Using MSIZap

What is MSIZap?

This command-line tool deletes configuration data that Windows Installer maintains for
products that it installs, including the directories, files, registry subkeys, and registry
entries in which Windows Installer stores configuration data.

What is required to run MSIZap?

1) An MSIZap.exe file
2) Access to the run dialog
3) Administrative privileges (Windows 2000 and higher only)

Why use the MSIZap utility?

You can use MSIZap to remove remnants of corrupted Windows Installer installations
that prevent you from installing a product correctly.

What information is removed when using the MSIZap?

The only information that is removed using this utility is the information regarding the
Windows Installer. Program files, databases, etc. are not removed from the computer; in
fact, the product (in most cases) will still be able to run properly even after the MSIZap
has been run.

What syntax do I use to run MSIZap?

The following is the correct syntax to use when you wish to remove a product from the
Windows Installer history, using MSIZap:

[MSIZap.exe] [Options] [Product Code]

Here is an example that will remove a sample product:

D:\Support\MSIZap\MSIZap.exe TW {5752327A-660D-4907-B8F5-D3F39D047F3C}

*For information on all the options available to you, please refer to the
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa370523.aspx MSDN article.

In the above example, we ran the T and W options. The T option will remove all installer
information for the specified product code. The W option will remove this information
from all of the users. These are going to be the typical options that are run to remove
products. Using any other options could cause problems that may cause the product to
not work properly as well as other products that are installed on your computer.
MSIZap Walkthrough:

1) Open ‘My Computer’

2) Browse to folder containing the MSIZap.exe file
3) Drag the MSIZap.exe file from ‘My Computer’ to the ‘Run’ dialog
Your run dialog should look something like this:

4) After the final quote mark (“), put a space and enter the options code that you
want to use, in this case it would be TW
a. Your run dialog should now look something like this:

5) After the W put another space and enter the product code that should be removed
from the installer history
a. We are going to use the product code used in the above sample, so now
your run dialog should look something like this:
 6) Click Ok

If done properly, a command prompt should appear on the screen and should run through
the process of removing the installer information. This utility is actually very quick, so if
the window only opens for a brief moment, this is normal.

Now you should be able to re-install the product as though it were a fresh installation.