Managing install/uninstall of collection component using SCCM

[Anonymous]

Hello,

I have a question about installation and uninstallation of product in a collection (like AEC for exemple). I'm using SCCM and the provided script from the Create Deployment option. For the installation, I use the setup.exe way, not the verbose with each msi.

Let's say I bundle Autocad MEP and Autocad Electrical. I then install both on a computer.

Now, on that computer, I must uninstall Autocad MEP. In the autocad MEP, it uninstall Autocad MEP component, but also many other like Autocad Core, Language Pack, Architecture, Autodesk licensing... If I run this uninstall as is, Autocad Electrical won't work anymore.

Thus, I need a way to know, in the uninstall script, if another package is installed. But since some install other component from other product, I cannot use GUID code or file-path for that (when I install Autocad MEP, it include Autocad Architecture even if it's there's no shortcut for it).

I also checked in add/remove programs, there's no entry of Architecture, neither in uninstall tool from Autocad. But if I checked in the uninstall key of Windows or ran the msiexec with the GUID of Architecture, it does uninstall it.

So, what are you doing to install only specific program and then uninstall everything if there's no more product? Is there a way to run the uninstall tool from Adobe in a silent mode for specific product?

What are you guys doing for this?

Thanks

[Otto]

Hello parc

We see you are looking to uninstall you program. Other users have found the following processes helpful to perform a complete uninstall.

1. Autodesk Uninstall Tool 
2. Conduct a Clean Uninstall & MSfixitTool to complete the uninstall 

[natasha.l]

Hello @Anonymous,

Have you tried the MSfixit Tool as @Otto suggested? It will scan the computer for all programs & conduct a complete cleaning of Autodesk related products registry keys etc. still on the system. If you have not cleaned all the Autodesk program files & folders you can use the Clean Uninstall link as well. 

You will have to conduct these steps to remove programs that are causing you issues uninstalling. Keep us posted. 

Please "Accept As Solution" if a reply has helped resolve the issue or answered your question, to help others in the community.

[Anonymous]

Hello,

I don't think the problem was understood so let me explain again.

I'm using SCCM, everything is zero-touch no user interface or intervention, all script based

I have Autocad Mechanical, Autocad Electrical et Autocad MEP installed on a single station.

The uninstall script of all three program include the removal of shared component like Autodesk Licence Manager, Autocad Core, etc.

So while this computer have all three Autocad install, if I launch the uninstall program for, let's say Autocad Mechanical, it will uninstall Autocad Mechanical and Autocad. Since Autocad is a shared component needed for Autocad Electrical and Autocad MEP, they won't work anymore and I'll have to run a repair on them. This behavior is really not acceptable.

Autodesk should make something that allow us to uninstall only specific component not entire set. Yes I can edit the script and remove all shared component, but what happen once I removed all three autocad version from the computer in this exemple? It still have Autocad and other shared components instead of being clean. I'm aware of the uninstall tool and these other way to cleanup a PC but that is not the problem, nor solve the unattended/zero-touch deployment.

Thank you

[m_latz]

Autodesk has implemented this mechanism in his standard setup.exe that normally installs and uninstalls the different AutoCAD versions.

If you interactively install different AutoCAD version you can uninstall in every order the AutoCAD version and they take care for the shared components and uninstall only if they are "unused".

If you install/uninstall with your own scripts you have to implement this check "for shared components" also, to be sure to uninstall only if never more used.

I.e. Material Libraries are shared between a lot of Autodesk products and can only removed if not used.

This is a must if you want to do a really clean uninstall in SCCM.

Also to remove the registry keys / user files in all user accounts ever "logged on" on the pc.

Because if you don't do this then when you do a reinstall, the 2nd stage installer from AutoCAD is not started.

regards

Markus

[Anonymous]

Is there a way to have a silent setup.exe to uninstall what I want, let's say only revit or only mechanical? Because the provided script allow me to do unattended install with setup.exe or multiple MSI, but uninstall is only using multiple msi.

No installation were done manually, everything is installed using the "create deployment" option and silent install. Thus, SCCM simply launch setup.exe as admin and it install everything automaticly using Autodesk setup.

I know for the registry keys, I have two cleanup script that does everything from the FAQ on that.

My problem is really with handling shared component. At first I wanted a script that check if another autodesk apps is installed, but since some install other component (like MEP installing Autocad and Autocad Architecture), I can't use MSI code, registry or file on the disc because even if Architecture isn't installed, it still have all the component installed. The way right now I'm doing things, and I'm open to a better way, is during the installation, I set a custom variable telling me that I installed that product (let's say REVIT). Then for uninstall, I coded a powershell script that take in param what item you want to uninstall, uninstall all non shared component, remove the registry key set during install and then verify if other registry key are present. If not, perform clean uninstall and remove all shared component.

I'd prefer to use either MSI Code to detect other component that aren't shared (let's say when installing Architecture, an MSI code that isn't included with any other Autodesk product) or a registry key to tell me. I saw the uninstall Tool can pin point what is installed, but I didn't find on what he check.

THank you

[Anonymous]

After talking with tech support, we came to the conclusion there's no easy way to do this. Autodesk product aren't meant to be uninstall this way even if a script is given with the deployment tool. I had to script my own install/uninstall script and use some logic of mine to detect if shared component are needed. Since I wasn't able to find any clear way to detect if a shared component is still needed, I put custom registry key during the installation that I detect to know if there's another autodesk product requiering shared component.