microsoft / microsoft/winget-cli
Handle already uninstalled applications
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- Dominant language
- C++
- Stars
- 26.4k
- Forks
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- Avg merge
- 1d 11h
- Merged PRs (30d)
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Description
Description of the new feature / enhancement
When the files no longer exist for an uninstaller, but the ARP entry does exist, running winget uninstall <package> (especially if run during the uninstallPrevious upgrade flow) results in an error 0x800401f5 : Application not found
This is the same error which causes appwiz.cpl to report this message on an attempted uninstall - “An error occurred while trying to uninstall. It may have already been uninstalled. Would you like to remove from the Add or Remove Programs list?”
As a user, I would expect winget to be able to detect this and proceed with the upgrade, remove the errant ARP entry, and/or provide a clearer error/warning.
- See also #2170
Contributor guide
First steps
- Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
- Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
- Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
- Open a pull request that references the issue number.
Research direction
Start by tracing the winget uninstall <package> path and the uninstallPrevious upgrade flow when an ARP entry exists but its uninstaller files are missing. Compare the behavior with appwiz.cpl and confirm whether the expected result is to continue the upgrade, remove the ARP entry, or report a clearer warning; done means the agreed behavior is covered for this error case.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- cpp
- Domain
- cli, operating-systems
- Issue type
- Feature
- Difficulty
- 4/5
- Estimated time
- 3-5 days
- Activity status
- Stale
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 45/100