Cannot upgrade and cannot uninstall

[Alfacharlie1973]

Microsoft PowerToys version

0.78.0

Installation method

PowerToys auto-update

Running as admin

No

Area(s) with issue?

Installer

Steps to reproduce

Powertoys shows that a new version is available (0.80.1), when I try to install from the General Tab, I get the following error "An error occurred trying to install this update". if I click on try again to download and install, the application closes down and nothing happens.

I have then tried to install by downloading from Github. I tried both the Machine wide and per user installations. Both of them lead to the same error "PowerToys is already installed on this system for current user. We recommend first uninstalling that version before installing this one."

I then went to Settings in Win 11 to uninstall the current version. Surprisingly it appears twice (both of them having been installed on the same date). When I try to uninstall I get exactly the same error as above.

Attached are the logs from both processes. I just changed the name of the user folder for confidentiality reasons (but the structure of the name is consistent).

powertoys-bootstrapper-msi-0.78.0_20240428171545 - Uninstall failed.txt

powertoys-bootstrapper-msi-0.80.1_20240428171947 - Install failed.txt

✔️ Expected Behavior

Successful uninstall / install

❌ Actual Behavior

Detailed already in steps above. "PowerToys is already installed on this system for current user. We recommend first uninstalling that version before installing this one."

Other Software

No response

[github-actions]

Hi I'm an AI powered bot that finds similar issues based off the issue title.

Please view the issues below to see if they solve your problem, and if the issue describes your problem please consider closing this one and thumbs upping the other issue to help us prioritize it. Thank you!

Open similar issues:

• Can't install v0.78, can't uninstall current version (v0.76.2) (#31298), similarity score: 0.85
• Can't Uninstall, Can't Upgrade! Been going on for at least 2 releases now. (#28885), similarity score: 0.85

Closed similar issues:

• Cannot uninstall or install newer version (#31764), similarity score: 0.85
• Unable to uninstall current version and install newer version of PowerToys (#21065), similarity score: 0.82
• Cannot uninstall or update (#27981), similarity score: 0.82

Note: You can give me feedback by thumbs upping or thumbs downing this comment.

[mikex99]

I'm having the same issue.

[Alfacharlie1973]

Looking into the logs the issue seems to related to the installation variable MinimumVersion

At the beginning of the installation it is set to 0:
Initializing version variable 'MinimumVersion' to value '0.0.0.0'
It then detects that version 0.78 is present (even if I have tried to delete manually every trace of PowerToys in my computer)
Setting version variable 'DetectedPowerToysUserVersion' to value '0.78.0.0'
And then it fails because the detected version is higher than the minimum one
Condition 'MinimumVersion >= DetectedPowerToysVersion' evaluates to false.
PowerToys is already installed on this system for all users. We recommend first uninstalling that version before installing this one.
Bundle condition evaluated to false: MinimumVersion >= DetectedPowerToysVersion

[Alfacharlie1973]

On Sunday, I decided to manually delete all traces of PowerToys in my computer. Deleted folders, entries in the registry and a number of other odd locations where data/files were being stored. I was still unable to install the new version so I just left it there. I rebooted my computer today as part of other updates being installed and, somehow, the 0.78 version has reinstalled. What triggered it, I cannot explain. Trying to install 0.80.1 still fails.

[Aaron-Junker]

Can you try downloading the installer (https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/releases) for your version (Try using PowerToysUserSetup and if this doesn't work PowerToysSetup). This should give you an option to uninstall. Please tell me if it works. /needinfo

[Alfacharlie1973]

I just tried with both the Machine-wide and user versions (v81.1) and I got the exact same error.

I spent an hour with the support team in my company trying to remove all traces of PowerToys, however, the logs show that 0.78 seems to be installed.

I also do not yet understand why the logs close with an error about Minimum Version (0.0.0) not being higher than Detected Version (0.78.0)

[Aaron-Junker]

I just tried with both the Machine-wide and user versions (v81.1) and I got the exact same error.

I spent an hour with the support team in my company trying to remove all traces of PowerToys, however, the logs show that 0.78 seems to be installed.

I also do not yet understand why the logs close with an error about Minimum Version (0.0.0) not being higher than Detected Version (0.78.0)

Can you try it with the 0.78 installer specifically?

/needinfo

[Alfacharlie1973]

I tried again with the 0.78 installer and got the very same 'unsuccessful' outcome

powertoys-bootstrapper-msi-0.78.0_20240616023928.log

[mikex99]

I just did an old fashioned registry and file system purge of powertoys and I was able to upgrade no problem.

[Alfacharlie1973]

Open to any suggestions on how to do a better registry and file system purge. There are traces everywhere. Even better what is the registry entry that the installation process is checking to determine the installed version? Regards, Alfredo

…

________________________________