RemovePreviousVersions problems

[treyball3]

I've created a program and using a setup and deployment project, I've created an msi file to use for installation. I'm including the Crystal Reports merge module, so the installation takes quite a while. The install works fine, it's when I create a new version that I'm having problems. I have a database that I don't want to get removed when the user installs an update. If I set RemovePreviousVersions to true, then it removes it. Also, it has to take the time to uninstall the CR merge modules, and then reinstalls it, which takes forever! So, because of those, I don't want it to actually remove the previous versions. I want it to just overwrite the exe and such. If I set RemovePreviousVersions to false though, I get two entries in my Add/Remove Programs list. Is there an easy solution for this? Is the only way to do this to create a self-extracting zip that copies a new exe and leaves everything else alone?


Thanks - Todd

 

[Bluejay07]

Easiest solution is to have the user uninstall the current version before installing the new version unsing Add/Remove Programs (or uninstall programs).

This way windows removes the associated files and the new install replaces what was removed.