MAKEMSI quickly and reliably creates MSI files in a non-programmatic way\Windows Installer FAQ (the basics)Resource Life Cycle

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Windows Installer Basics: Resource Life Cycle

Files, registry or similar items have a life cycle and its important to be aware of your requirements.

Installation

For installation you need to consider whether the new file, registry value or other resource should (partial list):

• Always Overwrite Existing Resources
• Never Overwrite Existing Resources
• Sometimes Overwrite Existing Resources

For the above consider both installation of older and newer versions of your package.

Repair

You also need to consider what you want to have happen during any repair:

• Don't Repair Resources

Uninstallation

For uninstallation you need to consider whether the new file or registry value should:

• Remain in place (not be uninstalled)
• Be removed (the default).
• Restore the original value.

Note that the restoration of the "previous" value can be done (you'd need to have "stored" it) but the previous value you stored may no longer be the correct one to return to (unless someone installed then uninstalled soon after (without any other installations/changes in between).

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