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cmdman

asked on

Tivo software will not finish uninstalling

My tivo beacon mysteriously disappeared.  I called tivo and they said to uninstall and download and reinstall the program again.  I did, but when I hit the exe button it said that I must uninstall the old one first.  It seems to be looking for an uninstall program that it can't find.  

Tivo said they thought it was a problem in the registry on my computer and to call microsoft.  Right.  No thanks.

Can anyone help?????

P.S.  I AM NOW HAVING TROUBLE FROM OTHER PROGRAMS.  MSN MESSENGER SAID
 JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO "THE WINDOWS PROGRAM MANAGER FAILED TO INSTALL THE PROGRAM ASSOCIATED WITH THIS FILE.  PLEASE CONTACT YOUR SYSTEM ADMINISTRATOR"   Hope this helps maybe.
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_
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Start Regedit from the RUN box, and look here to see if it is listed:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnceEx
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices

If no, then use FIND in Regedit and try some different keywords, and see if anything about TiVo comes up  
Avatar of weblinktechnologies
weblinktechnologies


Uninstall TIVO to the best of your ability.
Go to the following registry entry...
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
Delete any entry that references TIVO.  Be very careful not to delete anything else.

Try it again.

The problem is that the TIVO software sees a registry entry causing it to think it is installed.
The trick is to find this entry

Search your PC for a file called UNWISE.EXE.

COPY one of them to the folder where you have the program you want to uninstall and run it from inside the program folder.

See if that manages the uninstall.

Zee
Avatar of cmdman

ASKER

Zee,

I copied the unwise file to the tivo folder in program files and double clicked on it and a pop up thing said "initializing wise uninstall wizard", then it asked me what I wanted to open in an "open" menu.  

Everyone--when I click on tivo on the add/install menu, a windows installer menu pops up that says "The feature you are trying to use is on a network resourse that is unavailable".  Does this help?
Avatar of BillDL
Yes, it does.  New style Windows installers use the msiexec.exe program to perform installations, and they create what the registry sees as a "LocalPackage" which is usually an .MSI file (filename usually made up from numbers only) in the folder C:\Windows\Installer.

At the same time, a registry key is created at the location given by weblinktechnologies :

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall

This key may either be the name of the program, or a series of numbers, and the values in that key tell it where to find the "LocalPackage" (ie. the .msi file) which acts as the instructions for the options you have when going through the Control Panel's Add/Remove Programs.  These are usually Repair, Modify, and Remove, although some programs deliberately block the first 2 options and make it a "Remove Only" option.

IF the .msi file has been inadvertantly deleted, and you don't have the original installation CD in the drive, then the installer may tell you that "The feature you are trying to use is on a network resource that is unavailable".

I suggest you open Windows Explorer and go to the C:\Windows\Installer folder.
RIGHT-Click on each of the .MSI files in there and select "Properties".  Under the "Summary" tab for each one, it will tell you what program the file relates to.

IF you cannot find one, then the program will have to be installed from the original source CD again.

If you DO find the correct file, take note of the filename and then open REGEDIT (Start Menu > RUN option > and type REGEDIT > click OK).

Navigate in the LEFT pane down to the key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall

Now open out the "Uninstall" key by click ing the + sign, and begin clicking on each of the sub-keys in the LEFT pane.  For each, look in the RIGHT pane for the name of the .MSI file and/or the name of the installed application.

Let us know the results BEFORE deleting anything.

Take down the commands detailed against:
"LocalPackage"
"InstallSource"
"ModifyPath"
"UninstallString"

It MIGHT be possible to use the msiexec.exe command to uninstall this if the .msi file happens to have been moved to another folder.
Avatar of cmdman

ASKER

Ok Bill, here goes:

I found one tivo file in the msi area.   Made a note of the name.  Then went to the regedid area and found HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.  There was not anything after those three words.

Here is what I found in the right panel:

Control--       ab(default)    (value not set)
driver--         the same
enum--         ""
hardware      ""
network        ""
security         ""
software       ""
                    also ab open    "Open Setup"
system          ab(default)    (value not set)


What next??  Did I look in the right spots?
I'm puzzled about you not seeing any sub-keys under the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE key in regedit.  It sounds like you may not have had experience of using regedit, and that's not a bad thing given the number of problems created by inquisitive people who mess up their systems by tinkering in regedit :-)

It's very similar to the Windows Explorer window with the folder view in the left, and the file view in the right ie. you have to click on the + signs to the left of each folder (key) to open out its sub-folders (sub-keys).  When you click on a folder (key) in the left pane, the files (values) show in the right pane.

In the same way that you note the full "path" to a file or folder in computing terms (directory path) eg. C:\Windows\filename.type, you notate a registry key as I have done.  The only exception is that the "values" (like the "default - value not set" ones you saw) aren't tacked onto the end of the \ separated path to the registry key.

