The Windows Installer Cleanup Utility, Msicuu, deletes the
configuration data that Windows Installer maintains for a product
that it installed, including directories, files, registry subkeys,
and registry entries. You can use Msicuu to remove the remnants of
a corrupted Windows Installer installation that prevents you from
installing a product correctly.
Msicuu provides a dialog box from which you select a Windows
Installer installation and execute the command. This method is
safer than using Windows Installer Zapper
(Msizap.exe), a command-line Windows Installer tool that offers
potentially damaging configuation options.
Msicuu is designed to be used only when conventional methods of
repairing or removing an installation have failed. Before using
Msicuu, use Add
or Remove Programs to remove or repair the installation.
Caution
Msicuu can delete installation data that is required by the
system. Products installed by Windows Installer might not operate
properly after using this tool.
You can use Msicuu to correct the following installation
failures.
A Windows Installer installation, uninstallation, or rollback
is interrupted or fails unpredictably. Because the installation did
not complete successfully, Windows Installer will not uninstall or
reinstall the program, or install any another programs.
Registry entries for a product have been deleted or changed,
damaging the operation of the products and preventing you from
uninstalling or reinstalling the product.
Multiple instances of a setup program are running
simultaneously, or an instance of a setup program cannot run.
Windows Installer manages the installation and removal of
applications on Windows 2000 and Windows XP Professional.
Typically, these installations conclude successfully, or are
successfully reversed ("rolled back") or repaired. However, in rare
situations, an installation, a rollback, or an uninstallation
fails, leaving installation files and registry entries that would
otherwise be removed. As long as these objects remain on the
system, Windows Installer considers the installation to be active
and incomplete.
Because Windows Installer conducts only one installation at a
time, it will not start an installation until all indicators of the
active installation are removed. You can use Msicuu to delete the
configuration data remaining from a failed installation, thus
allowing you to reinstall the product.
