This is just a curiousity question... We often see the message after removing a program via Add/Remove Programs that the system must be restarted to complete the removal process.
I'm just curious about when this "clean-up" happens.
Does the clean-up occur during the Windows shutdown process?
If not, are flags set so that the cleanup occurs when windows restarts? Does it happen the next time a user logs on? Any user on a multiple suer machine or only the user that removed the program?
Just what is the clean-up process and is it the same for installs as for removals?
Thanks!
I am guessing it has a lot more to do with removing service processors from the services.msi that occurs before you log into Windows. After you log in, the program you removed will no longer have its dependent service running and that the removal process has been successfully completed. i_Xp/Vista/W7User
It adds a line to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce But not sure if this will run for all users or not. I suspect it is all users but do not know.
Bryan
re: RunOnce Run what once?
What I mean is...
Let's say I uninstall AVAST anti-virus one time and WINTV.exe another time. If they both put that line in the registry, what gets RunOnce?
I believe what is happening is that some things cannot be deleted completely while they are partially running in memory, so these are deleted during shut down or at start up (not sure which, but I believe it is at start up, before even your antivirus program is running). Also I believe that when the registry is altered in installing and uninstalling, it is not fully active in the running memory until you restart.
This might not be 100% correct, but it works for my thought process. Anyone have more definite info, post I and I will look back in a few days (always learning).