What you are seeing are the immediate sub-keys of the master "Hive Key" named HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.  Click on the + sign to the left of the "Software" , and it will show a long list of sub-keys named after installed programs in the left pane.

Scroll down to the "Microsoft" sub-sub-key, and (still in the left pane) click on the + sign to the left of that key, and so on until you get right down to the "Uninstall" key.  Click lastly on the + sign to the left of the "Uninstall" key, and it will show (still in the left pane) a list of sub-keys with {long-numbers} to start with, and then proper names.  There will be a lot of them.

Now it's a case of clicking on each of those keys and reading the values in the right-hand pane as you do so.  Give it a short time to refresh itself in between clicking these sub-keys.

You should get to one key that shows details for TIVO in the right-hand pane and shows the name of the .MSI file you found.  Those are the values that relate to the actions that are performed when the program is uninstalled, repaired, or updated.

An easy way to get all the details from that particular sub-key into a file that can be opened in Notepad is as follows.

1. Make sure you are only clicked on the key you need the details for in the left pane
2. "Registry" menu > Export Registry File > browse to somewhere like your desktop.
3. Use the black arrow for the drop-down list of "Save As Type" and choose "All File Types (*.*)" instead of the "Registration File (*.reg)" that shows.
4. Type in a filename like "Tivo.TXT" making sure to include that  .TXT after the filename
5. Make sure that it is set to export "Only the selected key"
6. Click "Save" and then wait for a moment until the hourglass cursor returns to normal
7. Close regedit and find the file "Tivo.txt" where you saved it.
8. Go online now
9. Double-click to open your exported text file in Notepad
10. Edit Menu > Select All > Edit menu again > Copy
11. Close Notepad and open this page
13. Paste the details in here (Ctrl and V keys together) or Internet Explorer's Edit menu > Paste option.


*** Beware ***

1. ALL changes are immediately effected in regedit.  There is no "File > Save" option and no "Undo Change" option, so DON'T change anything.

2. You are just viewing and noting (or exporting) the details it shows you, and then closing the regedit window.

3. DON'T keep regedit open while you perform other activities like going online or browsing the internet.  All these types of actions need to write details to the files that make up your registry.

I look forward to looking at the details you find.
There are 2 other things you can also do in preparation just in case thay are needed, but DON'T do anything further with them just for now.

Download and save the following file (RIGHT-Click on the following link and select "Save TARGET As"):

http://download.microsoft.com/download/WindowsInstaller/Install/2.0/W9XMe/EN-US/InstMsiA.exe

This is the Windows Installer Program version 2.0.  It is possible that yours is corrupt and may need to be reinstalled.  Windows 98 comes with version 1.1 of the Windows Installer, but newer programs need version 2.0 which is what the downloaded file "InstMsiA.exe" will install.

Download and save the following file (RIGHT-Click on the following link and select "Save TARGET As"):

http://download.microsoft.com/download/e/9/d/e9d80355-7ab4-45b8-80e8-983a48d5e1bd/msicuu2.exe

This is the "Windows Installer Cleanup Utility" which is designed to allow you to selectively get rid of the files and registry entries left over by installed programs that have already been uninstalled, but the left-overs are preventing reinstallation of the same program or an updated version of the same program.

It isn't intended as an uninstaller utility and SHOULD NOT be used INSTEAD of the proper uninstall method from Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs.  Sometimes, however, the uninstallation fails and this utility can be used so that reinstallation isn't hampered by the files and settings already on your system.

As I said, DON'T RUN either of these YET.  Wait until we have checked your registry details first.
blue_zee

Notice the StringValue:  "open"="Open Setup"
being quoted by cmdman in the key:  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software

The only value, apart from the [Default] StringValue, in my registry  is:  "ConfigurationFolder"=""

I wonder if this is a problem area that signifies a half-completed setup routine, or if it is standard in some registries.  Can you verify this StringValue please?
FWIW:
All I have under Software is  "ab(default)    (value not set)"
Thanks, coral47

Bill,

Same here on that string, only default.



cmdman,

Do you have a file called "install.log" under any of the Tivo folders?

Or "uninst.*" (* could be several extensions)?

Zee
Yes, that's something I hadn't immediately thought of either, zee.

cmdman,

just to explain the reason you would be hunting for an install or uninstall .log or .txt file, with some applications (including Internet Explorer), a log file is created which tracks where the files were installed from, where they were installed to, the file versions and dates, and also details of most of the registry settings that the installation creates.

When you opt for a repair, modification, or removal of the software package, the process consults this file so it knows what is on your system and what it should remove.  Particularly important if the installation had to update system files and create backups of the originals.

