Cannot uninstall MySQL Connector/Net 6.3 or higher

Question

I cannot install MySQL Connector/Net due MS Web Platform because of that error.

MSI (s) (E4:D8) [12:15:40:237]: Doing action: LaunchConditions Action ended 12:15:40: SetHLMPath. Return value 1. Action start 12:15:40: LaunchConditions. MSI (s) (E4:D8) [12:15:40:238]: Product: MySQL Connector Net 6.5.4 -- A previous version of Connector/Net 6.3 or higher is already installed. Please uninstall that version first.

Action ended 12:15:40: LaunchConditions. Return value 3. Action ended 12:15:40: INSTALL. Return value 3. MSI (s) (E4:D8) [12:15:40:239]: Note: 1: 1708 MSI (s) (E4:D8) [12:15:40:239]: Product: MySQL Connector Net 6.5.4 -- Installation failed.

MSI (s) (E4:D8) [12:15:40:239]: Windows Installer installed the product. Product Name: MySQL Connector Net 6.5.4. Product Version: 6.5.4. Product Language: 1033. Manufacturer: Oracle. Installation success or error status: 1603.

I don't have connector installed under Program Files/MySQL folder as well as I cannot find any key in windows registry with Connector/Net

Any clue how I can fix it?

Answer 1

I've had to battle this for quite a few hours! I also managed to fix this myself as most of the information available was of no use - quite an achievement for me.

I previously had a version of the MySQL .Net Connector installed. At some point I uninstalled it in order to get past problems with WebMatrix. It seems that the uninstall process is a bit faulty (see here for one example: http://bugs.mysql.com/bug.php?id=64443)

The fix

1. Run the "Start the Program Install and Uninstall troubleshooter" tool on this page: http://support2.microsoft.com/kb/2438651
2. Tell the wizard that you're having problems uninstalling a product.
3. After a short while, select the "MySQL Net Connector " item in the list and have the wizard "repair" the uninstall

Non WebMatrix install 4. If you're not installing via WebMatrix then run the installer for the connector. Select "Custom" install and make sure that only the CORE components are installed. The install will now complete successfully. It seems some of the other components are what causes the install problems. I suspect it's some sort of GAC issue, but I can't be sure.

WebMatrix install 5. If you're using WebMatrix then identify which version of the MySQL connector it's trying to install (6.5.4 at the time of writing). Get the version (and the msi package) by attempting to install whatever gallery application you are trying to install that fails (ie, WordPress). Open up the install log. In there should be the location of the connector msi. Copy & paste it. 6. Now open an elevated command prompt. Type in

    msiexec /i "<pasted location of the connector msi file>"

Don't forget the speech marks! Run the installer as per step 4.

Obviously, this won't be much use if you need the other components installed as well, but it's a start.