Uninstall requires the old .msi file

[BobCrothers]

Hi Gurus

We install an .msi file, which uninstalls the previous version. If I install the program, rename the .msi to another name, and then go to add/remove programs and try to uninstall. There is a dialog, "The feature you are trying to use is on a network resource that is unavailable. Click OK to try again, or enter an alternate path…" It is looking for the .msi file. If I go back to one of our .msi files from 3 months ago, and perform the same experiment, everything works fine. It is not looking for the old .msi file. Why does it need the old .msi file? Did I add something that resulted in this change? Is there a way around the requirement for the old msi file?

Thanks
Bob

Windows XP professional
Advanced Installer 7.3.1

[GabrielBarbu]

Hello Bob,

This is odd. Please send your .aip project file to support at advancedinstaller dot com so we can investigate.

Best regards,
Gabriel

[BobCrothers]

I did installs and uninstalls to narrow down exactly where the problem was introduced. At one point we needed to abort the install if a properties file was not in the same directory and as the .msi file. As part of implementing this function, I added an InLine VBScript under CostInitialize. The script text is Session.DoAction("ResolveSource"). The scheduling options were always execute. This is when the problem was introduced. I added an execution condition, NOT (REMOVE="ALL") and the problem is solved, the uninstall works fine.

Thanks

Bob

[deatiit86]

Hi there,

I am using Advanced Installer 10.5.2 and I ran into this problem today. I am not sure what I changed to make this an uninstall.

Thanks.
-Arun

[Daniel]

Hello Arun,

Please keep in mind that when Windows Installer installs an MSI file it caches it in the hidden Windows Installer Cache directory . Also, the cached MSI is stripped of any files and data it may contain for saving a significant amount of space required by large packages. This is part of the reason for prompting for source when the original media files aren't available. When uninstalling if the required MSI and media files are not available Windows Installer will search for it in the original location the MSI was originally installed from. If they aren't located then will prompt for it.

As a workaround you can create an EXE (with resources inside) installation package and enable the "Do not delete extracted MSI and CAB files" option from "Media -> Configuration -> Bootstrapper Options" group.

All the best,
Daniel