As per blue_zee's instructions, also try a search for all files named tivo*.* and see if there might be a text-based file that resembles a running log of files copied that relate to tivo components.

Avatar of cmdman

ASKER

Bill,

I found the right place to click.  Sorry about earlier.  However under microsoft there is no uninstall key.  Could that be the problem?  Sounds too obvious, but makes sense.

Thanks
The "Uninstall" key should be a sub-key of the "CurrentVersion" key, which in turn is a sub-key of the "Windows" key that will be found under the "Microsoft" key, if you can follow that.  Like this:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
        Software
                Microsoft
                        Windows
                                CurrentVersion
                                         Uninstall

Or perhaps this effort at a graphical representation (if it shows OK on this page) demonstrates how to navigate to the "Uninstall" key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
|
+------Config
|      |
|      +------loads of sub-keys
|      |
|
+------Driver
|      |
|      +------loads of sub-keys
|      |
|
+------Enum
|      |
|      +------loads of sub-keys
|      |
|
+------Other Key
|      |
|      +------loads of sub-keys
|      |
|
+------Software
|         |
|         +------Microsoft
|         |         |
|         |         +------Windows
          |         |         |
          |         |         +------CurrentVersion
                    |         |
                              +------Uninstall
                               |         |
                                         \------{long-unique-number}
                                         \------{another-long-unique-number}
                                         \------Program name
Avatar of cmdman

ASKER

Bill,

Found an uninstall folder just as you described.  It has 3 tivo notes in the right pane:

Display name--"tivo desktop"
Publisher--Tivo Inc
URLInfo about--http//www.tivo.com

The MSI file I found is not listed.

Also, I don't understand when you list the 13 steps to get a file that can be opened in Notepad.  Total greek to me.  Are you trying to create a folder to work with or what?

Sorry this is going so slow.  But better to get stuff cleared up as we go.

cmdman

What I have been trying to establish is the command which is set to run when you open the Add/Remove Programs dialog window and try to uninstall your Tivo application.

This command will be listed against an item that would normally show in REGEDIT as "UninstallString" in the paerticular key created in the registry when the program was installed.

The 13-step list I detailed is a method to create a text file of that registry entry that can be opened in Notepad so you could paste the contents here for us to see.  I gave details to create a .TXT file (steps 3 and 4), rather than the normal .REG file type that those steps would create, because .TXT files are safe to open by double-clicking.  If you double-click on a .REG file, it adds the contents into your registry and would modify settings if they were different.

What I was hoping that you would be able to do was:

1. Take a note of the name of the .MSI file that you found in the folder C:\Windows\Installer which related to Tivo

2. Go to the registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
and then click on the + sign next to it to open a list of sub-keys below it in the left-hand pane of Regedit.

3. Click on each of those sub-keys below the "Uninstall" key, and look for references to Tivo and the .msi file name in the right-hand pane

4. "Export" that key to a .TXT file as described in the 13 steps

5. Open that exported file and copy the contents for pasting here.

What I am hoping to see is a command that resembles either of the following:

MsiExec.exe /I{1234A5B6-7890-11C2-D33E-44F5A0123456}
(accompanied by the name of the .msi file)

or

RunDll32 C:\Progra~1\..\..\tivo.dll,LaunchSetup "C:\Program Files\InstallShield Installation Information\{1234A5B6-7890-11C2-D33E-44F5A0123456}\setup.exe" -u

or

C:\Progra~1\..\..\UNWISE.EXE c:\progra~1\..\..\INSTALL.LOG

Perhaps I have overcomplicated things here.  If you are still finding the instructions difficult to follow, then here's something easier to follow that you can try.

Go again to the folder "C:\Windows\Installer" in Windows Explorer and RIGHT-Click on the .MSI file that you identified as being the one related to Tivo.  Double-check again that you are right-clicking on the correct one by first checking the "properties" again.

Once you are sure of this, NOTE the file name accurately - you don't want to uninstall the wrong program!!

Now click on the Start Menu and then click on the RUN option.
In the "Open" text filed, type the following command EXACTLY and then click the "OK" button:

c:\windows\system\msiexec.exe  /x  c:\windows\installer\filename.msi

Substitute the "filename.msi" with the correct name of your .msi file.

To explain my reasoning here, the /x is the command option that SHOULD be used to UNinstall a product unconditionally.  Quite often though, you will find that the registry gives the uninstall command using the  /I  option, which is the one used for INstall.  This provides a failsafe method, because you would then be prompted for whether you wanted to repair, modify, or remove the program.

It is probable that the  /I  option is being used when you try to uninstall Tivo and this will probably be looking for the original source medium from which it was originally installed.  I am hopeful that the  /x option will avoid this and just remove the application.

