Windows Update Requires Uninstall of Previous Version

[Enupnion]

Is there any way that these point updates can be made so that we don't have to first uninstall the previous version of Groboto? I am glad, thought, that I didn't have to re-register the software.

(Now off to play ... )

[boris]

Enupnion,

What's the downside to uninstall? Actually you can install without uninstalling the older version, but the installer starts asking questions about repairing the old installation, etc. I just think uninstall-install is less confusing.

[Enupnion]

Actually you can install without uninstalling the older version, but the installer starts asking questions about repairing the old installation, etc.

It didn't work that way for me. Instead, it refused to install and demanded that I uninstall the previous version first before attempting to install the new version. I did not get a dialog that asked about repairing the old installation (not when going from v3.0.2 to v3.0.3).

What's the downside to uninstall? ... I just think uninstall-install is less confusing.

I believe that most people are used to the software simply updating (overwriting) the old software. Updating is a "one-click" solution. You run the updater, point it to the file (unless it reads where it is installed from the Windows' Registry) and then updates the software. Requiring an uninstall first adds an additional step (or more than one if you do not know that the software is going to demand an uninstall): you have to first have to uninstall the software THEN you can run the installer. Typically this looks like this:

- Go to Control Panel
- Go to Program Files
- Find Groboto in the list, select it and press the Uninstall button then wait for the uninstall to complete
- Navigate to the new Groboto installer and run it, telling it where to install

With a simple updater it looks like this:

- Navigate to the new Groboto installer and run it, telling it where to install

There are a lot less steps and the updater takes care of everything so the end-user doesn't have to fuss with it.

I looked in the Braid Art Labs folder created in the Start menu and there is no uninstaller option there. So the end-user is forced to navigate to the Control Panel, then to Program Files, then they have to look for Groboto in the list and press Uninstall (as indicated above). Having to uninstall first adds many steps. Sure, this really doesn't take all that long, but it is not the standard way of doing things. Most people expect an update to simply ... well ... update.

For myself, I was not expecting to have to uninstall first. As a result, I inadvertently ended up with an additional step: I ran the update first, then had to cancel it, uninstall and then run the installer again.

I guess, basically, the installer should "know" whether a version of Groboto is installed or not. If it is, then it defaults to updating, looking for the previous installation's address in the Windows' Registry (though offering the end-user the ability to choose a new folder to install if they want. If Groboto had not been previously installed, then the installer would default to offering the end-user a fresh install.