InstallScript - Overwrite the default uninstaller?

Question

Our company uses Flexera InstallShield 2012 (old, I know), and I am currently creating an InstallScript project. Everything is running nicely, the script does exactly what I want it to do.

However, I am currently in a pickle. InstallScript has the OnUninstall built-in function that gets called when the Setup is being run with the -uninstall flag. I have written my custom uninstall script to remove everything I install during the setup.

But apparently InstallScript (or the Windows Installer) creates a different uninstaller for when you go to Programs and Functions -> Uninstall in the Windows Control Panel.

Is there any way to manipulate this "default uninstaller" with InstallScript?

If you need more information please comment and I will update this post.

Thank you!

Could you perhaps say what problem you are trying to solve? Apparently you have decided that you have a solution (manipulate the default uninstaller?) but what problem are you dealing with? Note that there is no actual default uninstaller (unless you want to make one?) because Windows just calls APIs to configure the product to be absent - it does not call a separate program. — PhilDW
@PhilDW I have implemented a custom OnUninstall function, but it does not get called when I uninstall my programm with the build in Windows Programs and Applications panel. — user3829915

Slava Ivanov Slava Ivanov · Accepted Answer · 2018-06-04T15:44:50

I can see two options available for you to try ...

As you mention correctly OnUninstall called when the installation is run with the -uninst parameter. I suspect this parameter is missing from the Windows registry entry. Please have a look at ...
```
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{your_product_id}\UninstallString
```
The key should have string to run setup in uninstall mode with -uninst parameter in order for setup to hit OnUninstall handler. If it's not set, you may need to add it manually at the time of initial registration of your product.

You may use OnEnd event handler, which designed to make cleanup at the end of installation and would hit all the time. Inside this event handler you may do specific scripting for your product removal. The code may look like ...

function OnEnd()
    // local variables
begin
    if (!MAINTENANCE) then
        // initial setup; you may fix the Windows uninstall registry here (see point #1)
    else
        if ( nMaintTypeGlobal = REMOVEALL ) then
            // product removal
        endif;
    endif;
end;

InstallScript - Overwrite the default uninstaller?

2 Answers