I've run into a snag while trying to completely erase the remnants of a software that has been uninstalled from multiple corporate devices. The software is definitely gone; its program files folder doesn't exist, and there's nothing left in appdata or programdata. However, there are some registry keys in HKLMSoftwareClassesInstallerProducts and another in HKLMSoftwareWOW6432NodeMicrosoftCurrentVersionUninstall. Deleting these keys hasn't resolved the lingering issue.
I've also attempted to use WMIC to uninstall the application, but even though the command seems to run, it doesn't remove the entry. The only reliable solution I've found is using the Microsoft Install Uninstall troubleshooting tool, which does let me clear the entry.
Does anyone else have ideas on where else I might look for stray registry keys causing the software to hang around? I've got more than 40 devices needing this fix, and I'm hoping to find a way to manage this without tackling each one manually.
2 Answers
If the software was installed via an MSI installer, you might want to try uninstalling it directly from the MSI file. Just right-click the MSI file in File Explorer and choose 'Uninstall'. Alternatively, you can open Command Prompt as an administrator and use the command: msiexec /x or msiexec /x {product_code}.
Where exactly are you seeing the software still showing as installed? Is it a 32-bit or 64-bit application? The registry path HKLMSoftwareWOW6432NodeMicrosoftCurrentVersionUninstall is specifically for 32-bit apps, while 64-bit apps will be under HKLMSoftwareMicrosoftCurrentVersionUninstall.
I noticed when I attempt a reinstall, it recognizes it as already installed. It also identifies the newer version if I try to install an older one. It pops up in AppWiz but I can't uninstall it from there, and interestingly, the troubleshooting tool shows it as removable.
Good idea! I'm using SCCM to deploy, so it should be able to handle the older version uninstall if I go that route.