Install aware creating a new {product code} folder

[dahkiam]

Hi,

I took over an install aware project, and i've been having quite a bit of trouble understanding why install aware create a new {product code} folder everytime there is an update or new installation of my application.

The annoying thing is installaware does not actually cleanup for each update. So if your application releases 10 updates, you willl have 10 {product code} folder, each unique.

Is there a simple way to resolve this issue?

[mills]

By update, do you mean web update or patch?

What type of build do you use? Web builds?

Are you seeing the {product code} folder in the Application Data folder?

And does that {GUID} folder actually match the product code for your project(s) or some other {GUID} like the revision code?

[dahkiam]

Sorry for the late reply.

1. Yes we use web update.
2. Build settings is set to "compressed single self-installing EXE"
3. Yes in the APPDATA folder
4. on first install it's "~0"

Thanks for the support.

[mills]

Our developers indicated that those folders are a part of the natural msi API behavior and those folders should not appear after a reboot.

[dahkiam]

Well, i can confirm that they are not disappearing.

Would there be any reason for it not to disappear?

[mills]

Can you post a screenshot? I just want to be sure what the folders are being named...

[dahkiam]

Here you go. Just ran an install on my machine... Restarted... and blue folder still there.

[mills]

Are you using Web Deploy (build type)? This is not related to web updates.

The web builds are set to cache the setup data (this is particularly helpful if you plan on issuing patches).

You can check under the Build Settings under the Deployment folder of the design view.

There's also a check box for "Always cache setup sources". What is that set to (check, square or blank)?

[dahkiam]

Ok here are the settings...

[mills]

That's why it's creating the folder. It's caching the setup, so the user won't be prompted for sources during patches or maintenance (uninstall).

[dahkiam]

Ok let me re-formulate my concern.

Why is it that it's only my software doing it and not other software on my machine. Example I can't see adobe doing it.

Can't i specify where the cache should be? It's really dirty where it is right now.

[mills]

Actually, they do. For instance, I installed Adobe Shockwave.

It creates a registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Adobe Shockwave Player\UninstallString
=
"C:\WINDOWS\system32\Adobe\Shockwave 11\uninstaller.exe"

...

You can search the registry for the path IA is creating to its installer.

So, if that's not where you want it, after Apply Install, you may be able to move that folder to somewhere you think it should be and update the registry accordingly. However, this is untested and we cannot guarantee it will work.