microsoft / microsoft/msix-packaging

[BUG] MSIX upgrades cause .ocx components to show unregistered

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Area-External Area-MSIX
Dominant language
C
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Description

Project
MSIX SDK

Describe the bug
I've been testing packaging a VB6 app (yeah, I know) with MSIX, to simplify deployment and upgrades internally (this is not published to a Store, only used internally at the company premises). Installations work fine, and the application works as expected. However, if I upgrade to a newer version, the included .ocx components show up as "not registered" and the application stops working.
If I uninstall the application completely, and just install the latest version instead, it work as it should once more. Something is causing this on upgrades only - even minimal ones (just changing the version number in the Appxmanifest.xml is enough to trigger this).

To Reproduce

  • Package an application which includes registering .ocx components with either the MSIX packaging tool or the command line.
  • Sign the application with a valid certificate.
  • Install the application - the application works as expected, no errors reported.
  • Package an updated version, without any real changes (e.g. just bump the version in the manifest)
  • Upgrade to that version
  • The application now reports that the related .ocx files are not registered and fails to work.
  • Uninstall the application.
  • Install the latest version directly - the application works as expected (no errors).

Expected behavior
An upgrade of the packaged application should not trigger components to show as not registered.

Screenshots
Not sure it's applicable, but I can provide more info if needed. ;)

Platform
Windows 10, Windows 11

Contributor guide

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First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Reproduce the upgrade and clean-install paths with the MSIX Packaging Tool or command line, using an application that includes .ocx components and changing only Appxmanifest.xml. Compare the two installation flows and investigate why the upgrade leaves the components unregistered. Done means the packaged application continues to use its .ocx components successfully after an upgrade on Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
visualbasic
Domain
build-system, operating-systems
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
35/100

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