Windows 10 Help with uninstalling a msi program with batch file

Mjk · Jun 7, 2024

I'm currently working on a script to uninstall a msi program that is installed on a client. The package doesn't have a GUID in registry but it does have its own uninstaller.exe I'm currently trying to use a msiexec /x %path/to/exe% /qn /f bat file to uninstall the package quietly without having any prompts while being ran through a scheduled logon task by GPO.

The issue I am having is that no matter how I change my script, a confirmation prompt always appears and it never uninstalls. Tried multiple ways but my knowledge is limited. Any help would be appreciated!!!

WindowsForum AI · Jun 7, 2024

To uninstall a program using its uninstaller.exe via a batch file without user interaction, and managed by Group Policy, you might need to directly invoke the executable with silent/unattended switches rather than through msiexec. The typical issue you're encountering with msiexec is that it's designed to work with MSI packages and might not handle .exe uninstallation smoothly. Below is a step-by-step guide to help you create a batch script for this purpose and deploy it via Group Policy:

Step-by-Step Solution

1. Identifying Silent Uninstall Switches: Most uninstallers (uninstaller.exe) support silent or unattended operation via specific command-line switches. Common switches include /silent...

WindowsForum AI · Jun 7, 2024

To uninstall a program using its uninstaller.exe via a batch file without user interaction, and managed by Group Policy, you might need to directly invoke the executable with silent/unattended switches rather than through msiexec. The typical issue you're encountering with msiexec is that it's designed to work with MSI packages and might not handle .exe uninstallation smoothly. Below is a step-by-step guide to help you create a batch script for this purpose and deploy it via Group Policy:

Step-by-Step Solution

1. Identifying Silent Uninstall Switches: Most uninstallers (uninstaller.exe) support silent or unattended operation via specific command-line switches. Common switches include /silent, /verysilent, /quiet, /qn, etc. Check the documentation for the program you're trying to uninstall or run uninstaller.exe /? or uninstaller.exe /help to confirm the correct silent switch. 2. Creating the Batch File: Create a batch file (uninstall_program.bat) with the following content. Replace C:\Path\To\Uninstaller\uninstaller.exe with the actual path to your uninstaller and the correct silent switch for your program.

Code:

@echo off C:\Path\To\Uninstaller\uninstaller.exe /silent exit /b %errorlevel%

If /silent does not work, try other common switches like /qn, /verysilent, or /quiet. 3. Deploying via Group Policy: You can create a Group Policy Object (GPO) to run this script at logon. Here is how you can do that: a. Open Group Policy Management:

Press Win + R, type gpmc.msc, and press Enter to open Group Policy Management. b. Create a New GPO:
Right-click on the domain or organizational unit (OU) where you want to apply the policy.
Click on Create a GPO in this domain, and Link it here....
Name your GPO (e.g., "Uninstall Program"). c. Edit the GPO:
Right-click your newly created GPO and select Edit.
Navigate to User Configuration -> Policies -> Windows Settings -> Scripts (Logon/Logoff).
Double-click Logon, then click Add... to add your batch file.

Verifying and Troubleshooting

Test the Script Manually:
Before deploying via GPO, run the script manually on a test machine to ensure it uninstalls the program without prompts.
Check Event Logs:
If the script does not run as expected, check the Event Viewer on the client machine for errors under Applications and Services Logs -> Microsoft -> Windows -> GroupPolicy.

Using PowerShell for More Control:

If batch files don't fulfill your need, you can also use PowerShell to achieve greater control. Here’s a PowerShell script example:

Code:

$uninstaller = "C:\Path\To\Uninstaller\uninstaller.exe" Start-Process -FilePath $uninstaller -ArgumentList "/silent" -NoNewWindow -Wait

Deploy this script similarly via the GPO by placing it in the appropriate logon scripts section. Using silent switches with uninstaller.exe directly should bypass the confirmation prompt that you are encountering. Make sure to replace the placeholder paths and switches with the correct ones for your specific package. Good luck, and feel free to ask more if you encounter any issues!

Mjk · Jun 7, 2024

I've tried what has been suggested by AI but no luck. When using a batch file a prompt appears for "are you sure you want to uninstall" and if I use a pwershell script UAC authentication always pops up..

Mike · Jun 7, 2024

That is because of the security safeguards in Windows. If you want to run without UAC elevated, you need to run it at the highest runlevel for the operating system, or with admin credentials saved. This is significantly more complex than the basic information the bot has given you, but this would be the first steps you could take to automating your task.

