Inno Setup Start menu uninstall shortcut is not shown on Windows 10

Question

I've got an issue that seems to be specific to Windows 10 with the Start menu uninstall shortcut I create in my setup. The shortcut is simply not shown.
However, others shortcuts I create are shown as well...

Here is the value for DefaultGroupName:

DefaultGroupName={#MyAppPublisher}\MyCompany\MySoftwareName

Here are my entries for shortcuts in [Icons] section:

[Icons]
Name: "{group}\{#MyAppName} {#MyAppVersion}"; Filename: "{app}\MyExeName.exe"; WorkingDir: "{app}"
Name: "{commondesktop}\{#MyAppName} {#MyAppVersion}"; Filename: "{app}\MyExeName.exe"; WorkingDir: "{app}"; IconFilename: "{app}\MyExeName.exe"
Name: "{userappdata}\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\{#MyAppName} {#MyAppVersion}"; Filename: "{app}\MyExeName.exe"; WorkingDir: "{app}"; Tasks: quicklaunchicon
Name: "{group}\{cm:UninstallProgram, {#MyAppName} {#MyAppVersion}}"; Filename: "{uninstallexe}"; WorkingDir: "{app}"; IconFilename: "{app}\Remove.ico"
Name: "{group}\{cm:SHORTCUT_SAV}"; Filename: "{code:GetDataDir}"

I've tried a simple entry too:

Name: "{group}\Uninstall My Program"; Filename: "{uninstallexe}"

But shortcut is still not shown.

Note that this works fine in any previous version of Windows...

Do you have any idea on this? I've search but I have not found any topic related to this specific problem.

Answer 1

Windows 8 and newer employs lots of optimizations to the Start menu to reduce number of items shown.

For example it won't display two shortcuts pointing to the same target, no matter, if the shortcuts have different labels or are placed in different menu folders.

You are probably a victim of such optimization.

Anyway, what you are trying to do is against Windows guidelines:

• You should not use Start menu folders in Windows 8 and newer.
• You should not add a shortcut to an uninstaller to the Start menu, on any version of Windows. The user should go to Control panel or Settings app to uninstall a program (that's also a possible explanation, why the shortcut is not shown).

Answer 2

I had the same problem. In my case sometimes only the uninstall shortcut in windows start menu disappers.

Somehow I fixed it.

Just use in Icons-section the command to create this shortcut twice. Their names need to differ.

For example:

Name: "{group}\{#Uninstall_Name} {#MyAppName}"; Filename: "{uninstallexe}";IconFilename: {app}\{#IconFileStartDesktop};

Name: "{group}\{#MyAppName} {#Uninstall_Name}"; Filename: "{uninstallexe}" ;IconFilename: {app}\{#IconFileStartDesktop};

If the first uninstall-shorcut does not show up, the second one will do it.

Answer 3

new to the group and to INNO. :)

I figured a workaround to have an UNINSTALL entry in the START MENU.

[Icons]

Name: "{group}\{cm:UninstallProgram,{#MyAppNameShort}}"; Filename: "{#MyUninstallFilesDir}\unins000.exe"; Tasks: startmenu

It's not elegant having to hard-code the EXE, but it works in Win10 64-bit. My plan for updates is to uninstall the Access Front-end, leave the Back End alone, and reinstall only the Front-end.

(in theory...)

Robert :)

Answer 4

Name: "{group}\{cm:UninstallProgram,{#MyAppName}}"; Filename: "{uninstallexe}"
Name: "{group}\{cm:UninstallProgram,{#MyAppName}}"; Filename: "{uninstallexe}

Just insert the command twice..done:)