Original discussion https://portableapps.com/node/54905
If I use File Explorer to look around an app's folder and then go to the PortableApps folder the app folder remains highlighted. If I try to uninstall it runs for awhile then gives the error "Unable to Uninstall" the empty app folder remains. Selecting the app and choosing uninstall completes the removal.
Tried this on BlenderPortable and BalabolkaPortable with the same result.
I know the user would not normally be in the app folders but some apps like Blender and MakeHuman have the user add plugins or scripts manually. Tough a PAc plugin installer seems to avoid this problem.
Not sure if PAc can do anything about this or if it is peculiar to the Windows 8.1 environment.
On Windows 8.1 on USB flashdrive with PAc Platform.
Installed MakeHumanPortable and uninstalled, through the Platform, about a half-dozen times before experiencing the error.
Went to the PortableApps folder and noticed that the MakeHumanPortable folder was still highlighted. The folder itself was empty. Realized that I had looked around the MakeHumanPortable folder when I had copied in new assets. Uninstall again completed the removal.
Tried install and uninstall another half-dozen times, without going into the MakeHumanPortable folder, and experienced no errors on uninstall.
Tried install and uninstall several more times but this time using File Explorer to look through the folders under the MakeHumanPortable folder. Stepping back through the folders I noticed the pevious folder was still highlighted. When I reached the PortableApps folder I noted the MakeHumanPortable folder was still highlighted.
Each time I tried to uninstall through the PAc Platform I got the "Unable to Uninstall" error. Only the empty MakeHumanPortable folder was left. Running Uninstall again completed removal.Normally a user would not be going into these folders and probably not before an Uninstall
I did try to duplicated this with a couple other PAc Apps, including BlenderPortable, to see if it occurs for them and found it does. I did find that if I went back to the root of the USB drive then back to the PortableApps folder the applicationPortable folder was no longer highlighted and the Uninstall performed correctly.
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This is how Win is meant to work. If Win Exp is "in" a folder it needs serious effort to delete it. This is on purpose.
Moral: don't be looking at the stuff you be deleting ... you don't want it after all
Wm
I understand you can't remove a directory you are in. BUT, I am NOT in the directory I'm trying to remove.
In XP with Windows Explore this problem did not occur.
In 8.1 with File Explore it does. It seems like even though I moved up to PortableApps it maintains a"link' to the fact I had been in the directory I am trying to remove.
File Explore (8.1) may work this way but Windows Explorer (XP) does not.
This is easy to test and I think you have actually already done the test and are just not believing the results. Win XP is no longer considered reliable if only because many of us forget how it used to work, I do have a working Win XP system but I'm not going to fire it up to test your theory.
Te real test is simple but you'll only be persuading yourself: close Win Exp before you do the delete.
Wm