Windows Installer overrides registry values

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Paul Hartog - 13 Apr 2004 06:51 GMT

I created an installer package which has been installer by several clients. Now I want to create a new version. I increased the version number and changed the upgrade code of the installer package and set the RemovePreviousVersion property to True and set the DetectNewerInstallerVersion to True as well

I have several registry setting setup in the registry editor. However if the client has a previous version of the application installed I want the system to remember those settings and not overrige them. Because the RemovePrevioiusVersion property is set to True the system removes all setting after which they are lost. However if I dont set this property to true the system willl install 2 version of the application on the target machine

How can I create a package that overrides (or removes) the old version but doesn't override the registr values so that previous configuration settings will be maintained? I spend many days trying to find a solution but haven't had much luck. Also it must be possible to use this package as the first installer meaning that if the client never had the application installed before, he can run the setup to install the application. In other words it is not just a patch for older versions

Many thanks, Paul

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Phil Wilson - 15 Apr 2004 16:57 GMT

Within the constraints of VS setups, custom actions and major upgrades
(RemovePreviousVersions) you can do something like this:
Have an uninstall custom action that saves those registry entries,
conditioned on UPGRADINGPRODUCTCODE which is set when you are being
uninstalled by a major upgrade.
Have an install custom action that looks for the saved registrry entries and
installs them.

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Phil Wilson
[MVP Windows Installer]

> I created an installer package which has been installer by several clients. Now I want to create a new version. I increased the version number

and changed the upgrade code of the installer package and set the
RemovePreviousVersion property to True and set the
DetectNewerInstallerVersion to True as well.

> I have several registry setting setup in the registry editor. However if the client has a previous version of the application installed I want the

system to remember those settings and not overrige them. Because the
RemovePrevioiusVersion property is set to True the system removes all
setting after which they are lost. However if I dont set this property to
true the system willl install 2 version of the application on the target
machine.

> How can I create a package that overrides (or removes) the old version but doesn't override the registr values so that previous configuration settings

will be maintained? I spend many days trying to find a solution but haven't
had much luck. Also it must be possible to use this package as the first
installer meaning that if the client never had the application installed
before, he can run the setup to install the application. In other words it
is not just a patch for older versions.

> Many thanks, Paul

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Paul Hartog - 18 Apr 2004 11:46 GMT

Thanks

Paul

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Phil Wilson - 18 Apr 2004 20:17 GMT

I should add that UPGRADINGPRODUCTCODE is set in the old install as it is
upgraded and uninstalled by the new incoming product, just to make it clear.
If you've already shipped the first version of the product it's too late to
change a custom action in it.

Signature

Phil Wilson
[MVP Windows Installer]

> Thanks!
>
> Paul

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Windows Installer overrides registry values

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