This website uses cookies. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of cookies. Click Here to learn more about how we use cookies.
Turn on suggestions
Auto-suggest helps you quickly narrow down your search results by suggesting possible matches as you type.
- Revenera Community
- :
- InstallShield
- :
- InstallShield Forum
- :
- Re: How to avoid Windows restoring deleted files
Subscribe
- Mark Topic as New
- Mark Topic as Read
- Float this Topic for Current User
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Printer Friendly Page
- Mark as New
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
‎Mar 01, 2013
08:34 AM
How to avoid Windows restoring deleted files
Hi folks,
This is the scenario. I install the package on a target computer. Works fine. Then, I delete files on the target computer which are no longer required. Here's the problem: as soon as I start the main application on the target computer, Windows starts restoring the deleted files.
How can I avoid this Windows restoration behavior?
Thanks!!!
This is the scenario. I install the package on a target computer. Works fine. Then, I delete files on the target computer which are no longer required. Here's the problem: as soon as I start the main application on the target computer, Windows starts restoring the deleted files.
How can I avoid this Windows restoration behavior?
Thanks!!!
(3) Replies
- Mark as New
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
‎Mar 01, 2013
09:41 AM
The following blog post explains this built-in behavior of Windows Installer:
You Again: Understanding Windows Installer (MSI) Self-Repair
You Again: Understanding Windows Installer (MSI) Self-Repair
- Mark as New
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
‎Mar 04, 2013
11:44 AM
Thanks Debbie,
This article explains the behavior and how to diagnose using tools like Sleuth which are not available in IS Express. Basically, I would like to know if there is any way to qualify some files which are included in my setup project to indicated that they are not essential and can be deleted without Windows installer trying to restore them afterwards. Thanks!
This article explains the behavior and how to diagnose using tools like Sleuth which are not available in IS Express. Basically, I would like to know if there is any way to qualify some files which are included in my setup project to indicated that they are not essential and can be deleted without Windows installer trying to restore them afterwards. Thanks!
- Mark as New
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
‎Mar 04, 2013
12:02 PM
Sorry for the confusion. I referred to the article because it says this about the behavior that you encountered when you deleted files:
So, no, there's no supported way to avoid the auto-repair functionality.
Depending on your requirements, you may want to consider creating and deploying an upgrade or a patch that removes the files that are no longer required.
The general Windows® installer feature is called self-repair or resiliency, and it's part of Windows Installer's core functionality. There's no real way to disable this functionality, either globally or for a particular product, without disabling the Windows Installer service.
So, no, there's no supported way to avoid the auto-repair functionality.
Depending on your requirements, you may want to consider creating and deploying an upgrade or a patch that removes the files that are no longer required.
![](/skins/images/8C9D13A71C7F7695F3262372C0172D68/responsive_peak/images/icon_anonymous_message.png)