Installing and Removing Applications

[This is preliminary documentation and subject to change.]

The following guidelines relate to making applications easy to install and uninstall. They apply to installing and removing entire applications as opposed to individual components. The Microsoft® Windows® installer has functionality to accomplish all of these guidelines. For more information, see the installer documentation in the Platform SDK at http://premium.microsoft.com/isapi/devonly/prodinfo/msdnprod/msdnlib.idc.

• Use Windows installer. (Required)
• Provide graphical 32-bit setup. (Required)
• Provide a fully automated uninstaller. (Required)
• Provide attended and/or silent installation. (Required)
• Detect versions when installing. (Required)
• Maintain user settings across version changes. (Best Practice)
• Create working shortcuts during installation. (Required)
• Support autoplay of CD-ROMs. (Required)
• Support Add/Remove Programs if not on CD-ROM. (Required)
• Check operations in advance when installing. (Required)
• Avoid rebooting the system. (Best Practice)
• Register uninstaller and make it appear in Add/Remove Programs. (Required)
• Uninstall from Add/Remove Programs. (Required)
• Remove all application files during uninstall. (Required)
• Remove all references from the Start menu during uninstall. (Required)
• Remove registry entries during uninstall. (Required)
• Remove uninstaller during uninstall. (Required)