Try it and let us know what happens.
Avatar of cmdman

ASKER

Sorry Bill, I've been out of town.  Hope this is what you are looking for.  It is a copy of Tivo.TXT as you requested:

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{4E839090-3B68-436A-B3CF-A2A08C38DD26}]
"RegOwner"="Wayne Moore"
"RegCompany"=""
"ProductID"="none"
"AuthorizedCDFPrefix"=""
"Comments"=""
"Contact"=""
"DisplayVersion"="1.0.0.0"
"HelpLink"=""
"HelpTelephone"=""
"InstallDate"="20040824"
"InstallLocation"=""
"InstallSource"="C:\\Program Files\\Common Files\\Wise Installation Wizard\\"
"ModifyPath"=hex(2):4d,73,69,45,78,65,63,2e,65,78,65,20,2f,58,7b,34,45,38,33,\
  39,30,39,30,2d,33,42,36,38,2d,34,33,36,41,2d,42,33,43,46,2d,41,32,41,30,38,\
  43,33,38,44,44,32,36,7d,00
"NoModify"=dword:00000001
"NoRepair"=dword:00000001
"Publisher"="TiVo, Inc."
"Readme"=""
"Size"=""
"EstimatedSize"=dword:00006061
"UninstallString"=hex(2):4d,73,69,45,78,65,63,2e,65,78,65,20,2f,58,7b,34,45,38,\
  33,39,30,39,30,2d,33,42,36,38,2d,34,33,36,41,2d,42,33,43,46,2d,41,32,41,30,\
  38,43,33,38,44,44,32,36,7d,00
"URLInfoAbout"="http://www.tivo.com"
"URLUpdateInfo"=""
"VersionMajor"=dword:00000001
"VersionMinor"=dword:00000000
"WindowsInstaller"=dword:00000001
"Version"=dword:01000000
"Language"=dword:00000409
"DisplayName"="TiVo Desktop"

Thank you for that, cmdman.  It certainly does show the details I was looking for, but I see that the 2 crucial values I was looking for are stored as BinaryValues and not as StringValues.

I am referring to the long series of paired hexadecimal values after "ModifyPath" and "UninStallString".  Most often, when you see these two items listed in RegEdit in this way, there is also a StringValue for both of them which gives you the full command as a standard text string, but not in this case.  I wonder whether this might be the problem.

The item at the very end of that file, namely "TiVo Desktop", is what should appear in your Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs list.  When you choose to Uninstall it, the action set against the "UninstallString" will be actioned.  I mentioned earlier that some types of Uninstallers also offer the option of a "Repair" or "Add or Remove Installed Program Components", but the Tivo software prevents these by virtue of the 2 values:

"NoModify"=dword:00000001
"NoRepair"=dword:00000001

The value 00000001 for each tells the uninstaller NOT to allow (or even show) these options.  If the uninstaller is capable of allowing the Repair or Modify actions, then changing the values to 00000000 would (in theory) allow the 2 options, but it is most likely that the Uninstaller isn't comprehensive enough to perform either action.

OK, so I have merged that .reg file into my own registry temporarily so I can see what the values are.

UninstallString and ModifyPath are BOTH shown with the command:

MsiExec.exe /X{4E839090-3B68-436A-B3CF-A2A08C38DD26}

which is normal, and just points the msiexec process back to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{4E839090-3B68-436A-B3CF-A2A08C38DD26} registry key for instructions.

Now, what I EXPECT to see in that .reg file is a value named "LocalPackage", which should give the full path to an  .MSI  file.  This is completely absent for some strange reason, and I believe that's the problem area.  I expected to see a value like:
C:\WINDOWS\Installer\ab123.msi
which matched up with a file of that name physically in that folder.

Instead, it is showing the "InstallSource" as:
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Wise Installation Wizard\

Most often, with msiexec install routines, the C:\Windows\TEMP folder is used to temporarily unpack files into and they are run from there.  In those cases, the "Install Source" is shown like the following hypothetical example.
C:\WINDOWS\TEMP\TivoSetup\

Have a look in the folder
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Wise Installation Wizard\
in Windows Explorer and see if you can see a setup file like Tivo.log, TivoSetup.txt, or something like that.

I do not have such a folder on MY system, so it is possible that the Tivo software has created this folder on YOUR system for its own purposes.

IF there is nothing in there that appears to relate to Tivo, then I am going to suggest something that MIGHT work.  You said earlier that you DID find an .MSI file that related to the Tivo Software.  You also confirmed all of this while looking in Regedit earlier, when you said that "the MSI file I found is not listed".  What you didn't provide was the file name of that .msi file.

Let's assume that file name to be ab123.msi.  Here's my suggestion.

