issues with uninstalling

[trymbrekka]

i had an HDD connected to my pc, but it died so i disconnected it. My problem is that i can still see the programs in control panel, and when i try to uninstall them it just says "Invalid drive D:/
Thanks for the help

 

[gardenman]

Hi, many programs install files throughout your PC, not just in the folder that you choose to install to. So it's likely no matter what you do, some of those files will be left on your system.

You may not be able to uninstall the programs because the uninstall program itself is sometimes installed into the same folder where you installed the program. When you try to uninstall, it's looking for D:\Folder\Program\uninstall.exe and it can't find it.

If you just want to remove the programs from the list in Control Panel, this can be done with [CCleaner]. Download/install CCleaner and on the left choose Tools then click on Uninstall. It will list all of the programs installed on your PC. You should be able to delete the entries using the Delete button on the right that you no longer want listed in Control Panel.

It's important to understand what those buttons do:
Uninstall runs the normal uninstall program for the selected program. This likely won't work on the programs you want removed.
Repair optionally works for some software and is usually used to fix missing/corrupted files.
Rename allows you to rename the program listed in the Control Panel list of programs.
Delete only removes the entry from the list in Control Panel. It doesn't delete files or uninstall the program.

I'm guessing you will be using the Delete button.

Avoid the Registry cleaner in CCleaner.

 

[trymbrekka]

Thank you for the answer. when i press delete it says "cannot delete MSI installer." (file in question is the Epic Games Launcher). is there a fix for this?

 

[gardenman]

Did you use the Delete button in CCleaner? It's not suppose to remove files so I'm not sure why it would say it couldn't remove the MSI installer. Is MSI another program you have installed? If so, it sounds like your registry may be corrupt.

...Give me a little time to experiment and see what I can come up with. I'm working on it now.

My plan: Install the launcher to a new drive. Remove the drive. Try to remove the uninstall entry with CCleaner to see what happens.

 

[gardenman]

I see. I'm still downloading an update for the installer. Maybe we can fix this before I'm done, read this: https://answers.unrealengine.com/questions/181594/invalid-f-drive-cant-uninstallinstall.html
One of those answers links to a Microsoft site that has a troubleshooter on it for install/uninstall programs. I'd give that a try real quick.

If you plan on trying the registry edits listed on that page, make a backup of your registry first. Instructions from Microsoft: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/322756/how-to-back-up-and-restore-the-registry-in-windows

 

[trymbrekka]

Is it possible that i can rename the c drive to "D:/" (The one its looking for)?

 

[trymbrekka]

NVM this is Microsoft labeling for the first available drive (sorry for stupid question 😛)

 

[gardenman]

I wouldn't do that. That could cause a huge mess with other software.

I think I've caught up to where you are. See the below screen shot. Is this the error you are getting?

Give me a little while to continue experimenting.

 

[trymbrekka]

Same exact error yes.

 

[gardenman]

This didn't work for me because the files are wrong: https://www.reddit.com/r/FORTnITE/comments/7mrekg/cant_install_epic_game_launcher/?st=jhccdgpq&sh=881bbbee

I've also tried clearing parts of the registry.

I'm still working on it. I don't know how long it will take or if I will find a solution. If I do, I will update this thread. If I give up, I will update this thread too. Give me time, don't sit and wait for replies... it may be a while.

 

[trymbrekka]

okay, thank you for your help either way.

 

[gardenman]

MSI is the installer used to install/remove the program. It's the "Microsoft Installer". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Installer

So I think you probably already know the installer is trying to update the program that was previously installed and not do a new install. So the question is, how is it determining that the program is still installed? I looked for any leftover files/folders and deleted those (found 3 folders). That didn't help. I tried using special command line parameters for the installer and forcing a new folder to install to. Those didn't work.

Next, I removed and edited a TON of registry entries and FINALLY stumbled upon something that worked for me. Whether it will work for you or not is still an open question. I'll tell you what I did and you can try it out. Read carefully and be sure you make the backup. You might want to make a full registry backup also (I linked to the instructions somewhere above).

* Run regedit, near the top, paste the following line in and press enter: Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{93BFE5DF-776E-436F-8693-DF1F72C0E3C1}
* On the left, right click on Uninstall and choose Export. Save it as Backup.reg. If something goes wrong, double click on the Backup.reg to restore it back to how it was.
* Go back to {93BFE5DF-776E-436F-8693-DF1F72C0E3C1} below.
* On the right, change the InstallLocation to path you want to use. Example: C:\Program Files (x86)\Epic Games\
* Run the installer (and hopefully you'll see 2 different options) and choose to Remove. This allows the registry to be reset.
* Run the installer again and install it anywhere you want.

I've tested the above twice and it worked both times. It would have been much quicker if I didn't have to wait for the 127 MB update to download/install each time on my slower connection.

Screenshots:
Installed on Drive E.
Removed Drive E from system.
Editing Registry.
Run installer and choose Remove.
Run Installer again.

Will there by any other side effects? I can't answer that for you. I don't have any Epic games.

I hope this works. If not, I'm sorry but I tried. There's many failed attempts to fix this: https://answers.unrealengine.com/questions/126746/engine-launcher-installs-only-to-c-drive.html
https://answers.unrealengine.com/questions/109751/installer-will-only-let-me-install-to-the-c-drive.html

 

[trymbrekka]

Thank you so much, this worked!
Hope you have a great day.