Bug #42388 MySQL .msi uninstall process is an 'Unidentified Program' on Vista
Submitted: 27 Jan 2009 18:05 Modified: 24 Jun 2009 17:38
Reporter: Patrick Crews Email Updates:
Status: Not a Bug Impact on me:
None 
Category:MySQL Server: Config Wizard Severity:S3 (Non-critical)
Version:5.0+ OS:Windows (Vista)
Assigned to: Iggy Galarza CPU Architecture:Any
Tags: msi, signing, uninstall, vista, windows

[27 Jan 2009 18:05] Patrick Crews
Description:
The MySQL .msi installers are digitally signed and this information is presented to the user during the installation process: "Did you start this process?" types of prompts w/ MySQL AB as the author.

However, when trying to uninstall using the same .msi file, the user is presented with an "An unidentified program wants to access your system" warning, even though MySQL AB information is also presented via the 'Details' option of the warning.

Please see the attached files for examples of the initial dialog + the details

This occurred using 5.1.31 .msi packages on 64 bit Vista.  Both 32 and 64 bit .msi's were tested.

This does not occur on XP 32 bit.

How to repeat:
Install MySQL on a Vista machine via an .msi file.

Choose options and settings as needed / prompted.

Click on the .msi file again to be presented with the 'Repair, Modify, Remove' options of the .msi.

Choose 'Remove'

Observe the OS warnings that are presented.

Suggested fix:
We should try to ensure that the uninstall process does not appear in any way malicious to the user.

The installation dialog is more informative and direct about what is happening, the uninstall process should be the same.
[27 Jan 2009 18:06] Patrick Crews
Details view of the uninstall OS warning

Attachment: vista_uninstall_detail.tiff (image/tiff, text), 362.05 KiB.

[27 Jan 2009 18:07] Patrick Crews
Initial warning dialog presented during uninstall on Vista

Attachment: vista_uninstall_error.tiff (image/tiff, text), 364.56 KiB.

[27 Jan 2009 20:07] Patrick Crews
NOTE:  The (now-defunct) setup.exe files do not exhibit this issue on Vista.
[24 Jun 2009 17:38] Iggy Galarza
This is a problem with Vista and Windows Server 2008.  Please see kbase article: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929467 for more details.  Once you install the any Windows package, Windows Vista strips the installer package to include only the components needed for un-install and copies this new installer to a cache location.  When you attempt to un-install the application, Vista will use it's cached installer.  Since this cached installer differs from the signed MSI we distribute, the publisher (Vista in this case) is 'unknown'.