Re: Uninstall leaving broken icons on program screen

On Mon, 2 May 2005 23:32:34 -0400, "Fr@nk" <fr@apaNOSP@AMwizard.net>
wrote:

>
>"Wayne" <MeNotYou@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>news:uEMYcmyTFHA.2996@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> I don't know if it's a bad/sloppy uninstall. I find this happens to me if
>I
>> decide to display the Icon on the start menu. Doing so moves the Icon from
>> it's original install point to the start menu. I'm guessing the uninstall
>> assumes it was deleted since it's not where it was installed too. Same
>thing
>> when I install things in windows that doesn't give me the option to tell
>it
>> where I want the short cuts, they are not removed if I move them.

I agree with you to some extent. The ideal would, indeed, for an
uninstall to clean up all associated bits and pieces no matter where
users moved/put them. But that can be very challenging, and cleaning
up _too_ thoroughly would rightly annoy users even more than leaving
bits and pieces. If I move things after installation, I am quite
willing to let uninstall off the hook. But maybe that's because I am a
developer.

A short summary of the technology might help.

Most installation programs log everything they do, and most installers
read this log to undo _exactly_ what was done during installation.
This service is usually provided by the installation package (e.g.
InstallShield) a developer uses to put together an installation for a
specific product. This mechanism is certainly a good first pass. It is
very safe. It gives developers a lot of user-support for not much
developer time. But it certainly doesn't handle anything added or
moved after installation. It generally doesn't work for
re-installation (because the second installation does less actual
work, and thus puts less in the log).

So, many developers add a step. Deleting all files (data, settings,
etc.) in the program's folders is usually safe, although I ask users,
just to be sure . Deleting all shortcuts with their original name
would probably be safe, and wouldn't add much work for developers or
delay for users. But only if the search were limited. On a Pocket PC,
looking only in the Start menu and subfolders makes sense. On my
desktops (a bit off topic for this newsgroup, but...), I move
shortcuts around a lot, so finding them would be challenging. I sure
wouldn't want several minutes while an uninstall searched all my
drives.

Pocket PC 2003 or Pocket PC 2003 SE added a new wrinkle. It limits the
number of shortcuts in the top level of the Start menu, and moves any
shortcuts added over the limit. So installations that routinely put
shortcuts in the Start menu end up with icons moved after the
installation, and thus not removed during uninstallation.


>>
>> --
>> Thanks
>> Wayne Sepega
>> Jacksonville, Fl
>>
>
>Wayne-
>
>I know what you're saying and yes, that's a sloppy uninstall program. To be
>really _good_, it should check to see if its programs' icons are _anywhere_
>on the device...and delete them. Not just if the icons are in the "default"
>location.
>
>When you say "I'm guessing the uninstall assumes it was deleted...", that's
>your clue. It shouldn't _assume_.
>
>Anyway...at least you can manually delete the orphaned icons. Seeya.
>
>
>Fr@nk
>

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Robert E. Zaret, eMVP
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Boston, MA 02118
www.penfact.com
.

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