Disallowing installation of component higher versioned keyfi

[pauldennis]

I am getting this error when upgrading from version 4.0.4 to 4.0.5 of our installer. I have generated new product version as normal but when I installed version 4.0.4 and then install 4.0.5 I get

MSI (c) (BC:00) [18:01:12:074]: Disallowing installation of component: {66C9A4E4-DD0C-46DB-87B7-F16CDA1C9AB3} since the same component with higher versioned keyfile exists

the files belonging to that component are not installed. I deleted the files from the files and folders section and reimported. In version 4.0.4 the component is guid {76794BCC-5ADA-43F3-B8BE-A67D70CFAE0E} and 4.0.5 {66C9A4E4-DD0C-46DB-87B7-F16CDA1C9AB3 obviously it changed because I reimported files.

I have searched 4.0.4 for {66C9A4E4-DD0C-46DB-87B7-F16CDA1C9AB3 but it does not exist.

if I do a clean installation all is okay.

An earlier thread claimed this was a Windows installer bug? Can someone please advise how to resolve this issue.
thanks
Paul

[Bogdan]

Hi Paul,

Indeed, the OS has problems in identifying the files versions correctly and the file from the new package does not get install.

To fix this just double click the file in Files and Folders page, go to Version tab and tick the option "Ensure this file overwrites any installed target files".

Regards,
Bogdan

[pauldennis]

Thanks Bogdan,

I have done this and it is working. However I am very concerned with this bug. This seems to have occurred out of the blue and I have not had this problem before. The issue is how are we supposed to know if this is occurring? to keep testing retesting every installer on every platform is impossible. Can you give me some idea as to why this might be happening.
Thanks
Paul

[mihai.petcu]

Hi Paul,

You don't need to retest this. The behavior of this Windows Installer bug is sporadic so we can't provide any circumstances information.
The solution for any future occurrences is to use the option my colleague Bogdan mentioned.

All the best,
Mihai

[pauldennis]

Hello Mihai,

Thank you for the reply. I am confused becase teh error message "since the same component with higher versioned keyfile exists"
I undertsand this is a Windows installer bug but I don't get that I reimported the files into the project and generated a new GUID for the component therefore this should have worked.

I have also googled for this problem and come across a solution.
"sequence the RemoveExistingProducts Action after the InstallFinalize action to get rid of the problem"

would this work?

[mihai.petcu]

Hello,

That manual setting would have the same effect as enabling "Install new version first and then uninstall old version" from the Upgrades page. Please keep in mind that enabling this option has many other implications you need to consider.
For more information please follow the Windows Installer Upgrades user guide article.

All the best,
Mihai