Do some action before application install in C#

Question

I am using C# and .NET 4.0 framework to develop a WPF application. I need to perform a task like this: Before installing my WPF application on the desktop, I need to remove some folder in that installing desktop. I tried the below one in:

File installer.cs

this.BeforeInstall +=new InstallEventHandler(Installer_BeforeInstall);

void Installer_BeforeInstall(object sender, InstallEventArgs e)
{
    // Code
}

Whatever code I used in the above methods to remove the folder/directory are executed after my WPF application installed, means in half of the installation. I need to remove the folder before the WPF application saves the installation folder on my desktop. How do I do this in C# using .NET 4.0?

Update: installer.cs

namespace namespace name
{
    [RunInstaller(true)]
    public partial class Installer : System.Configuration.Install.Installer
    {
        public Installer()
        {
            InitializeComponent();

            this.AfterInstall += new InstallEventHandler(ServiceInstaller_AfterInstall);

            this.BeforeUninstall += new InstallEventHandler(ServiceInstaller_BeforeUninstall);
        }

        public override void Install(System.Collections.IDictionary stateSaver)
        {
            base.Install(stateSaver);
        }

        void ServiceInstaller_AfterInstall(object sender, InstallEventArgs e)
        {
            //code
        }

        void ServiceInstaller_BeforeUninstall(object sender, InstallEventArgs e)
        {
            // Code
        }
    }
}

Answer 1

Deleting files/folder on target systems is dangerous and should be avoided. You should only delete files that you create; you being your MSI file here. Now that you have been warned, here are your options:

• Using a Visual Studio Setup project, this is not possible, or at least not trivial. You need to implement a custom action using C++, compile into a DLL, build you MSI, change the install sequence using Orca to run before CostFinalize.

• Use a third-party tool to give more power to installer projects, such as AdvancedInstaller

• If you do decide to go third party, I would say use WiX. Look at RemoveFolder action or you can use a CustomAction like this:

  <CustomAction Id="DeleteFiles" Return="check" Value="del path\to\folder" />
  
  <InstallExecuteSequence>
    <Custom Action="DeleteFiles" After='InstallFinalize'>Installed AND NOT UPGRADINGPRODUCTCODE</Custom>
    ...
  </InstallExecuteSequence>