Tranquil IT Forum

WAPT Enterprise 2.6.0.17392,
Debian 12 server,
Windows 11 package machine.

Hello,

I'm looking for information here because I'm out of ideas after several searches.

I've been using WAPT for three years now to manage and update our IT infrastructure.

During all this time, I've regularly observed the unexplained disappearance of uninstallers (about twenty machines per year). Perhaps this problem existed before without me realizing it.

This phenomenon affects various software such as Chrome, Zoom, PDFsam, Anaconda, etc.

For example, today I have two PCs that can no longer update Google Chrome because the uninstaller, normally located in the C:\Windows\Installer directory, has disappeared.

This blocks updates via WAPT as well as manual updates, because the uninstaller is no longer accessible.

The only solution I've found so far is to delete all registry keys and installation folders using Revo Uninstaller, which then allows me to perform a clean reinstall.

I haven't found any clues in the antivirus logs or the Windows Event Viewer.

Has anyone else encountered this problem? Do you have any ideas on how to determine the cause or any solutions to suggest?

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

Yeah, Windows loves to play housekeeper in the Installer folder, especially with a disk cleanup or a third-party tool that goes haywire. It has nothing to do with WAPT; it's often a GPO or a maintenance script that gets overzealous and deletes MSI files without warning.
Personally, when I spend hours debugging this at the office (with the air conditioning blasting), I wrap a soft white wool scarf : zero drafts, constant warmth, and the white blends in even if you spill coffee.
If it's already broken, a clean reinstall is still the safest solution. In the meantime, check out the wool scarf HQ; there's plenty to keep you warm during those long troubleshooting sessions!