Remove DLL from system32 folder when uninstalling a setup from InstallScript project for 64-bit

Asked Jan 11 '12 at 07:17

Active Jan 11 '12 at 19:36

Viewed 1,031 times

I have InstallShield 2011 and I am creating a setup for 64-bit in an InstallScript project.

When I install a setup, the DLL does go into system32 folder on a 64-bit system. But the problem is that when I unintall the setup, the DLL in system32 is not deleted.

If I copy the DLL in SYSWOW64 folder and uninstall the setup, the DLL is removed from the SYSWOW64 folder but not from systen32.

edited Jan 11 '12 at 19:36

Cosmin

21,216
5
45
60

asked Jan 11 '12 at 07:17

jiten

5,128
4
44
73

Your setup program is likely 32-bit, which means that file system redirection is kicking in and causing `system32` to be redirected to `syswow64`, and therefore removing the wrong DLL. – Cody Gray - on strike Jan 11 '12 at 07:26
I am using szSDKDirectory=PROGRAMFILES64 and Disable(WOW64FSREDIRECTION) – jiten Jan 11 '12 at 07:36
FWIW, it's a Microsoft best practice to mark all components in the SYSTEMFOLDER as permenant. – Christopher Painter Jan 11 '12 at 23:02
1

@Christopher: [citation needed] – Cody Gray - on strike Jan 12 '12 at 10:01
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa368933(v=vs.85).aspx – Christopher Painter Jan 12 '12 at 12:27
This all goes back to the days of DLL hell. In general one should first avoid deploying to system folder in the first place and if it must be done it should be left for ever to make sure you don't break other applications on uninstall. – Christopher Painter Jan 12 '12 at 12:29
@Christopher: Ah, thanks. Yes, agreed about *not* deploying in the system folder. That's really the most important point here. It's named "System" for a reason. Too many developers seem to forget that they're *not* the system. – Cody Gray - on strike Jan 14 '12 at 11:33
Is it possible to regsvr32 a 32bit DLL from outside of SYSWOW64? – Caltor Sep 13 '13 at 16:16

Remove DLL from system32 folder when uninstalling a setup from InstallScript project for 64-bit

0 Answers0