How to uninstall a .cab flagged as "nouninstall=1"?
 

I installed a version of Pocket Express (Handmark) on my device, and found out later that in the _setup.xml, nouninstall=1 is flagged. There is no entry in the Settings/System/Remove Programs list, SKTools does not see it, and nothing in Windows/AppMgr.

I manually removed the files and registry entries, but when I try to install a different version of Pocket Express, I get the error "previous version will be uninstalled", and "uninstall unsucessful". New versions don't install properly.

Where is the new version getting the information that a previous version was installed, after I removed all the files? How can I cleanly remove an application that was flagged for no uninstall during installation?

Thanks for any help.

Re: How to uninstall a .cab flagged as "nouninstall=1"?
 

when i get this problem i always miss a file in windows. find it usually with tc. may help ya, just away i fixed my issues. goodluck

Re: How to uninstall a .cab flagged as "nouninstall=1"?
 

What does the newly installing application look for to determine previous installation? Does it actually take inventory of the device for all known files or specific registry entrie(s)?

It would seem to me looking for known files is not a reliable way because of possible duplicate file names with other apps.

I'm curious how an application "know" that there was a previously installed app.

Thanks

Re: How to uninstall a .cab flagged as "nouninstall=1"?
 

what phone is this for? if i missed it sorry. i just read that its pocket express your talking about. i also had an issue with it.

Re: How to uninstall a .cab flagged as "nouninstall=1"?
 

This is for the Diamond. I found a few VGA versions that work, one from my Touch Pro, as well as downloaded directly from HM after a hard reset.

Found: expressHR_4_26_6_signed.cab
Download from Diamond: Express.cab
TouchPro: PocketExpress_4.26.18.cab

I'm trying to reinstall because the Today plug in is not working. Once I can cleanly uninstall the old, I will modify the .cab to allow for uninstall.

Thanks.

Re: How to uninstall a .cab flagged as "nouninstall=1"?
 

If you still have the original .cab file use sktools "Cabs Manager" select the cab file tap action>view content>you'll see a list of files inside the .cab. Now tap action>save list. You now have a .txt (plain text) list of files that will be/were installed delete any you might have missed. Alternatively you could select the "view XML file" under action.

Re: How to uninstall a .cab flagged as "nouninstall=1"?
 

I removed every trace of the application that I can find, including all of the items referenced in the _setup.xml file. I searched the registry for handmark, express, pex*, and other entries. They were removed. \windows\AppMgr intall info was also removed. Still--no joy. The app still somehow claims that it needs to remove the previous version.

Any other ideas?

Thanks.

Re: How to uninstall a .cab flagged as "nouninstall=1"?
 

Let it remove the previous version. I've heard of other apps that acted like that. If you just want to remove it, let it uninstall the previous version, and then cancel when it asks you where you want to install the new version.

Re: How to uninstall a .cab flagged as "nouninstall=1"?
 

That would work for an application that was installed w/o the NoUninstall flag and it shows up in Remove Programs. I have tried to allow it to remove the prevous, but it returns with "removal unsuccessful", and when the installation is complete, it throws an "install unsuccessful" error. In other words, the new application that is trying to uninstall the previous fails at uninstalling. Some versions of Sprite Back have the same problem, forcing them to release a dedicated removal .exe.

Re: How to uninstall a .cab flagged as "nouninstall=1"?
 

I had a cab once without an uninstall, I ended up modifying the cab to allow uninstall, then simply installed over the top of the original.. then I could uninstall.

Re: How to uninstall a .cab flagged as "nouninstall=1"?
 

Using WinCE Cab Mgr, I made the .cab un-installable. No joy, it would try to remove, fail, and report installation failed. Still nothing in "Remove Programs".

I again manually removed all files, registry entries, unregistered dlls, removed short cuts, removed application install info \windows\appmgr, and more, still no joy.

Where the @#$% is the app detecting that there is a previous installation?

Re: How to uninstall a .cab flagged as "nouninstall=1"?
 

Can you post the Pocket Express cab file? There is a good chance the issue is related to a registered dll issue.

Re: How to uninstall a .cab flagged as "nouninstall=1"?
 

Attached. File as shipped on Touch Pro. As I indicated, I did unregister the dll, but still not joy. Thanks.

Re: How to uninstall a .cab flagged as "nouninstall=1"?
 

Try this one. One of the files was maked as self-register.

Re: How to uninstall a .cab flagged as "nouninstall=1"?
 

Thanks, I modified the the file I posted above to allow for un-install and self-registering as well, but that doesn't help. What I seek is to either 1) uninstall the app that was flaged as NoUninstall, or 2) delete/remove/unregister everything manually so I can do a fresh install of a version that will allow uninstall. I looked at the _setup.xml and un-did everything, as well as un-registered the .dll, but the installation still seems to "know" that a previous version was installed and does not install over properly.

Re: How to uninstall a .cab flagged as "nouninstall=1"?
 

I had the same problem with a different cab a while back. The issue was caused by a file that was set to self register. I would recommend un-checking all of the self registering settings.

You could try installing reglogger. Then you could see which key the install is looking at.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...=333323&page=7

Re: How to uninstall a .cab flagged as "nouninstall=1"?
 

It is amazing how many things happen with the registry inside of 30 seconds.

I started 1) File Manager, navigated to express.cab directory,
2) Switched task to launch RegLogger, enabled capture,
3) Switch task to File Manager, lanuch express.cab, wait for "previous version will be uninstalled" dialog
4) Switch task to RegLogger, end capture, save text file.

I did this to minimize the registry activity, but still resulted in over 700K worth of data.

I've begun weeding through it, but have not yet seen anything obvious. There is a lot of certificate entries, but I have yet seen evidence of express looking into a registry for a specificy key or item.

Registry txt file attached below.

Thanks.

Re: How to uninstall a .cab flagged as "nouninstall=1"?
 

I have a couple of suggestions. :-)
Option 1:
Turn off all of your today screen items and temporarily remove all items from your start up group. Then reboot and try the reglogger again.

Option 2:
- Backup your phone, I use SPBBackup.
- Hard reset your phone.
- Export your registry. I use DotFred's Taskmanager. http://www.dotfred.net/TaskMgr.htm
- If you used SpbBackup then I would recommend running another backup.
- Install the program in question.
- Export your registry.
- If you used SpbBackup then I would recommend running another backup.
- Use a registry comparison utility to check the difference between the two registry files. I use Registry Comparison Utility http://www.tonysfreeware.com/download5.htm.

This should give you a good idea what registry keys are modified. If you used SPBBackup then you can use the desktop companion to check if any new files were added that are not in the .cab file.

- Finally, restore the previously created backup to return your phone to a pre-hard reset condition.

I have used this method before and it only takes about 2 minutes to go though the whole process.

Re: How to uninstall a .cab flagged as "nouninstall=1"?
 

Excellent suggestions and very logical troubleshooting/isolation steps. Thanks very much for hanging with me.

I was thinking about using this application:
http://s-k-tools.com/index.html?sktracker/m_feat.html

Hard reset, take snapshot, install the app, take another, and compare. If I end up doing it, I'll report back.

Thanks also for pointing out the obvious, which somehow escaped me, about disabling the Today plug ins. It makes perfect sense.

Re: How to uninstall a .cab flagged as "nouninstall=1"?
 

I just realized I said 2 minutes, I meant 20 minutes.

Another option would be to just create a new cab file using WinCE cab manager.