GNU bug report logs - #79603
Installer Issue: Uninstall Registry Key Not Removed (Windows 11 24H2, Emacs 30.2)

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Message #5 received at submit <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: <Knut.Kreinbihl <at> telekom.de>
To: <bug-gnu-emacs <at> gnu.org>
Subject: Installer Issue: Uninstall Registry Key Not Removed (Windows 11 24H2, 
 Emacs 30.2)
Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2025 14:34:41 +0000

[Message part 1 (text/plain, inline)]

Dear Emacs Maintainers,

I would like to report an issue with the Emacs 30.2 installer for Windows.

System:

  *   Windows 11 24H2
  *   Installer used: emacs-30.2-installer.exe

Issue Description:

After uninstalling Emacs 30.2, the registry key "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\emacs-30.2" remains present, even though all files in C:\Program Files have been correctly removed.
This leftover uninstall key causes problems in environments where automated installation systems rely on the presence or absence of this key to determine installation status. If the key is not removed after a successful uninstall, it leads to false positives and installation errors.

Suggested Fix:
It is likely that the NSIS (Nullsoft Scriptable Install System) script used for the installer is missing a DeleteRegKey command in the uninstall section. Adding this command should ensure the registry key is properly removed during uninstallation.

Thank you for your work on Emacs!


Mit freundlichen Grüßen, Best regards

Knut Kreinbihl
Deutsche Telekom IT GmbH
Service Hub Workplace Service Client
Software Lifecycle - Development Tools
Utbremer Straße 94, 28217 Bremen, Germany
+49 151 50 655 760 (Smartphone)
E-Mail: Knut.Kreinbihl <at> telekom.de<mailto:Knut.Kreinbihl <at> telekom.de>
www.telekom.com<http://www.telekom.com/>

Life is for sharing.

You can find the obligatory information on www.telekom.com/compulsory-statement-dtit<http://www.telekom.com/compulsory-statement-dtit>
Big changes start small - conserve resources by not printing every e-mail.

[Message part 2 (text/html, inline)]

Message #8 received at 79603 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Eli Zaretskii <eliz <at> gnu.org>
To: Knut.Kreinbihl <at> telekom.de, Corwin Brust <corwin <at> bru.st>
Cc: 79603 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#79603: Installer Issue: Uninstall Registry Key Not Removed
 (Windows 11 24H2, Emacs 30.2)
Date: Thu, 09 Oct 2025 10:21:32 +0300

> Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2025 14:34:41 +0000
> From: Knut.Kreinbihl--- via "Bug reports for GNU Emacs,
>  the Swiss army knife of text editors" <bug-gnu-emacs <at> gnu.org>
> 
> Dear Emacs Maintainers,
> 
> I would like to report an issue with the Emacs 30.2 installer for Windows.
> 
> System:
> 
> * Windows 11 24H2
> 
> * Installer used: emacs-30.2-installer.exe
> 
> Issue Description:
> 
> After uninstalling Emacs 30.2, the registry key
> “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\emacs-30.2” remains
> present, even though all files in C:\Program Files have been correctly removed.
> 
> This leftover uninstall key causes problems in environments where automated installation systems rely on
> the presence or absence of this key to determine installation status. If the key is not removed after a
> successful uninstall, it leads to false positives and installation errors.
> 
> Suggested Fix:
> It is likely that the NSIS (Nullsoft Scriptable Install System) script used for the installer is missing a
> DeleteRegKey command in the uninstall section. Adding this command should ensure the registry key is
> properly removed during uninstallation.
> 
> Thank you for your work on Emacs!

Thanks.

Corwin, any comments?

Message #11 received at 79603 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Corwin Brust <corwin <at> bru.st>
To: Eli Zaretskii <eliz <at> gnu.org>
Cc: 79603 <at> debbugs.gnu.org, Knut.Kreinbihl <at> telekom.de
Subject: Re: bug#79603: Installer Issue: Uninstall Registry Key Not Removed
 (Windows 11 24H2, Emacs 30.2)
Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2025 06:01:17 -0500

On Thu, Oct 9, 2025 at 2:21 AM Eli Zaretskii <eliz <at> gnu.org> wrote:
>
> Corwin, any comments?
>

The guess is a good one; I will try adding a DeleteKey instruction in
the appropriate place in the NSIS installer.

Thank you for the report/nudge.

Message #14 received at 79603 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: <Knut.Kreinbihl <at> telekom.de>
To: <corwin <at> bru.st>, <eliz <at> gnu.org>
Cc: 79603 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: AW: bug#79603: Installer Issue: Uninstall Registry Key Not Removed
 (Windows 11 24H2, Emacs 30.2)
Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2025 09:25:53 +0000

Hi,

Thanks for picking this up so quickly, and happy to hear the report was helpful!

Do you already have an estimate for when a new version of the installer might be available?


Mit freundlichen Grüßen, Kind regards 

Knut Kreinbihl 
DEUTSCHE TELEKOM IT GMBH
Service Hub Workplace Service Client
Software Lifecycle - Development Tools
Utbremer Straße 94, 28217 Bremen, Germany
+49 421 515-53422 (Phone)
+49 151 50 655 760 (Smartphone)
E-Mail: Knut.Kreinbihl <at> telekom.de
www.telekom.com

LIFE IS FOR SHARING.

You can find the obligatory information on www.telekom.com/compulsory-statement-dtit
BIG CHANGES START SMALL – CONSERVE RESOURCES BY NOT PRINTING EVERY E-MAIL.

-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
Von: Corwin Brust <corwin <at> bru.st> 
Gesendet: Donnerstag, 9. Oktober 2025 13:01
An: Eli Zaretskii <eliz <at> gnu.org>
Cc: Kreinbihl, Knut <Knut.Kreinbihl <at> telekom.de>; 79603 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Betreff: Re: bug#79603: Installer Issue: Uninstall Registry Key Not Removed (Windows 11 24H2, Emacs 30.2)

On Thu, Oct 9, 2025 at 2:21 AM Eli Zaretskii <eliz <at> gnu.org> wrote:
>
> Corwin, any comments?
>

The guess is a good one; I will try adding a DeleteKey instruction in the appropriate place in the NSIS installer.

Thank you for the report/nudge.

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