The prompt you are getting from the batch file likely means you are running in the right context (privilege level/run level), but you have not passed uninstall parameters to the program or it does not have those parameters set properly. These are the argument flags you would use to call the file or the MSI file. The documentation for whatever app it is would hopefully be online or easily guessable.

Mjk · Jun 8, 2024

Thanks for your response! So the program is actually software from the company I work at. The objective is to figure out and build a uninstall procedure without getting development involved. And I know, it's surprising that we don't actually have uninstall documentation for any of our software installations. #SaaS

Mike · Jun 8, 2024

Many uninstallers and organizations are hit or miss so I'm not surprised. 😀

WindowsForum AI · Dec 6, 2024

It sounds like you’re trying to automate the uninstallation of an MSI program, but you're running into issues with confirmation dialogs and UAC prompts. Here’s how you can refine your process to avoid these interruptions:

Automating MSI Uninstall with Batch File:

Silent Uninstall Using msiexec:
To suppress confirmation prompts, use the /quiet or /passive flags with the msiexec command.
Example:
Code:
```
batch msiexec /x {PRODUCT_CODE} /quiet
```
Replace {PRODUCT_CODE} with the application’s GUID (you can find this in the registry—details below).

Steps to Find the `{PRODUCT_CODE}`:

Open Registry Editor (Win + R, type regedit, hit Enter).

Navigate to:

Code:

 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall

For 64-bit programs, check:

Code:

 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall

Search for the application name and copy the GUID from the corresponding key (look for UninstallString).

Automating UAC Elevation in PowerShell:

If UAC prompts are an issue in PowerShell, you can configure the script to run as an administrator automatically:

Create an Elevated PowerShell Script:

Add the following code at the beginning of your script to ensure it runs with admin privileges:

Code:

powershell # Check for elevation If (-Not ([Security.Principal.WindowsPrincipal] [Security.Principal.WindowsIdentity]::GetCurrent.IsInRole([Security.Principal.WindowsBuiltInRole] "Administrator") { Start-Process powershell.exe "-NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File $PSCommandPath" -Verb RunAs Exit }

Then, add your uninstall command, such as:

Code:

powershell Start-Process msiexec.exe -ArgumentList "/x {PRODUCT_CODE} /quiet" -Wait

Avoid User Prompts with Tools Like `psexec`:

If you’re running these scripts on multiple machines or in an enterprise setup, psexec (from Sysinternals) can help manage elevated commands without requiring manual acceptance.

Download PsTools Suite from https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/psexec.

Run the command silently:

Code:

cmd psexec -s -i msiexec /x {PRODUCT_CODE} /quiet

Key Tips:

Testing: Always test your script on a non-critical system before deploying widely.
Batch File as Admin: If using a batch file, make sure it’s run as Administrator to suppress UAC.
Avoid Forced Silent Uninstalls: Unless absolutely necessary, avoid forcing silent uninstalls as they can sometimes leave residual files if errors occur.
Feel free to share more details if you need help tweaking the script further! 😊

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Windows 10 Help with uninstalling a msi program with batch file

Mjk

New Member

WindowsForum AI

Step-by-Step Solution

WindowsForum AI

AI

Step-by-Step Solution

Verifying and Troubleshooting

Using PowerShell for More Control:

Mjk

New Member

Mike

Windows Forum Admin

Mjk

New Member

Mike

Windows Forum Admin

WindowsForum AI

AI

Automating MSI Uninstall with Batch File:

Steps to Find the `{PRODUCT_CODE}`:

Automating UAC Elevation in PowerShell:

Avoid User Prompts with Tools Like `psexec`:

Key Tips:

Windows 10 Help with uninstalling a msi program with batch file

New Member

Step-by-Step Solution​

AI

Step-by-Step Solution​

Verifying and Troubleshooting​

Using PowerShell for More Control:​

New Member

Windows Forum Admin

New Member

Windows Forum Admin

AI

Automating MSI Uninstall with Batch File:​

Steps to Find the {PRODUCT_CODE}:​

Automating UAC Elevation in PowerShell:​

Avoid User Prompts with Tools Like psexec:​

Key Tips:​

Step-by-Step Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

Verifying and Troubleshooting

Using PowerShell for More Control:

Automating MSI Uninstall with Batch File:

Steps to Find the `{PRODUCT_CODE}`:

Automating UAC Elevation in PowerShell:

Avoid User Prompts with Tools Like `psexec`:

Key Tips: