All program update information is removed when you use the Msizap.exe tool to uninstall a program from a Windows-based computer

After you use the Windows Installer Zapper (Msizap.exe) tool to uninstall a program, the update information for all the programs on the computer is removed. Therefore, programs that you have already updated may appear to require the same updates again. Or, updated programs may no longer work as expected.

You experience this problem if the following conditions are true:

• You use version 3.1.4000.2508 of the Msizap.exe tool or an earlier version of Msizap.exe.
• You uninstall a program that was updated through the Windows Installer program.

Note Although you can run the Msizap.exe tool as a stand-alone command-line tool, Msizap.exe is also included in other utilities. These include the following:

• The Windows Installer Cleanup Utility For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
  290301 Description of the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility
• The Windows Support Tools
  
  To install the Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Support Tools, double-click Suptools.msi in the Support\Tools folder on the Microsoft Windows Server 2003 CD.

This problem occurs because, when you use the Msizap.exe tool to uninstall a program that has been updated, Msizap.exe deletes the following registry subkeys:These subkeys contain update information for all updated programs on the computer. Therefore, when these subkeys are deleted, update information is removed for all updated programs on the computer.

To resolve this problem, install the updated version of the Msizap.exe tool.

Note Although this hotfix was created for Windows Server 2003, you can also run Msizap.exe in Microsoft Windows XP and in Microsoft Windows 2000.

Service pack information

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows Server 2003. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site: Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

No prerequisites are required.

Restart requirement

You do not have to restart your computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

Windows Server 2003, 32-bit x86 version

Windows Server 2003, 64-bit x64 version

Windows Server 2003, 64-bit version for Itanium-based systems

Hotfix installation information

This hotfix extracts the updated version of the Msizap.exe file to a folder on the computer. Copy this file to the computer on which you want to run Msizap.exe.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section. This problem was first corrected in Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2.

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: