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Invalid Uninstall File

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    Invalid Uninstall File

    Trying once again to get V7 working.

    Figured I would uninstall/re-install. No Go.

    Receive Error Message

    Wise Uninstall

    Invalid Install.Log File.

    Any suggestions appreciated.

    Thanks, John

    #2
    Hi John,

    I have the same symptoms you do re uninstall. I have found that my install.log file is empty. I have installed a number of betas and the final release over top a couple of times but the log remains empty. I guess we'll have to wait till Monday. I hope the Alpha team are having a relaxing weekend so they are fighting fit on Monday ;)

    My final release version works fine apart from a problem I posted in another thread re the system settings.
    Tim Kiebert
    Eagle Creek Citrus
    A complex system that does not work is invariably found to have evolved from a simpler system that worked just fine.

    Comment


      #3
      to fix the problem of system settings:

      the bug is because you had used the beta version and it stored a registry key that is no longer used.
      the solution is simple

      run regedit

      delete the following key in the registry:

      HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Alpha Software\Alpha Five 7.0\preferences\RecentFiles

      Comment


        #4
        John I did the following. (Although I don't know if it is best practice)

        Rename the folder where v7 is installed. Then run the install and use the original folder name as destination (that way the new install will match with the old registry settings just incase).

        This should then give you a valid install.log

        You should now be able to run the uninstall if you still want to at this point.
        Tim Kiebert
        Eagle Creek Citrus
        A complex system that does not work is invariably found to have evolved from a simpler system that worked just fine.

        Comment


          #5
          Selwyn

          Worked.

          Thanks, John

          Comment


            #6
            Still stuck on this one

            I didn't have the registry entry Selwyn suggested and I re-installed as Tim suggested but the new directory still has a 0 byte install.log file and won't uninstall. I would still like to uninstall this software gracefully without removing manually if possible. Is that install.log file generic enough to post then I could download it and complete the uninstall?

            Thx,
            Eric

            Comment


              #7
              Also have a 0 byte install.log preventing uninstallation

              C'mon Alpha Software! What is the fix for this problem. I am also unable to uninstall the runtime and notice that it is because the install.log file is zero bytes in length.

              I find this sort of problem all the time because software vendors use Wise or InstallShield installs.

              How about using a vanilla Microsoft MSI install. That way customers and integrators can then deploy your apps by Active Directory Group Policy instead of suffering poorly written and/or erratic Wise/InstallShield installs?

              In the meantime, what is the fix for the zero byte install.log problem?

              TIA
              Karl from Oz

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by kmiddlet
                C'mon Alpha Software! What is the fix for this problem. I am also unable to uninstall the runtime and notice that it is because the install.log file is zero bytes in length.

                I find this sort of problem all the time because software vendors use Wise or InstallShield installs.

                How about using a vanilla Microsoft MSI install. That way customers and integrators can then deploy your apps by Active Directory Group Policy instead of suffering poorly written and/or erratic Wise/InstallShield installs?

                In the meantime, what is the fix for the zero byte install.log problem?

                TIA
                Karl from Oz
                Realisticly, switching form Wise installer to MSI would be a lot of work and it will be hard to find the time for this when work on V8 is keeping us all fully occupied. I understand that the Wise uninstall log is empty. However, the Alpha Five install is really not that complicated, and simply deleting the folder where the program is installed should be sufficient to "uninstall" it.

                Comment


                  #9
                  Uninstall issue

                  Thanks for clarifying that Selwyn. Someone tried to contact me privately to get me a legit copy of the log file so I could complete the uninstall. I tried to contact the person back and didn't get a reply so maybe I didn't do that correctly. Nevertheless, I manually uninstalled it and as you suggest the installation is staight forward and I felt uninstalling it manually was just as straight forward. I was comfortable that nothing was "left behind". In the end that worked fine.

                  Thx,
                  Eric

                  Comment


                    #10
                    The install.log file has been getting incorrectly placed in the root of the C drive on some machines. If you find an install.log there and the install.log in your Alpha Five program fiolder is zero-sized, copy it into the program folder. Uninstall will then work.

                    Lenny Forziati
                    Vice President, Internet Products and Technical Services
                    Alpha Software Corporation

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Bzzzzzt!

                      Ya ain't gonna sell V8 if ya don't fix simple stuff like broken install and uninstall routines in V7. I am advising my customers to steer clear if this is the sort of rubbish we encounter. At least M$ Access works!

                      One of the posters was correct: the install.log gets erroneously placed in the root directory. So a workaround for the zero length install.log can be manufactured.

                      However, the NEXT problem is that UNWISE.EXE does not get installed. Probably, according to the logs, because the install program tries to put it in the \ (IE root) of the directory. It is trying the root of the installation source which in our case is a network drive with no priveleges to write! A test where we opened up network security temporarily proved this to be correct.

                      C'mon guys, this stuff is simple to fix SO DO IT! 10 minutes work and then a post to your website will stop all this grief.

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Originally posted by kmiddlet
                        Bzzzzzt!

                        Ya ain't gonna sell V8 if ya don't fix simple stuff like broken install and uninstall routines in V7. I am advising my customers to steer clear if this is the sort of rubbish we encounter. At least M$ Access works!

                        One of the posters was correct: the install.log gets erroneously placed in the root directory. So a workaround for the zero length install.log can be manufactured.

                        However, the NEXT problem is that UNWISE.EXE does not get installed. Probably, according to the logs, because the install program tries to put it in the \ (IE root) of the directory. It is trying the root of the installation source which in our case is a network drive with no priveleges to write! A test where we opened up network security temporarily proved this to be correct.

                        C'mon guys, this stuff is simple to fix SO DO IT! 10 minutes work and then a post to your website will stop all this grief.

                        The next build fixes the problem (build 4066-3030).

                        There is a bug in the Wise Install Builder program. We use this program to build the A5 install. For some reason it is creating a 0 byte install.log file. However, there appears to be a simple workaround that we have stumbled on. Wise lets you specify the name of the install log file that you want to create. When we told it to create a log file called 'a5install.log' it worked correctly (creating a valid 'a5install.log' file in the a5v7 program directory AS WELL AS a 0 byte file called 'install.log'). I have no idea why Wise is doing this, but the 0 byte install.log file can be ignored because the a5install.log file works.

                        I am somewhat baffled by your comment that you would recommend that your customers stay clear of A5 and use Access becuase the Uninstall in A5 does not work, while the uninstall in Access does. First of all, we didn't even write the install program - it is a 3rd party product, and secondly, isn't this getting fixated on the wrong issue - ease of use and productivity of A5 vs. Access.

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Mindfull

                          Selwyn,

                          One of my biggest pet peeves is being a customer in a store ready to spend my money at the cash register after having waited in line, and when I get to the register to spend my money, the clerk doesn't attend to me, but answers the telephone and services someone who hasn't waited, and is not just about to buy their product.

                          Not dissimilar is what I believe Karl was intimating and what followed the statement that your energies being prioritized to a future product, and the needs of those who have already invested with you being given lesser priority, which raises a 'Red Flag' for your companies attention to their established customers.

                          I don't personally have experience to corroborate Alpha behaving as such to any significance, but I do understand the frustration as a customer of needs being unfulfilled collateral to a companies business strategy. It doesn't sit well and Goodfaith is credibly diminished. Mindfullness of this is what was being given feedback, I believe.

                          Mike W
                          Mike W
                          __________________________
                          "I rebel in at least small things to express to the world that I have not completely surrendered"

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Originally posted by Mike Wilson
                            Selwyn,

                            One of my biggest pet peeves is being a customer in a store ready to spend my money at the cash register after having waited in line, and when I get to the register to spend my money, the clerk doesn't attend to me, but answers the telephone and services someone who hasn't waited, and is not just about to buy their product.

                            Not dissimilar is what I believe Karl was intimating and what followed the statement that your energies being prioritized to a future product, and the needs of those who have already invested with you being given lesser priority, which raises a 'Red Flag' for your companies attention to their established customers.

                            I don't personally have experience to corroborate Alpha behaving as such to any significance, but I do understand the frustration as a customer of needs being unfulfilled collateral to a companies business strategy. It doesn't sit well and Goodfaith is credibly diminished. Mindfullness of this is what was being given feedback, I believe.

                            Mike W
                            Your point is well taken, but in terms of 'attention to established customers' I don't think that Alpha Software takes a back seat to any other software company other there. Just look at the release notes for Alpha Five to see how responsive we have been to verified, and repeatable bug reports.

                            Comment


                              #15
                              don't get me wrong...

                              Selwyn,

                              I don't personally have experience to corroborate Alpha behaving as such to any significance...
                              Please don't get me wrong.... I'm well on your side, and witness through the updates, patches, and responses on this board your resolve to stay attentive. I was trying to translate a little of what was being projected.

                              Mike W
                              Mike W
                              __________________________
                              "I rebel in at least small things to express to the world that I have not completely surrendered"

                              Comment

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