[wpkg-users] Will WPKG uninstall software it did not install?

[Bill Prentice]

If the software has something that can be checked install checks are written properly you can have a minimum version or something similar. In my environment I want specific versions installed so as to be able to properly support my environment so I specify exact version information as much as possible.

On the same note it is possible for WPKG to be used to remove software it didn't install but I have found it is somewhat non-obvious and difficult. I've done this on machines where I had only remote access and didn't want to give the user local admin.

Here's how I've done it:

NOTES : 
1] You must do this per machine.
2] You must have access to the local machine's c:\windows\system32\wpkg.xml
3] You need the uninstall command for the software in question.

Define a package for the software to be removed and add it to the specific host's profile. In my case I was downgrading some people from Visio Pro to Visio Std. Do not do install checks (you already know the software's there or else why would you be removing it???). Here's the removal package for Visio 2003 Pro I made:
	
	<package id="RemVisio2003Pro" name="RemVisio2003Pro" revision="1" reboot="false" priority="0">
		<install cmd='c:\windows\system32\MsiExec.exe /x{90510409-6000-11D3-8CFE-0150048383C9} /q'/>
	</package>

Restart WPKG Service. Wait for it to finish processing the package (can be confirmed via application event log). Stop the WPKG Service and delete the wpkg.xml file on the client. Remove the package from the host profile of the client PC and start the client's WPKG Service back up.


 
Kind regards,
 
Bill Prentice
K.T.J.R.
Striving for R.F.C. 1925 compliance


-----Original Message-----
From: wpkg-users-bounces at lists.wpkg.org [mailto:wpkg-users-bounces at lists.wpkg.org] On Behalf Of Rainer Meier
Sent: Saturday, 27 February, 2010 07:38
To: pmgough at gmail.com
Cc: wpkg-users at lists.wpkg.org
Subject: Re: [wpkg-users] Will WPKG uninstall software it did not install?

Hi Peter,

On 27.02.2010 13:07, Peter Gough wrote:
> I only offer my advice based on my own experience which is that without
> careful testing it is difficult to predict exactly what the
> implementation of wpkg will have. I've certainly tripped up more than
> once as a result of my own ill-conceived check conditions. This isn't
> the fault of wpkg, which has done exactly what I've asked it to do, but
> for somebody implementing wpkg in their own 'virgin' environment I think
> it is important to spell out the potential for adversely impacting their
> existing software installations.

Yes i think you're absolutely right that a complex system like WPKG could make
people believe that it sometimes does something which was not intended. Just due
to the fact that the user did not know about any effect of its acting.

Well, I think the topic here is well-clarified now and I hope Thomas is fine
with the answer and knows about the intended effects of using WPKG and probably
also about some "side-effects" he might experience.

Thanks for the discussion ;-)

br,
Rainer
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