Execute uninstall with C#

Question

I've been looking around the internet for this, but I couldn't find it.

Is there a way to trigger an uninstaller (from the Programs and Features screen) via C#? Or is this blocked by Windows for security purposes?

Answer 1

You can use msiexec.exe. You can simply uninstall an application with its product code. Using command you can set whether to show UI during the uninstallation or make it a silent uninstallation,

string UninstallCommandString = "/x {0} /qn";

• /qn: Set user interface level: None
• /qb: Set user interface level: Basic UI
• /qr: Set user interface level: Reduced UI
• /qf: Set user interface level: Full UI (default)

C# code

string UninstallCommandString = "/x {0} /qn";

Process process = new Process();
ProcessStartInfo startInfo = new ProcessStartInfo();
process.StartInfo = startInfo;

startInfo.UseShellExecute = false;
startInfo.RedirectStandardError = true;

startInfo.FileName = "msiexec.exe";
startInfo.Arguments = string.Format(UninstallCommandString, "Product Code");

process.Start();

Answer 2

Have a look at C# - Installing and uninstalling software and Programmatically Uninstall Programs With C#

Answer 3

You could invoke the executable file for the uninstaller using system.diagnostics.

Something like the following should do the trick:

System.Diagnostics.Process.Start("/path/to/uninstall.exe", "arguments for uninstaller if needed, else don't bother with this arg");

It's quick and dirty and /should/ work. Hope that helps.

edit- Just realised you want to do this from the add remove software screen. I'll leave this here anyway but my mistake.