[shrekdj]

Its a simple problem related to this error message "Could not Open INSTALL.LOG"

In brief:

There are 2 games currently installed on my PC, Return to Castle Wolfenstein and Gothic 3. When I tried to uninstall them (From "Add / Remove programs") an error pops up "Could not Open INSTALL.LOG". I installed the install disk(s) and then the message changes with a new error "Uninstall any previous installations before installing..." which doesn't help to uninstall the current games from the PC.

Tried Spybot and a numerous registry softwares which finally removed the games with a clean uninstall BUT when I installed Mafia 2 and decided to check whether the problem still exists by performing an uninstall, again the same error pops up.

In short every game gives this error by performing UnInstall through Add/Remove and even through Game directory.

So any help to solve this???

PC Info
Intel Core i7-950 Processor
3.06 GHz 4GB GTX 580
Barracuda Hard Drive 500GB

[Gareth Croke]

It doesn't seem to be a problem with your machine, just the installer programs that those games have used. I've had a good look around and it seems this is a known issue (which is tech code for "we know it's borked we can't be ar$ed fixing it").

However there does seem to be a solution I'll post a direct link to the page and I'll quote it here for reference

Solution

QUOTE

You may have noticed a problem when uninstalling some programs, if you have Ntfs in Windows XP, Vista or 7, you are likely to face this problem. When you try to uninstall ‘em from Add/Remove Programs List, they show a message “Could not Open Install.Log File!”. This problem is generally seen with “Wise Installation Wizard”. I have seen it only with “Wise Installation Wizard”. I don’t know if other installers give rise to same problem. When you try to uninstall them from Start Menu>>Programs>>%ProgramName%>>Uninstall It again gives the same error. This can be solved and the program can be un-installed without having to remove the directory, shortcuts and registry entries manually, which is really difficult and tiresome. I have found a solution to this problem and sharing with you all. Procedure: 1. Open the directory where the program is installed. (Eg. For System Mechanic 5, By default, it is C:\Program Files\iolo\System Mechanic 5, if you have installed XP on C:\) 2. You will see a file named “Install.log” in there. 3. Move (cut and paste somewhere else) the “install.log” to say an empty new folder in desktop (first create a new folder and then paste the install.log into it). 4. Now, double click the un-installer (uninstall.exe or unwise.exe) 5. It will ask you to open the installation log. Locate to the “install.log” file on your desktop. 6. Now, uninstall will work fine and you can un-install the program. Alternate Procedure You can simply drag the install.log to unwise.exe or uninstall.exe and it should work. This should solve your problem and the program should be uninstalled. PS: This was originally posted at Thinkdigit Forums a few years back. Please view older comments in the original post.

[shrekdj]

This worked. Awesome Thanks a ton Gareth!

But I would also like to share another method since my brother actually suggested it and indeed works too!
An application ARP++ alternative for Add/Remove programs for uninstalling games with no hassles.

Thanks again!

[Wolf68k]

Quick question: Did you get these games through Steam or physical copy (CD/DVD)?
I ask because I know that Mafia 2 is on Steam and I checked the other 2 and they as well are on Steam. I also know that games that you get through Steam will be listed in the Add/Remove Programs but that is not how you should uninstall Steam games. So if they are Steam games then that might be your problem.

[shrekdj]

QUOTE (Wolf68k @ Tuesday, May 8 2012, 15:18)

Quick question: Did you get these games through Steam or physical copy (CD/DVD)? I ask because I know that Mafia 2 is on Steam and I checked the other 2 and they as well are on Steam. I also know that games that you get through Steam will be listed in the Add/Remove Programs but that is not how you should uninstall Steam games. So if they are Steam games then that might be your problem.

I always buy from local vendor and never played any steam game.

As per the solution I had to navigate to the correct folder manually, instead of using Add/Remove Option to finally make "uninstall" work fine.

Also just tried decreasing the DVD-ROM reading speed to 4x from 10x works too. Initially I/O installation errors used to pop up whenever the game tried to register installation details. The 4x speed made installation damn slow but prevented I/O errors.

[Gareth Croke]

QUOTE (shrekdj @ Wednesday, May 9 2012, 07:34)

Also just tried decreasing the DVD-ROM reading speed to 4x from 10x works too. Initially I/O installation errors used to pop up whenever the game tried to register installation details. The 4x speed made installation damn slow but prevented I/O errors.

First you're welcome and second, if you had to slow down your drive in order for it to work then your drive could be on its way out. So it could be time to look for another, or try giving it a good clean out to see if that prevents errors, as the drive speed shouldn't effect the reading of a disc.

I know writing speed can be an issue at times, but reading shouldn't be a problem.