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edmanet
Level 3

Silent Uninstall

With an MSI, I can specify a product code and two command line switches to silently uninstall a package.
msiexec /x /qn {F992FB06-BD5E-4C5F-9FF3-51CBBA8EE669}

With Installshield I have to use this?
C:\Program Files\InstallShield Installation Information\{F992FB06-BD5E-4C5F-9FF3-51CBBA8EE669}\setup.exe -runfromtemp -l0x0009Add/Remove -removeonly -SMS

And it isn't silent? I have to RECORD A RESPONSE FILE FOR THE FREAKING UNINSTALL?

I cringe whenever I have to deploy InstallShield products. This link pretty much sums it all up I guess.

http://bit.ly/QeqUwZ
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Shuttledude
Level 7

Yes, for an InstallScript msi project you need to supply a response file. But for a basic msi you do not.

To create the uninstall response file:

1. Install the product.

2. Open an administrative DOS prompt and type:
setup.exe /x /r /f1"C:\temp\UNINST.ISS"

3. Uninstall dialogs appear, click with your mouse as you normally would to remove the app.

4. UNINST.ISS will be created. To use it during removal:

setup.exe /s /f1"UNINST.ISS"

Note there are NO spaces between f1 and "UNINST.ISS"

If you have several apps that you want to automatically and silently uninstall in this manner you could write a C++ or C# app that starts a process for each uninstall. The process would need to use the fully-defined path to the UNINST.ISS file ... you could include each app's *.ISS file in the list of files that app installs.
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