Cannot Open Uninstall.log

[Michael Mauzey]

Lately, whenever i've tried to uninstall programs
I keep getting an error message that says "Cannot
Open Install.log file". This has happened on several different programs ...
any idea why?
Or how I can fix it? Thanks

--
Michael Mauzey
239 SE 3rd Avenue
Canby, Oregon 97013-4415

[Sharon F]

On Sat, 28 Jun 2003 16:21:13 -0700, "Michael Mauzey"
> wrote:

>Lately, whenever i've tried to uninstall programs
>I keep getting an error message that says "Cannot
>Open Install.log file". This has happened on several different programs ...
>any idea why?
>Or how I can fix it? Thanks

Are you using a third party program to clean up "unnecessary" files? A
lot of those will identify *.log files as disposable or as "install.log"
files as duplicates. If yes, the needed file may have been deleted.

Some programs create an install.log when you first set them up. These
are nice as a reference for what files were added and what changes were
made in various parts of Windows. Some programs also use these files as
a guide for the uninstall routine. If the file is missing or damaged,
you will get the error message you are seeing.

You could try reinstalling the program in the hopes of recreating the
install.log. Then uninstall the program. Once in a while you'll hit a
snag where the program refuses to reinstall until the previous version
is removed but overall this method works quite well and easily gets the
job done.

Or use a third party uninstaller. Unfortunately these work best when
they are used to monitor the original installation.

Another choice is to remove the program manually. This can get tricky.
Often references in the registry and files that are *not* in the
program's own folder will be left behind.

If you are lucky, the program vendor will have a document in their
online tech support area that gives step by step directions for manually
removing their program. Once in a while you'll find a downloadable tool
from a program vendor that is designed solely to uninstall their program
when it's not uninstalling in the conventional manner.

Sharon F
MS MVP [Shell/User]

[Michael Mauzey]

Thanks Sharon ... what is weird, though, is that the file "Install.log" is
sitting right there in the program's directory. I had to manually delete
everything but two files which it wouldn't let me delete ... I then rebooted
(after unchecking everything in msconfig) and then I was able to delete the
last two files.
I will NEVER try to use "Windows Blinds" again ..

"Sharon F" > wrote in message
...
On Sat, 28 Jun 2003 16:21:13 -0700, "Michael Mauzey"
> wrote:

>Lately, whenever i've tried to uninstall programs
>I keep getting an error message that says "Cannot
>Open Install.log file". This has happened on several different programs
....
>any idea why?
>Or how I can fix it? Thanks

Are you using a third party program to clean up "unnecessary" files? A
lot of those will identify *.log files as disposable or as "install.log"
files as duplicates. If yes, the needed file may have been deleted.

Some programs create an install.log when you first set them up. These
are nice as a reference for what files were added and what changes were
made in various parts of Windows. Some programs also use these files as
a guide for the uninstall routine. If the file is missing or damaged,
you will get the error message you are seeing.

You could try reinstalling the program in the hopes of recreating the
install.log. Then uninstall the program. Once in a while you'll hit a
snag where the program refuses to reinstall until the previous version
is removed but overall this method works quite well and easily gets the
job done.

Or use a third party uninstaller. Unfortunately these work best when
they are used to monitor the original installation.

Another choice is to remove the program manually. This can get tricky.
Often references in the registry and files that are *not* in the
program's own folder will be left behind.

If you are lucky, the program vendor will have a document in their
online tech support area that gives step by step directions for manually
removing their program. Once in a while you'll find a downloadable tool
from a program vendor that is designed solely to uninstall their program
when it's not uninstalling in the conventional manner.

Sharon F
MS MVP [Shell/User]