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Uninstall doesn't uninstall

description

When uninstalling PTVS via Control Panel -> Programs and Features, it is removed from that list, and launching VS shows that PTVS has indeed been uninstalled. However, running the installer (i.e. launching the MSI) again will still ask to Change/Repair/Remove, as if it were still there.

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pminaev wrote Oct 19, 2012 at 12:01 AM

One more repro on RC 2 + Win8 + VS 2010, after uninstalling the "for everyone" install. Most interestingly, when clicking on "Change" button in the installer, it does show all individual components as uninstalled (see screenshot).

dinov wrote Oct 19, 2012 at 4:04 PM

I also ran into this w/ Win7, VS 2012 integrated shell. I installed by double clicking on the MSI, and uninstalled by right clicking on the MSI and choosing Uninstall. After uninstalling PTVS was no longer available from VS, but re-running the installer gave me the change/repair UI.

Zooba wrote Oct 19, 2012 at 4:36 PM

Also on Win8, VS 2012 shell. Choosing "Remove" again clears it out, and I think it is uninstalling correctly from the Programs & Features dialog but not from the original MSI (I tried both ways (once) so only a small sample).

Per-user and per-machine doesn't seem to affect this - the files are all removed but the uninstall information is left in the registry.

pminaev wrote Oct 19, 2012 at 4:50 PM

In both my repros, I was uninstalling from Programs & Features, not by clicking "Uninstall" in the MSI. So it seems that the problem is there regardless of how you do it.

huguesv wrote Oct 19, 2012 at 6:30 PM

The following article explains how to enable global MSI logging so you get a full log independent on how you install/uninstall.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/223300

Having successful and failure logs to compare should help us find what is going on.

tvt173 wrote Feb 13 at 4:28 AM

Probably related to this issue:
I had PyTools installed on the VS 11 Preview, but then uninstalled the preview and went for the Express version of VS 2012 when it came out.

Now, when I try to install pytools on my fresh VS 2012 Express, it just brings me to the change/repair screen and fails, in a similar manner, to do anything. Also tried uninstalling from control panel with no luck.

I imagine worst case, there must be a registry key I can remove somewhere that will work around this?

tvt173 wrote Feb 13 at 4:34 AM

However, in my case, it doesn't uninstall from the Programs & Features panel either, so maybe the issue is different...

tvt173 wrote Feb 13 at 4:51 AM

My bad, I briefly read that pytools was available on the "minimal" version of VS 2012, and thought that meant "Express," but just realized that wasn't the case. So I realize I won't be able to install it on Express, but it still won't clean up properly from my system.

Zooba wrote Feb 13 at 3:24 PM

It won't install into Express, but you can get the Integrated Shell (see here) and install into that.

We did find that removing PTVS twice cleared it out properly (that is, when you go to reinstall it and it offers Change/Repair/Uninstall, click uninstall and try again), so that may work for you. If not, you may be able to use this tool to clean it up before reinstalling.

tvt173 wrote Feb 13 at 11:48 PM

Zooba,

Thanks! The program would not uninstall no matter how or how many times I tried, but using that link you gave me, I was able to resolve the issue.

Actually, the utility you referred to is now apparently outdated, but through a short course of links, I got to this Microsoft FixIt solution that uninstalled the program for me:
http://support.microsoft.com/mats/Program_Install_and_Uninstall

Best,
Troy

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