Search code examples
windowscmdoffice365controlpanel

When you uninstall an application by using the control panel what commands are running?

If I go to the control panel and uninstall Microsoft Office the program uninstalls. How is that application actually being uninstalled? Is it a command line? If so is there a log or something I can check for what commands are being run?

Thank you.

Solution

  • The control panel/settings app just executes the command stored in the UninstallString value in the registry.

    Logging is done by the uninstaller, not Windows. You can manually look at the UninstallString value in the registry, if it uses Msiexec (Windows Installer) then you can manually execute Msiexec with the logging parameter: 

    Msiexec /x{productid} /L*v c:\mylogfile.log

    If it is using some other installer technology then you have to consult the products documentation or contact the developer to find out if there is a way to enable logging.