R devel - Feb 2008 - Uninstall registry key the same for all versions (PR#10746)

Full_Name: Gerhard Thallinger
Version: R 2.2.0 through R 2.6.2
OS: Windows XP
Submission from: (NULL) (129.27.145.220)


The uninstall key in the Windows Registry
(HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\) 
is the same ("R for Windows_is1") for all R versions 
(at least from 2.2.0 to 2.6.2). 

This prohibits managing multiple R versions in a clean way, since 
the installation of a new R versions overwrites the uninstall key
of the previous installed version. This makes an uninstall of
a previous version via "Add/Remove Software" impossible.

The uninstall key should also contain the R version number 
(e.g. "R for Windows 2.6.2_is1"). The name of the registry key can 
be set in the Inno Setup definition file using the "AppId" directive.
At the moment "AppId" is not set, therefor "AppName" is used
as the
key name.

On 2/12/2008 11:20 AM, Gerhard.Thallinger at tugraz.at
wrote:
> Full_Name: Gerhard Thallinger
> Version: R 2.2.0 through R 2.6.2
> OS: Windows XP
> Submission from: (NULL) (129.27.145.220)
> 
> 
> The uninstall key in the Windows Registry
> (HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\) 
> is the same ("R for Windows_is1") for all R versions 
> (at least from 2.2.0 to 2.6.2). 
> 
> This prohibits managing multiple R versions in a clean way, since 
> the installation of a new R versions overwrites the uninstall key
> of the previous installed version. This makes an uninstall of
> a previous version via "Add/Remove Software" impossible.
That's true, but it is still easy to uninstall, just by using the start 
menu entry.
> The uninstall key should also contain the R version number 
> (e.g. "R for Windows 2.6.2_is1"). The name of the registry key
can
> be set in the Inno Setup definition file using the "AppId"
directive.
> At the moment "AppId" is not set, therefor "AppName" is
used as the
> key name.
Thanks for the suggestion.

Duncan Murdoch

This is a beautiful example on how an added feature matures into a bug
over time :)

I let the Windows developers argue with the pro's and con's of your
suggestion.  I just wanna add a related suggestion that when you have
multiple installations and you run "Unistall R 2.6.0" the first dialog
('R for Windows Uninstall') you see says "Are you sure you want to
completely remove R for Windows and all of its components?"  This
message does not specify the version being uninstalled, so without
previous experience you certainly wonder if this is going to install
all of your R installations or just one.

My $0.02

/Henrik

On Feb 12, 2008 8:20 AM,  <Gerhard.Thallinger at tugraz.at>
wrote:
> Full_Name: Gerhard Thallinger
> Version: R 2.2.0 through R 2.6.2
> OS: Windows XP
> Submission from: (NULL) (129.27.145.220)
>
>
> The uninstall key in the Windows Registry
> (HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\)
> is the same ("R for Windows_is1") for all R versions
> (at least from 2.2.0 to 2.6.2).
>
> This prohibits managing multiple R versions in a clean way, since
> the installation of a new R versions overwrites the uninstall key
> of the previous installed version. This makes an uninstall of
> a previous version via "Add/Remove Software" impossible.
>
> The uninstall key should also contain the R version number
> (e.g. "R for Windows 2.6.2_is1"). The name of the registry key
can
> be set in the Inno Setup definition file using the "AppId"
directive.
> At the moment "AppId" is not set, therefor "AppName" is
used as the
> key name.
>
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>