Simple install - does not require uninstall options

[Bishop]

Anyone have any idea how to install a simple application that does not leave any traces in the Add / Remove Program screen or request to uninstall when the setup application is run again?

[philiph]

1. Create a standard project and do not add any shortcuts to the start menu.

2. In the OnMaintUIBefore() event and modify the code to call OnFirstUIBefore().

3. In the OnMainUIAfter() event place code to remove the uninstall registry key. This will prevent the application from being seen in the Control Panel..Add/Remove Apps panel. The registry key for software uninstall keys is: "Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Uninstall"

Hope this helps.

[Bishop]

Thanks, that seems to have gotten rid of the maintance screen... however, the deletion of that registry key seems insufficient. On Windows 2000 SP3, I continue to see the entry in the Add/Remove Program screen.

Any other hints?

[philiph]

I would suggest searching the registry for your application's name. As far as I know the Add/Remove programs panel reads all of it's info from the registry.

[Bishop]

There are a total of 6 keys. 3 based on PRODUCT_GUID #, which is easy to track, and 3, like the following:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Installer\Products\B8EA0266E7BEACC40A559E9D6A5F04AB\SourceList

Which are based on a GUID that I haven't seen anywhere in my application. Any idea where it comes from?