1. Make a copy of your Tivo.txt file, and rename it something like Tivo_Add_Msi.txt so that you know what it does.

2. Open it in Notepad, and modify it so that it ends up looking EXACTLY as follows, but obviously substitute the REAL name of the msi file on your system instead of my example name:

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{4E839090-3B68-436A-B3CF-A2A08C38DD26}]
"LocalPackage"="C:\WINDOWS\Installer\ab123.msi"

3. Backspace up after the last line to eliminate extra blank lines, then finally hit the Enter key twice to create 2 blank lines.

4. Save the .txt file.

5. RIGHT-Click on the file and rename it as a .reg file, eg. "Tivo_Add_Msi.REG".

6. RIGHT-Click on the .reg file and select "MERGE" from the sub-menu.  Accept the prompts when they show.  This will write a new line into that registry key just as it appears in the .REG file above.

7. Try the Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs once again and MAKE SURE that the uninstall prompts that appear DO relate to your Tivo software and NOT something else. (this all hinges on whether you correctly identified the .msi file as being for Tivo and correctly added the file name to the registry).

If that process DOESN'T work, then it is probably better if you remove that new line from the registry.  RIGHT-Click on the file "Tivo_Add_Msi.REG", and select EDIT to open it in NotePad.  Change it to read exactly what is shown below:

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{4E839090-3B68-436A-B3CF-A2A08C38DD26}]
"LocalPackage"=-

So all you are doing is adding a minus sign - after the = sign instead of the text "C:\WINDOWS\Installer\ab123.msi"

Save the file, and then RIGHT-Click > Merge to remove the "LocalPackage" value.

Let us know how you get along with this.
Actually, there is one more thing you could try if the first registry modification doesn't work.  By "doesn't work", what I mean is if it shows an error message or just doesn't do anything.

If it shows the uninstall dialog for the wrong program, then disregard this advice and remove the modification as indicated at the end of the above comment.

Assuming that it shows an error or doesn't do anything, here are 2 .REG files to create in Notepad.  The first one, named something like "Tivo_AddStrings.REG" ADDS 2 extra lines to the registry, and the 2nd one named eg. "Tivo_RemoveStrings.REG" removes the strings.

After creating "Tivo_AddStrings.REG", just RIGHT-Click > Merge, as you have done before, and then try the Add/Remove Programs again.

The "Tivo_RemoveStrings.REG" file should be created and merged to the registry if that doesn't work.

Tivo_AddStrings"
=============

----------- start of text to copy (DON'T include this line) ---------
REGEDIT4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{4E839090-3B68-436A-B3CF-A2A08C38DD26}]
"ModifyPath"="MsiExec.exe /X{4E839090-3B68-436A-B3CF-A2A08C38DD26}"
"UninstallString"="MsiExec.exe /X{4E839090-3B68-436A-B3CF-A2A08C38DD26}"


----------- end of text to copy (DON'T include this line) ---------

(remember to add 2 blank lines after the last piece of text)

Tivo_RemoveStrings
=================

----------- start of text to copy (DON'T include this line) ---------
REGEDIT4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{4E839090-3B68-436A-B3CF-A2A08C38DD26}]
"ModifyPath"=-
"UninstallString"=-

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{4E839090-3B68-436A-B3CF-A2A08C38DD26}]
"ModifyPath"=hex(2):4d,73,69,45,78,65,63,2e,65,78,65,20,2f,58,7b,34,45,38,33,\
 39,30,39,30,2d,33,42,36,38,2d,34,33,36,41,2d,42,33,43,46,2d,41,32,41,30,38,\
 43,33,38,44,44,32,36,7d,00
"UninstallString"=hex(2):4d,73,69,45,78,65,63,2e,65,78,65,20,2f,58,7b,34,45,38,\
 33,39,30,39,30,2d,33,42,36,38,2d,34,33,36,41,2d,42,33,43,46,2d,41,32,41,30,\
 38,43,33,38,44,44,32,36,7d,00

----------- end of text to copy (DON'T include this line) ---------

(remember to add 2 blank lines after the last piece of text)

Hope this fixes things and allows you to uninstall this software.
Avatar of cmdman

ASKER

OK Bill,  I got to step 6, but couldn't find any "MERGE" key in the drop down menu.  So I stopped awaiting further instructions.

I was right clicking on the file I just created and added "REG" to.
I'm sorry, but I don't quite understand what you mean there, cmdman.

I have to apologise here and correct the .REG file that I posted above.  When a path to a FILE on your system is stated in a .REG file, it MUST double up the backslashes or it won't work.

Take a look back up at the registry export you sent to a .TXT file previously, and you will see an example:

"InstallSource"="C:\\Program Files\\Common Files\\Wise Installation Wizard\\

So, the corrected .REG file should actually be:

----------- start of text to copy (DON'T include this line) ---------
REGEDIT4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{4E839090-3B68-436A-B3CF-A2A08C38DD26}]
"LocalPackage"="C:\\WINDOWS\\Installer\\ab123.msi"

----------- end of text to copy (DON'T include this line) ---------

Sorry about that.  Please correct this in Notepad before proceeding.

