IExpress executable deleting itself?

[Gagorian]

I use IExpress to turn my .cmd files into .exes so the commandwindows dont even pop up for a second. I place the final cleanup executable (Final.exe) into %AllUsersProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\ then on next startup it would run and then delete itself.

The commandfile is as following:

DEL "%UserProfile%\Desktop\Connect to the Internet.LNK"
DEL "%UserProfile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\Launch Internet Explorer Browser.lnk"
DEL "%UserProfile%\Favorites\MSN.url"
DEL "%UserProfile%\Favorites\Radio Station Guide.url"
DEL "%UserProfile%\Favorites\Web Events.url"
DEL "%UserProfile%\Favorites\MSN.com.url"
RD /S /Q "%UserProfile%\Favorites\Links\"
RD /S /Q "%UserProfile%\Favorites\Media\"
DEL "%AllUsersProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\Final.exe"
EXIT

The delete command in the end doesn't work, probably since it's still running. After that I tried experimenting with Post-Install commands but didn't find one that would work. Suggestions?

[Incroyable HULK]

This one looks exactly like the problem I had HERE

Finally, I decided to leave my Install folder in the %windir%\Temp location so I don't mind if it doesn't get deleted...

[Gagorian]

It's not exactly the same situation.. Since I want the Final.exe run one reboot after I remove the entire installation folder (with cleanup.cmd). That's why I put it in the Startup folder, I want to get it removed after it has run once.

I guess I COULD use RunOnce and leave it to rot somewhere but... I'd like to see if I can get it working this way.

[MHz]

DEL "%UserProfile%\Desktop\Connect to the Internet.LNK"
DEL "%UserProfile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\Launch Internet Explorer Browser.lnk"
DEL "%UserProfile%\Favorites\MSN.url"
DEL "%UserProfile%\Favorites\Radio Station Guide.url"
DEL "%UserProfile%\Favorites\Web Events.url"
DEL "%UserProfile%\Favorites\MSN.com.url"
RD /S /Q "%UserProfile%\Favorites\Links\"
RD /S /Q "%UserProfile%\Favorites\Media\"
Attrib -r "%AllUsersProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\Final.exe"
DEL "%AllUsersProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\Final.exe"

Maybe it is a read only attribute causing it to not self-delete. Added Attrib command and removed Exit.

[Gagorian]

Nope, the file isn't read-only.

Just for clarification.. Final.cmd is actually the commands Final.exe runs (as in Final.cmd IS Final.exe) so it sort of instructs to remove itself, and apparently that does not work.

[sixpack]

ad echo's between your command's

try it

[Gagorian]

Didn't help unfortunately.

The problem is that access is denied to delete the file when it's still running... so, I wonder how can I make it delete itself AFTER it has run. I'm still thinking it can be done through IExpress Post-Install commands, but can't really figure it out.

[gunsmokingman]

This Will Delete This File On Systemdrive

Red Is Where You Add The File Name To Be Deleted.

Dim Garbage

set Garbage = (CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject"))

msgbox "Starting Clean UP?",vbokonly+48,"Clean Up"

Garbage.DeleteFile ("\RemoveActiveFile.vbs")

wscript.sleep 500

Delete=("\RemoveActiveFile.vbs")

wscript.sleep 500

msgbox "Clean UP Completed?",vbokonly+48,"Clean Up Those Files"

[Gagorian]

If I run it manually it does delete files.. but if I use IExpress to call it after the install.. it says "Error creating process <C:\Temp\IXP000.TMP\Garbage.vbs>. Reason: age.vbs

I have to experiment. Thanks.

I stripped it down a bit... I'll see if I can get IExpress to run it in post-install..

Dim Garbage
set Garbage = (CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject"))
Garbage.DeleteFile ("\final.exe")
Delete=("\final.exe")

[Gagorian]

I can't really find a solution.. so I simply have the following code in Cleanup.exe (IExpressed Cleanup.cmd for complete silence).

