Silent Install of Applications

[VictorySabre]

We're currently having a tough time trying to deal with/uninstall unsupported software at our office. (Eg. WinAmp, RealPlayer, Quicktime, Google Desktop, etc) We want to be able to deploy uninstall packages to our PCs using SMS.

In most cases, I can easily check the registry (HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall) and find the appropriate uninstall string but when you try to execute that command string, I can't figure out how to make the uninstalls run silently to remove unsupported software without user interaction. (If I leave it up to the user to choose OK to uninstall the software, they'll most likely cancel the uninstall)

What methods do you use to remove unsupported software cleanly?

Thanks!

 

[owenhawk]

Usually there are switches to take to make uninstalls silent, but in case where this is not possible, we've put a wrapper program, usually written in WinBatch, around the uninstall that puts a banner on part of the screen or even the entire screen. WB can be told that the banner has priority can can not be closed or minimized. Also, how about using Wake on Lan and uninstalling in the middle of the night?

 

[VictorySabre]

Thanks for the suggestion Owenhawk, but the problem we're having is that we can't get the uninstall to run silently and automatically. I've tried using the usual switches to try and automate it with no success. We like the idea of uninstalling in the middle of the night, but if we can't get the program to silently uninstall automatically, then we are forced to do a user interactive uninstall. Basically, when we run the uninstaller, it asks the user if they want to uninstall the program or cancel. Knowing our users, some will either select Cancel or ignore it.

For example, we're currently trying to uninstall all the various versions of Real Player software on our environment. Using the UninstallString found in the above mentioned registry location, I've tried appending either /S, /SILENT, -S, -SILENT, /Q, /QUIET, -Q, and -QUIET all with no success. I've even tried to run the uninstaller with a /? and -? to try and see what switches are available, but the program reports it doesn't recognize that switch.

This seems to be the case for most of the uninstallers I've looking at. I want to be able to automate removal and do it silently so that we don't need to rely on users to answer any prompts.

 

[tbrennans]

Try /qn if its a msi uninstall

 

[tbrennans]

ohhhh I should have read that a weeee bit closer.... There is no silent uninstall of old real players...

You have to go in and rip it out and dont forget to re-register dll and ocx file to use media player again along with un-registering the real player dll and ocx's its a REAL pain in the butt.

 

[VictorySabre]

Hi tbrennans,

So if the uninstaller program uses MSI, then a /qn would allow for a silent uninstall? Does this apply to all MSI uninstallers?

Yeah, unfortunately I have to target RealPlayer this time, then next round will be QuickTime, WinAmp, Netscape, etc. While my boss likes the idea of ripping the executables out, I'm not a fan of it because it leaves all sorts of garbage on the PCs and may make the PC unstable.

Thank you for the answer still!

 

[tbrennans]

Yup on the /qn after the msiexec.exe /x {guid}

Take a look at this....

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;296067&sd=tech

The other way you might do this is by a snapshot with say sms installer or wise or admin studio before you remove the program verbosely then another when your done.

 

[VictorySabre]

Ouch! I've never been a fan of the snapshot method, but if that is the only way, I guess that is a possibility. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[RMKoch]

Hi Guys,
WinAmp (and many other apps) can be silently uninstalled using the command /S (CASE sensitive!!!).
Hope this is usefull for you,
Rogier

 

[VictorySabre]

Thanks for the info RMKoch! Any tidbits help.