This wouldn't prevent the Right-Click > "Merge" Menu option from showing.

As long as you have your Folder Options > View settings set to show all files and NOT to hide the file extensions, then you would have seen the name of the file in Windows Explorer 9or your desktop, etc) as filename.TXT.

You RIGHT-Click on it and select "Rename", and then type the same filename, but change the .TXT to .REG instead.  When you then click away from the file in a blank area, you might be asked if you are sure that you wish to change the file extension, and you say Yes.

At this point, the standard white notepad icon should change to a kind of green "Rubiks Cube" type icon with fragments coming off it at the top.

That file type should always offer a RIGHT-Click option named "MERGE".

The only thing I can think that is happening is that your Windows Explorer view options are hiding the file extensions (eg .TXT) to begin with, and that renaming the .TXT file simply keeps the .TXT file extension, but is adding .REG into the filename so that you end up with "filename.reg.TXT, but your settings just prevent you from seeing the .TXT extension at the end.  If this is so, then the icon would not have changed because it is still a .TXT file.

To change your VIEW settings do this:

Start Menu > Settings > Folder Options > VIEW tab
Click in the box "Hide File Extensions for known file types" to clear the tick
Click "Apply", the "OK" to confirm the setting and exit the Folder Options dialog.

If, when you then successfully rename the file to a .REG file and see the icon for the file changing, the file disappears, then go back into "Folder Options" and choose the option to also "Show All Files" > Apply > OK.

If this is already what you gave done, you are fully conversant with these areas I discussed above, and you are sure that you have a valid .REG file, then try just double-clicking on the file.

The other alternative, if you can't get this all to work, is to MANUALLY create the entries in your registry using REGEDIT.  Remember that this is more dangerous, because there is no "Undo" button and the changes don't need to be applied in Regedit with a File > Save action.  They are applied immediately.

If you ended up trying to do this manually, then here's what to do.  It's actually a very simple procedure:

navigate down the LEFT pane until you get to the {4E839090-3B68-436A-B3CF-A2A08C38DD26} key and click on it.

You should see the full path in the grey "status bar" at the bottom of the regedit window as indicated below:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{4E839090-3B68-436A-B3CF-A2A08C38DD26}

If the status bar doesn't show, then make it show by clicking the "View" menu and then clicking "Status bar".

OK, so you will now see a mixture of icons in the RIGHT-HAND pane.  White square icons with a burgundy "ab", and white square ones with blue "1010".

You should recognise the names against these icons from the registry export that you posted 4 comments above (excluding this comment).  Just double-check that it is the same key, because it's easy to click on the wrong key when the name comprises such a long string of numbers.

Click the "EDIT" Menu, then "NEW", and then click "StringValue".

It will jump down to the bottom of the RIGHT-HAND pane where it will have created a new icon with the burgundy "ab", and the name (highlighted in blue and with a thin black box around the name) will show as "New Value #1".

While it is highlighted as that name, just type a new name for it : "LocalPackage" (but don't include those " " in the name).  Now just click away from it in a blank space, and the name will change.

Be sure NOT to leave a space in LocalPackage, and observe the capital L and P.

If you accidentally clicked somewhere and the name is now permanently shown as "New Value #1", just RIGHT-Click on "New Value #1" and choose RENAME.  This then allows you to enter the name "LocalPackage".

Now RIGHT-Click on the "LocalPackage" item, and choose "MODIFY".  This will open up a dialog box with "Edit String" showing in its Title bar.  You will see the blank white field named "Value Data" just waiting for your input.

Type in the path to the .MSI file as discussed above, and click the "OK" button to close the Edit String box.

The path should only use single backslashes, and be sure to enter it as follows, but change the name of the ab123.msi file to the name of the .msi file actually on your computer:

C:\WINDOWS\Installer\ab123.msi

I mentioned earlier about .REG files having to have paths quoted with \\ instead of \.
This is ONLY when a registry modification is being done from a .reg FILE.  When manually editing the registry, just use single backslashes in the path as shown immediately above.

When you click "OK" and the dialog box closes, you should now see the path to the .msi file showing across to the right of the regedit screen against "LocalPackage".

What you have successfully done here is to create the line that would have been applied by running the .REG script to merge the data:

"LocalPackage"="C:\\WINDOWS\\Installer\\ab123.msi"

I have to stress that messing with the registry is potentially dangerous and should not be done without the required knowledge and/or experience.

I feel however that the instructions in this comment, if followed exactly, will not pose a risk.

