Using Setup Information (.inf) files to create install packages

Caution

Update: The retired, out-of-support Internet Explorer 11 desktop application has been permanently disabled through a Microsoft Edge update on certain versions of Windows 10. For more information, see Internet Explorer 11 desktop app retirement FAQ.

IEAK 11 uses Setup information (.inf) files to provide uninstallation instructions. Uninstallation instructions let your employees remove components, like files, registry entries, or shortcuts, through the Uninstall or change a program box. For details about .inf files, see INF File Sections and Directives.

To add uninstallation instructions to the .inf files

  • Open the Registry Editor (regedit.exe) and add these registry keys:
    HKLM,SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\app-name,"DisplayName",,"description"
    HKLM,SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\app-name,"UninstallString",,"command-line"
    
    Where "description" is the name that shows up in the Uninstall or change a program box and "command-line" is the command that runs after the component is picked.

    Note
    Make sure your script removes the uninstallation registry key, too. Otherwise, the component name will continue to show up in the Uninstall or change a program.

Limitations

.Inf files have limitations:

  • You can't delete directories.

  • You can't use RenFiles to move a file to a different location, it only lets you rename a file in its existing location. For detailed information, see INF RenFiles Directive.

  • You can't use CopyFiles to copy a file to another place on your hard drive, it can only copy files from the source disk to the destination directory. For information, see INF CopyFiles Directive.