Uninstall doesn't remove registry keys for file associations
In my installer I create multiple file association registry entries under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT. I do this using the action Set Windows Registry - Multiple Entries. These are not removed when i uninstall my product. The entries i create under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MyProduct are removed on uninstall.
Is there any reason for this? How can I debug uninstall of my product or get uninstall logs?
This seems to be due to the uninstaller's inability to delete HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT keys when its default(Default) value is set. If default registry value is not set, the HKEY_ROOT keys added are getting deleted on uninstall, when Uninstall Options in the "Set Windows Registry - Multiple Entries" action is set to "Force removal even if values has changed". The keys with default value set are not deleted but seems false positive is seen in log. Since file association keys require setting default value,
The workaround will be to : set Uninstall options to "Do not Uninstall" and add a script to delete the keys in Sequence->Uninstall phase. or set Uninstall options to "Force removal even if values has changed" and add a script in Uninstall phase to delete only default values of the keys and let the uninstaller to remove the keys.
To get Uninstall log, enable logging as belows: In InstallAnywhere designer->Project-> General Setting-> Enable Logging -> select yes Select install checkbox & uninstall checkbox The log file will be found in the <InstallDir>/Logs folder after install/uninstall.
Yes, will raise a bug for this to be fixed in next major release.
In InstallAnywhere2021, there is a new action "Associate File Extension-Windows" available for setting File Association. This action is available in Install->Sequence->Add Action->General. Suggest using this action instead of using "Set Windows Registry - Multiple Entries" for setting File association.