If the modification doesn't work as intended, then just locate the "LocalPackage" StringValue in regedit again, RIGHT-Click on it, and click DELETE.  The .REG file to do this, now corrected from my earlier posting, is:

----------- start of text to copy (DON'T include this line) ---------
REGEDIT4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{4E839090-3B68-436A-B3CF-A2A08C38DD26}]
"LocalPackage"=-

----------- end of text to copy (DON'T include this line) ---------

As long as you still have that .TXT file that you exported a while back, then you still have the settings needed to restore them by renaming the file to a .REG file and running it.
Avatar of cmdman

ASKER

Bill,

It still doesn't work.  Is there a way to download a microsoft file that reinstalls or fixes a bad install\uninstall program?

Your efforts on my behalf are huge and I can't tell you how much I appreciate them.  I may have messed up some little something that is causing it not to go.  (Very likely)

Let me know if there is another way.
There is a utility known as the "Windows Installer Cleanup Utility" discussed on the following page:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=290301

This program is NOT designed as something to function as a better Add/Remove programs option, but rather to remove the registry settings and files CREATED by a program that was installed through an msiexec.exe routine, but has subsequently not fully uninstalled as expected when you do so using Add/Remove Programs.

In other words, it's designed precicely for your needs, and those of users who discover that attempts to reinstall a certain program are prohibited or hampered by the pre-existing presence of debris remaining from that program.

The utility offers a list of programs available for cleanup, and then will remove ONLY the Windows Installer CONFIGURATION INFORMATION related to the selected program and related files and registry settings.

RIGHT-Click > Save TARGET As:

http://download.microsoft.com/download/e/9/d/e9d80355-7ab4-45b8-80e8-983a48d5e1bd/msicuu2.exe

Double-Click on msicuu2.exe and follow the prompts.  It will be installed to:
C:\Program Files\Windows Installer Clean Up
and should create a shortcut in your Start Menu for you to run it.

Let me know how you get on with this.

Avatar of cmdman

ASKER

Ok Bill, got it installed on my hard drive.  When I open it and look at the installed products list, I see nothing about tivo.  

Should it be on there??
That's a pity, cmdman.  I can only assume that this utility looks for one or more registry values that are not present in the related registry key.  I can see, by closely inspecting the program, that it launches the file MsiZap.exe from the same folder as the program (msicuu.exe), and can see that one of the registry keys that MsiZap.exe inspects is the one we have been looking at, ie.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
I cannot see the absence of anything that, in my view, would prevent it from working.

The program looks specifically for {Product Code} to display in its listing, and ascertains the {Msi Package} that it should call to perform the cleanup.  If, as I suggested earlier, we add that absent value "LocalPackage" to the registry, then the 2 required elements are right there for it to use, ie. "LocalPackage" and (I assume) "DisplayName", so the list should show "TiVo Desktop", and then be able to use the C:\Windows\Installer\filename.msi which you associated with the program.

There is only one area that COULD be causing this, and if you look back up to the full registry export you posted, you will see the value "ProductID".  If, instead of "DisplayName", this program is looking for "ProductID", then I really have no idea what that would be.

In essence, what I believe you are looking at with this problem is a badly written install routine which has not added the required registry settings that allow normal uninstalllation.

I honestly don't know what to suggest next and, because I have never installed this application, I don't know what settings and files it creates, or else I might be able to give you some idea how to manually remove it.  I looked at the Tivo site to see if I could download the program and analyze it, but you have to register as a new customer or be an existing one.

Here's one thing you MIGHT want to try.  The program file "MsiZap.exe" accepts command line instructions ie. Commands that can be issued from DOS or from a DOS Batch File.

Usage:

msizap T[WA!] {product code}
msizap T[WA!] {msi package}
msizap *[WA!] ALLPRODUCTS
msizap PWSA?!

* = remove all Windows Installer folders and regkeys;
    adjust shared DLL counts; stop Windows Installer service
T = remove all info for given product code
P = remove In-Progress key
S = remove Rollback Information
A = for any specified removal, just change ACLs to Admin Full Control
W = for all users (by default, only for the current user)
G = remove orphaned cached Windows Installer data files (for all users)
? = verbose help
! = force 'yes' response to any prompt

Many of those command options are for Windows ME, 2000, and XP, but the most basic one is:

msizap TWA {msi package}

We have so far used the hypothetical name "ab123.msi" for the file in C:\Windows\Installer whose properties indicate that it is the Tivo setup package.  Transferring the command above to real-life, it would be:

msizap TWA c:\windows\installer\ab123.msi

So, if you opened a DOS window, and typed that command (changing ab123.msi for the real name of your file), it SHOULD begin uninstalling the product and will prompt you for decisions even if the registry values pointing to the .msi file is incorrect or corrupt.

