Systems and methods to create a clean install of an application

Abstract

Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and software for computer application installation. In one example, a method of computer application installation includes executing a computer application installer. The method further provides, interrupting the computer application installer with a clean install mechanism, and forcing installation of all application components even if one or more of the application components was previously installed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a storage device;   program instructions stored on the storage device and comprising an application installer that, when executed by a processing system, directs the processing system to:   prior to installing an application, check a clean-install setting to determine whether the clean-install setting is enabled or disabled;   when the clean-install setting is enabled, install a set of components associated with the application, even though at least a subset of the components comprise shared components that were previously installed in association with at least one other application; and   when the clean-install setting is disabled, initiate an inquiry to locate the shared components.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the application comprises one of a suite of applications and wherein the one other applications comprises another one of the suite of applications. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the program instructions further comprise a virtual machine that includes the application installer. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising the processing system that reads and executes the program instructions. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the shared components comprise at least one of executable files and registry keys. 
     
     
         6 . A method of influencing an application installation, the method comprising:
 monitoring for an application installer to attempt to locate components shared between an application and at least one other application that is presently installed; and   in response to the attempt by the application installer, indicating an absence of the components to prompt the installer to install another version of the components.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 7  wherein monitoring for the application installer to attempt to locate the components comprises monitoring for queries directed by the application installer to an operating system component. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein monitoring for the application installer to attempt to locate the components comprises monitoring responses by an operating system component sent in reply to queries directed by the application installer to the operating system component. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6  wherein monitoring for the application installer to attempt to locate the components occurs when a clean-install setting is enabled and does not occur when the clean-install setting is disabled. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the application comprises one of a suite of applications and wherein the other application comprises another one of the suite of applications. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the components comprise directories, registry keys, and other files associated with the application. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus comprising:
 one or more non-transitory computer readable media;   program instructions stored on the one or more non-transitory computer readable media for influencing an application installation that, when executed by a processing system, direct the processing system to at least:   monitor for an application installer to attempt to locate components shared between an application and at least one other application that is presently installed; and   in response to the attempt by the application installer, indicate an absence of the components to prompt the installer to install another version of the components.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein to monitor for the application installer to attempt to locate the components, the program instructions direct the processing system to monitor for queries directed by the application installer to an operating system component. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein to monitor for the application installer to attempt to locate the components, the program instructions direct the processing system to monitor responses by an operating system component sent in reply to queries directed by the application installer to the operating system component. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein monitoring for the application installer to attempt to locate the components occurs when a clean-install setting is enabled and does not occur when the clean-install setting is disabled. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the application comprises one of a suite of applications. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the other application comprises another one of the suite of applications. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  further comprising the processing system that reads and executes the program instructions. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the program instructions comprise a virtual machine. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the components comprise directories, registry keys, and other files associated with the application.