XP won't uninstall because it can't open INSTALL.LOG

[Vern Thurgood]

XP cannot open the INSTALL.LOG file so it won't uninstall
any programs. Do anyone know any solutions to this
problem. The KB searches yield nothing helpful (as usual).

 

[Raj Kumar Rathi S]

Hi,

If the LOG files are missing, you may need to reinstall
the application again (in the same path) and then try a
clean uninstall again. In some cases, the application
might be removed, but the entries may still exist in the
Add/Remove Programs list. Orphaned entries are usually a
result of a system restore rollback operation. Use the
above method to remove the Uninstall entries.

Sometimes when you uninstall a program, the corresponding
Add/Remove entry is not removed. This may be due to
incomplete uninstallation or the poorly designed
uninstaller itself. To remove the invalid/orphaned
entries from the Add/Remove applet manually [Windows
2000/XP]

1. Start Registry Editor (Regedit.exe)
2. Locate the following key in the registry:
3.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersi
on\Uninstall
4. Make sure you backup the keys by exporting them to
a .reg file.
5. Look for the name of the program with the orphaned
entry.
6. Delete the entire listing for the software with the
orphaned entry.
7. Close the registry editor.
8. Restart your computer.

Orphaned entries are those whose uninstallers are not
available [but the registry entry might point to the
actual uninstaller file]. You may also see errors
like "missing install.log or uninstall.log" while trying
to uninstall from Add/Remove Programs. The
install.log/uninstall.log contains the uninstallation
information about a program. When you remove a program
from Add/Remove Programs, the log files come into play
and remove the corresponding software entries from the
registry and the files in the hard disk.

Hope this help!

Bye
Raj

 

[S.Sengupta]

Hi,
it contains the uninstallation information about a program or an
application. To fix, reinstall the applications, then use the
uninstall listed in add/remove programs.
Also to remove unwanted entries see:-
Remove invalid entries in Add/Remove Programs:
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/AddRemove.htm

regards,
ssg MS-MVP
pronetworks.org

 

[S.Sengupta]

Hi arid,
check here:-
line 94
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

More info here:

Troubleshooting Windows Installer
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_w.htm#xp_wininstaller

if those doesn't help then try a repair install.

regards,
ssg MS-MVP
pronetworks.org