you check can be any file you choose.  It
doesn't have to be an exe.  Of course, real apps will probably want to point at
some absolutely essential file, but QA can just copy or create a text file if
you want.