How to get the installation directory?

The MSI stores the installation directory for the future uninstall tasks.

Using the INSTALLPROPERTY_INSTALLLOCATION property (that is "InstallLocation") works only the installer has set the ARPINSTALLLOCATION property during the installation. But this property is optional and almost nobody uses it.

How could I retrieve the installation directory?

From stackoverflow

• Use a registry key to keep track of your install directory, that way you can reference it when upgrading and removing the product.

  Using WIX I would create a Component that creates the key, right after the Directy tag of the install directory, declaration

  Michael Damatov : I haven't done it, so I still need to know how get the directory...

  CheGueVerra : What are you using to create the MSI file with, every language would have it's specifications to get that information

  Michael Damatov : I've made it with InstallShield 11.5 (I know it's outdated...). BasicMSI project.

• I would try to use Installer.OpenProduct(productcode). This opens a session, on which you can then ask for Property("TARGETDIR").

  Michael Damatov : Already tried: doesn't work

• Try this: var sPath = this.Context.Parameters["assemblypath"].ToString();

• I'd use MsiGetComponentPath() - you need the ProductId and a ComponentId, but you get the full path to the installed file - just pick one that goes to the location of your installation directory. If you want to get the value of a directory for any random MSI, I do not believe there is an API that lets you do that.