Emby Server uninstall - not coded correctly

[IkeTaylor11 61]

The Emby Server v4 installer is putting an uninstall entry in the HKEY_USERS registry hive.

 

HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-1057214635-2850433999-1485733917-1001\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall

 

This is causing the program to still register in add/remove programs even after the uninstall is completed. You shouldnt be using the HKEY_USERS hive for the uninstall information, thats under the key below:

 

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall

 

Furthermore you really should code your software to install to the program files directory, not the user profile directory. If the user profile gets corrupted or deleted this will completely break Emby. Emby should be user independent. 

[Luke 42089]

Thanks for the investigation. The reason we don't install to program files is because we would not be able to auto update to that location.

[IkeTaylor11 61]

Thanks for the investigation. The reason we don't install to program files is because we would not be able to auto update to that location.

Yeah i have read through the forums about this. That really is a terrible excuse to not properly install the software to the program files location on a windows machine. There are too many issues that could come up with using the user profile. Corruption of user profiles happens quite a bit. 

 

Also, why the need to auto update anyway? Most good software doesnt have an auto update process. They allow their customers to update at their own pace and for their own need. Many people choose not to upgrade stable software if they are not having any issues and don't want to take advantage of new features. I am one of those people. I have another forum open about a recording issue with version 4. I would like to reinstall version 3.5 but theres no way to do that now it seems because your installer uses an online pull and grabs the latest version of the software to install. I would be ok with using the portable version if version 3.5 was available and has all the same features the normal windows server version has. 

[IkeTaylor11 61]

Thanks for the investigation. The reason we don't install to program files is because we would not be able to auto update to that location.

Also, saying you would not be able to auto update is completely false. Google does this with Chrome constantly. Chrome is installed to the Program Files directory and auto updates itself without any issue whatsoever. So saying you would not be able to do auto updates isn't true. It just appears your not willing to program it in a way that would allow it to auto update while being installed where it is supposed to be installed on a Windows box. 

[Luke 42089]

Well what I'm saying is based on what was possible at the time we built the installer, and back then chrome was doing exactly the same thing we are.

[IkeTaylor11 61]

Well what I'm saying is based on what was possible at the time we built the installer, and back then chrome was doing exactly the same thing we are.

Theres also a reason they changed it. Because installing software into the user hive is not stable. You are up to version 4 of this now, if you plan to continue a windows server version you really need to make the change to using the program files directory. 

[Luke 42089]

At some point we will redo the windows installer. For now, you can also use the portable version and put it anywhere you like.