COPY /Y "%systemdrive%\winapps\Final.exe" "%systemdrive%\Temp\"
REG ADD "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce" /V 1 /D "%systemdrive%\Temp\Final.exe" /F

I could delete it up via runonce as well but... since it's a 60kb file in the temp folder it really makes no difference.

[gunsmokingman]

Here I Add A cmd that generates the cleanup vbs

This worked well on my computer

echo off 
cls
color f2
mode con: cols=55 Lines=3
Title Test Remove Vbs

 > %Systemdrive%\CU1.vbs echo Dim Garbage
>> %Systemdrive%\CU1.vbs echo set Garbage = (CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject"))
>> %Systemdrive%\CU1.vbs echo msgbox "Starting Clean UP?",vbokonly+48,"Clean Up"
>> %Systemdrive%\CU1.vbs echo Garbage.DeleteFile ("\CU1.vbs")
>> %Systemdrive%\CU1.vbs echo wscript.sleep 500
>> %Systemdrive%\CU1.vbs echo Delete=("\CU1.vbs")
>> %Systemdrive%\CU1.vbs echo wscript.sleep 500
>> %Systemdrive%\CU1.vbs echo msgbox "Clean UP Completed?",vbokonly+48,"Clean Up Those Files"
start /w %Systemdrive%\CU1.vbs
set /p = Press Key To Close

Edited December 29, 2005 by gunsmokingman

[Gagorian]

Great.. I got it to work. Had to modify it a bit though, here it goes.

Final.exe

REM PATH OF EXECUTABLE
SET FINAL=%SystemDrive%\Temp\Final.exe

REM COMMANDS
DEL "%UserProfile%\Desktop\Connect to the Internet.LNK"
DEL "%UserProfile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\Launch Internet Explorer Browser.lnk"
DEL "%UserProfile%\Favorites\MSN.url"
DEL "%UserProfile%\Favorites\Radio Station Guide.url"
DEL "%UserProfile%\Favorites\Web Events.url"
DEL "%UserProfile%\Favorites\MSN.com.url"
RD /S /Q "%UserProfile%\Favorites\Links\"
RD /S /Q "%UserProfile%\Favorites\Media\"
RD /S /Q "%systemdrive%\winapps\"

REM DELETION
> "%CD%garbage.vbs" echo Dim Garbage
>> "%CD%garbage.vbs" echo set Garbage = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
>> "%CD%garbage.vbs" echo Garbage.DeleteFile ("%FINAL%")
>> "%CD%garbage.vbs" echo Garbage.DeleteFile ("%CD%garbage.vbs")
START wscript.exe "%CD%garbage.vbs"

After it has run, it deletes itself and the .vbs file also deletes itself. Nothing left, and completely silent. Sweet.

Edit: Changed the code a bit

[nakira]

Why not just make it a .vbs from go to whoa?

On Error Resume Next
Dim Garbage, Shell, U, S
Set Shell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
U = Shell.ExpandEnvironmentStrings("%UserProfile%")
S = Shell.ExpandEnvironmentStrings("%SystemDrive%")
Set Garbage = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Garbage.DeleteFile(U & "\Desktop\Connect to the Internet.LNK")
Garbage.DeleteFile(U & "\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\Launch Internet Explorer Browser.lnk")
Garbage.DeleteFile(U & "\Favorites\MSN.url")
Garbage.DeleteFile(U & "\Favorites\Radio Station Guide.url")
Garbage.DeleteFile(U & "\Favorites\Web Events.url")
Garbage.DeleteFile(U & "\Favorites\MSN.com.url")
Garbage.DeleteFolder(U & "\Favorites\Links")
Garbage.DeleteFolder(U & "\Favorites\Media")
Garbage.DeleteFolder(S & "\winapps")
Garbage.DeleteFile(WScript.ScriptFullName)

[Gagorian]

Well. The reason I originaly had was that... I consider a commandfile easier to edit and add new entries. But come to think of it, I'm not going to edit it that often. Not a bad idea.