[wix-users] Upgrading application does not always remove prior installed application

[Vincent Serrano]

Hi everyone,

First of all, I've tried to find explanations on several forums but I
didn't found a topic that might explain the behavior observed.

*The observed behavior*: When upgrading product, prior installation is not
always removed correctly

*What changed between previous and new installer wix setup project*:

   - The previous product installer was installing under Directory *<Directory
   Id="ProgramFiles64Folder">*
   - The new installer has been updated is installing under *<Directory
   Id="ProgramFilesFolder">*
   - Checking for .NEt framework 4.5 or newer installed*
   - Add InstallDirDlg and set *<Property Id="WIXUI_INSTALLDIR"
   Value="INSTALLFOLDER" />*



1- When I upgrade product on my computer (Windows 10 - 64 bits OS)
everything works fine:

   - Previous product installed under "C:\Program Files\" is uninstalled
   correctly

RemoveExistingProducts: Application: {F6E83B3C-CA4D-4FE2-BB54-4D5156D9EB98},
> Command line: UPGRADINGPRODUCTCODE={DB2D1294-EA5F-4BEF-BFBC-A236E0DCDEB3}
> CLIENTPROCESSID=21584 CLIENTUILEVEL=0 REMOVE=ALL



   - New product is installed under "C:\Program Files (x86)\"


2- But on other hand, a user has encountered a problem: previous product is
not uninstalled (Windows 7 - 64 bits OS)

   - What I can see when upgrading with verbose logs is that previous
   version is found:


RemoveExistingProducts: Application: {F6E83B3C-CA4D-4FE2-BB54-4D5156D9EB98},
> Command line: UPGRADINGPRODUCTCODE={E71A5696-B038-4EEE-9B4A-DE0A3D84045E}
>  CLIENTUILEVEL=0 REMOVE=ALL



   - When CostFinalize sequence is started to remove existing product, all
   directory structure location is changed to 'C:\Program Files (x86)\' where
   product is not yet installed:


MSI (s) (6C:60) [12:17:56:505]: PROPERTY CHANGE: Modifying
> ProgramFiles64Folder property. Its current value is 'C:\Program Files\'.
> Its new value: 'C:\Program Files (x86)\'.
> MSI (s) (6C:60) [12:17:56:505]: PROPERTY CHANGE: Adding JaliosDIR
> property. Its value is 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Jalios\'.
> MSI (s) (6C:60) [12:17:56:505]: WIN64DUALFOLDERS: 'C:\Program Files
> (x86)\' will substitute 17 characters in 'C:\Program Files\Jalios\Jalios
> JDrive\' folder path. (mask argument = 0, the folder pair's iSwapAttrib
> member = 0).
> MSI (s) (6C:60) [12:17:56:505]: PROPERTY CHANGE: Modifying INSTALLFOLDER
> property. Its current value is 'C:\Program Files\Jalios\Jalios JDrive'. Its
> new value: 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Jalios\Jalios JDrive\'.




I have the upgrade log files (the one working and the other failing)
I can give you more details if needed on the wix file.wxs used to generate
msi



Has anyone faced a such behavior ?
Is the only solution to uninstall prior version and install the new one ?


In advance, thanks for your help !