Windows Installer CleanUp Utility
The Windows Installer CleanUp Utility (MSICU.exe, MSICUU.exe, MSICUU2.exe) was a software utility for the Microsoft Windows operating system designed to solve uninstallation problems of programs that use the Windows Installer technology. It looks up registry references and files related to Windows Installer that were installed by various programs, and forcibly wipes invalid entries out. It works in all 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Microsoft Windows.
 | |
| Developer(s) | Microsoft |
|---|---|
| Initial release | August 10, 1999 |
| Final release | 3.00
/ June 25, 2010 |
| Operating system | Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 |
| Platform | Microsoft Windows |
| Size | 351 KB |
| Available in | English |
| Type | Third-party uninstaller |
| License | Freeware (without support and warranty) |
Microsoft first released the utility in 1999[1] to help Windows-based computers clean up installed programs that would either refuse or pretend not to remove themselves from the "add/remove programs" feature in Microsoft Windows.
The utility only changes registry values and files associated with Windows Installer and does not remove any files associated with installed programs. Only users who have logged in as system administrators may run the utility.
For developers who have problems with the Windows Installer automatically repairing their own installations on developer machines (when the developer has manually updated some of the binaries), this utility is ideal to remove the Windows Installer information whilst leaving the actual installation intact.
Microsoft retired the Windows Installer CleanUp utility on June 25, 2010, due to conflicts with Microsoft Office 2007. A Program Install and Uninstall Troubleshooter for Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 was instead made available.[2]
References
- "README FOR WINDOWS INSTALLER CLEANUP UTILITY", "JUNE 1999". Microsoft Knowledge Base Article Q238413 (has been revoked, archive available through Wayback Machine). Microsoft Corporation.
- "Fix problems that block programs from being installed or removed". support.microsoft.com. Retrieved 2018-04-17.
External links
- Whitney, Lance (August 2008). "Utility Spotlight: Windows Installer CleanUp Utility". TechNet Magazine. Microsoft Corporation. Retrieved 4 December 2009.