For now, we don't really want to add the "G" option:
G = remove orphaned cached Windows Installer data files (for all users)
or it will remove "ab123.msi" also.  As this is your only real hope of removal at the moment, we need to leave it where it is.

Have a go at this and see what happens.
I am sorry, but I left out something.

If you open a DOS Window, it will normally go to:
C:\WINDOWS>

You would have to tell it the path to MsiZap.exe like this, assuming that it DID install the file to the "C:\Program Files\Windows Installer Clean Up" folder:

"c:\program files\windows installer clean up\msizap.exe" TWA c:\windows\installer\ab123.msi

(that's all one line and the " " around the path to msizap.exe would be necessary because the folder name has spaces.

Alternatively, use the DOS file names which are abbreviated, but you would have to ascertain the DOS name by entering the following sequence of commands in a DOS Window:

cd \
cd progra~1
dir /ad /p

You will see a list of all the sub-folders of your "Program Files" folder a page at a time like this extract:

HACKMAN7       <DIR>        28/02/05   2:09 Hackman7
WINDOW~2       <DIR>        14/03/05   5:29 WindowsUpdate
SLIDES~1       <DIR>        05/03/05  17:34 SlideShow
KRISTA~1       <DIR>        21/03/05   0:56 KRISTAL Audio Engine
TWEAK_~1       <DIR>        25/03/05  10:58 Tweak_Revisited_3
OPENEX~1       <DIR>        27/03/05   8:31 OpenExpert
ULTRAL~1       <DIR>        29/03/05  23:31 UltraLott UK
WEBARC~1       <DIR>        10/04/05   9:24 Web Archive
WINDOW~3       <DIR>        06/05/05   8:45 Windows Installer Clean Up

Note that "Windows Installer Clean Up" has been abbreviated to "WINDOW~?" where "3" has been used to indicate that there are another 2 folders with long names (and/or spaces) that start with "Windows", and that they are alphabetically before the "Windows Installer Clean Up" folder name.

Assuming that YOUR's says "WINDOW~3", then here's the alternative command line:

c:\progra~1\window~3\msizap.exe  c:\windows\installer\ab123.msi

If that fails, then change it to:

start c:\progra~1\window~3\msizap.exe  c:\windows\installer\ab123.msi

or enter it into the Start Menu's "Run" option field without the "start" prefix, and click "OK".

I am doubtful that this will work when the Cleanup Utility doesn't list the Tivo program's name, but it's worth a try.

Bill
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Avatar of cmdman

ASKER

Bill,

Thanks SO much for your huge effort.  I haven't been able to work on the problem anymore recently.  I plan to start from the beginning of your instructions soon.

Even though we didn't get where we wanted to go, effort certainly counts for a lot in this case.

Thanks again.
Thank you, cmdman, and good luck.
Here's another interesting piece of info about the Windows msiexec installer and .msi setup files.

I was working on a colleague's Compaq PC that came preinstalled with Windows 98se, and various applications including Microsoft Works 2000.  He wanted to uninstall Works, and install Office 2000 that he had bought 2nd-hand, but it hit a glitch when this was attempted from Control Panel's Add/Remove programs.

It started off as if it was going to uninstall, but then halted and said that it couldn't locate the wks2000.msi file to carry out the operation.  I just assumed that it would be in the C:\Windows\Installer folder, but it wasn't so I inserted all the CD's that came with the computer and directed the process to look at each folder.  No luck, so I abandoned it at that time.

I checked up the
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
key in the registry, and sure enough it pointed to the "LocalPackage" as C:\Windows\Installer\wks2000.msi.

The PC came with recovery CD's, but these only restore factory settings.  Amongst the installed Compaq Utilities, it has its own version of PowerQuest Drive Image that would have originally been used to create a complete image of the hard drive to another partition on the same drive after all the software was preinstalled.  This original "factory settings" image would have allowed the C:\ Drive to be restored to that state again  using Drive Image, but the original image has long-since been replaced by the user's own custom backup after cusomising the machine.

Inspecting the encrypted setup files on the CD, I see that the recovery CD's DELIBERATELY obliterate a great many such things as that .msi file after reinstalling everything again.  In THIS instance, the wks2000.msi file seems to have been renamed as another .msi file in that same folder, but what they seem to have forgotten is that the registry setting still points to the previous file name.

I discovered the .msi file that related to Works 2000 by doing what I suggested to you, ie. Right-Click > Properties > Summary.  So, I played with fire and copied that msi file, then renamed the copy as wks2000.msi.

A Right-Click > Uninstall option on the renamed msi file (would also have worked the same through Add/Remove Programs) successfully uninstalled Works 2000.

It's risky, but the user had a very recent image of the system drive to restore if it screwed things up.  Fortunately it didn't and I successfully installed Office 2000 for him.