MSI Installer Fails Remotely - "Newer Version" is already installed even after uninstall
Rather weird behavior that I started with our auto builds. I have a very simple Windows.msi service (Visual Studio 2010 built-in) that is compiled on our central build / repo server, downloaded to our dev server and then remotely installed from the build / repo server (on the command line via ssh using plink) on the dev server.
This worked for a long time, until recently automatic builds started to fail 100% of the time. The detailed installation logs for msi indicate that "a newer version of this product is already installed." I retired to the dev server, checked the msi and had no problem installing it manually on the server (via command line and GUI). Then I removed the service from the Programs and Features window, verified that the files and entries were removed, tried to install it remotely from the build server again, and got the same error again. The service just doesn't install remotely because it thinks the newer one is still installed (although I have already uninstalled it), but I can do it manually myself.
EDIT
Adding some log text.
Action start 15:47:16: AppSearch.
MSI (s) (B8:F0) [15:47:16:265]: Doing action: FindRelatedProducts
Action ended 15:47:16: AppSearch. Return value 1.
MSI (s) (B8:F0) [15:47:16:267]: Using cached product context: User non-assigned for product: BA4139E4B48F8264ABFF918A7B583A0B
MSI (s) (B8:F0) [15:47:16:267]: Using cached product context: User non-assigned for product: BA4139E4B48F8264ABFF918A7B583A0B
MSI (s) (B8:F0) [15:47:16:267]: Using cached product context: User non-assigned for product: BA4139E4B48F8264ABFF918A7B583A0B
MSI (s) (B8:F0) [15:47:16:267]: Using cached product context: User non-assigned for product: BA4139E4B48F8264ABFF918A7B583A0B
MSI (s) (B8:F0) [15:47:16:267]: Using cached product context: User non-assigned for product: BA4139E4B48F8264ABFF918A7B583A0B
MSI (s) (B8:F0) [15:47:16:267]: Using cached product context: User non-assigned for product: BA4139E4B48F8264ABFF918A7B583A0B
Action start 15:47:16: FindRelatedProducts.
MSI (s) (B8:F0) [15:47:16:267]: PROPERTY CHANGE: Adding NEWERPRODUCTFOUND property. Its value is '{4E9314AB-F84B-4628-BAFF-19A8B785A3B0}'.
MSI (s) (B8:F0) [15:47:16:268]: Doing action: ERRCA_CANCELNEWERVERSION
Action ended 15:47:16: FindRelatedProducts. Return value 1.
MSI (s) (B8:F0) [15:47:16:269]: Note: 1: 2235 2: 3: ExtendedType 4: SELECT `Action`,`Type`,`Source`,`Target`, NULL, `ExtendedType` FROM `CustomAction` WHERE `Action` = 'ERRCA_CANCELNEWERVERSION'
Action start 15:47:16: ERRCA_CANCELNEWERVERSION.
MSI (s) (B8:F0) [15:47:16:269]: Product: Product.Services -- Unable to install because a newer version of this product is already installed.
Unable to install because a newer version of this product is already installed.
Action ended 15:47:16: ERRCA_CANCELNEWERVERSION. Return value 3.
Action ended 15:47:16: INSTALL. Return value 3.
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MSI (s) (B8: F0) [15: 47: 16: 267]: REAL ESTATE CHANGE: NEWERPRODUCTFOUND property added. Its value is '{4E9314AB-F84B-4628-BAFF-19A8B785A3B0}'.
It looks like there is an old version of the installation on the machine somewhere, although it may not show up in programs and features. I would try to check if your problem fixes:
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Try to uninstall using command line
msiexec /x {4E9314AB-F84B-4628-BAFF-19A8B785A3B0}
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Search the registry for the product code
{4E9314AB-F84B-4628-BAFF-19A8B785A3B0}
to see if there are remnants of a previous installation. If you encounter this product code, you may attempt to manually delete these entries (AT YOUR OWN RISK) to see if that solves your problem.
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I was getting the same exact error as @Tom: "- Newer version already installed"
I was able to fix by following these steps: 1. Run MSI with extended protocol enabled
msiexec /i "{Path to msi}.msi" /L*V "c:\myLog.log"
2. Open the log file that was generated from the above command and copy the GUID that appears on the line
FindRelatedProducts: Found application: {FB0B54D2-9C47-4196-BF0E-B6EEBF754E22}
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Using the copied GUID run the following command
msiExec / x {FB0B54D2-9C47-4196-BF0E-B6EEBF754E22}
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At this point, the old service was removed and then I proceeded to install the service from MSI without any problem. Hope this helps.
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Another solution that worked for me was this:
- Select the setup project in VS solution and press F4 to display the properties window
- Change the GUID for ProductCode and UpgradeCode by clicking the button to the right of these values. A new modal windwos will appear and you need to click the "new code" button
Keep in mind that previous installations will remain in the Windows registry and you must remove them. This only happens if you have the same GUID for different VS settings due to an error (e.g. using a customization template)
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