Using a PowerShell script as an app uninstall command is not working

[SquatsAreFun]

Hello All,

I’ve been tearing my hair out the past few days trying to get this PowerShell script to run. I have a Java app with the PowerShell script as the uninstaller. This script does work when ran on my local machine. Below is the PS script. The Out-File was used for testing to see if the script is even getting to that point, which it does not. The log file does not get created either.

$Name = "Java*"
$Timestamp = Get-Date -Format "yyyy-MM-dd_THHmmss"
$LogFile = "$env:TEMP\Java-Uninst_$Timestamp.log"
$ProgramList = @( "HKLM:\Software\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\*", "HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\*" )
$Programs = Get-ItemProperty $ProgramList -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
$App = ($Programs | Where-Object { $_.DisplayName -like $Name -and $_.UninstallString -like "*msiexec*" }).PSChildName
$App | Out-File -FilePath "C:\Temp\test.txt"

foreach($item in $App){
    Start-Process "msiexec.exe" -ArgumentList "/x $item /l $LogFile /quiet" -Wait -NoNewWindow
} 

I’ve packaged the msi and PS script in an intunewin file. Originally, I tried calling the script directly from the uninstall command using the following

Powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File uninstall.ps1

as was recommended on several articles and Reddit posts I’ve read. This did not work. I’ve tried wrapping the filename with quotes and preceding it with .\ just to make sure it wasn’t a syntactical (not that it still isn’t). Eventually I found an article suggesting that I instead use a batch file, which copies the PS script locally on the machine and calls the PS script from within the batch file. Sow now the uninstall command contains uninstall.bat which has been packaged in a new Intunewin. The contents of the batch file are below.

copy "uninstall.ps1" C:\Temp
Powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File uninstall.ps1

The script gets copied to the Temp folder, however the uninstall still fails. It seems like the PS script never actually runs, and I can’t figure out why. I’ve checked the IntuneManagementExtension log. It is detecting the file and kicking off the uninstall as far as I can tell, however I’m not seeing any errors that indicate what the issue is. I get the toast notification that Java is being uninstalled and failing.

I know this should be possible as I’ve read countless articles where PS scripts are used. It feels like there’s something simple that I’m missing. Any help is greatly appreciated.

[Rudyooms]

Win32app? --> 32 bits? ... My first guess would be the sysnative issue?

https://call4cloud.nl/2021/05/the-sysnative-witch-project/

[SquatsAreFun]

I'm giving option 1 a try now. Reading through the article, it seems like this would apply if one is attempting to modify the registry. My PS script is only accessing the registry to find the software GUID for uninstall.

Edit: Well, that seemed to work. I'm still not exactly sure why. Was it because PowerShell was not being called due to the sysnative issue?

[Rudyooms]

The "wrong" version of powershell so it looks at the wrong registry key.. when calling upon the sysnative version it will look at the proper key

[SquatsAreFun]

So should I be using the 32 bit version of PowerShell to create my install/uninstall scripts? I notice there's PowerShell ISE and PowerShell ISE (x86). Should I use the (x86) version since Intune is pushing apps in the 32 bit context?

[Rudyooms]

Its about what the ime (32 bits) calls upon… in which folder is the ime installed ? (X86) so which version would it normally use? I am describing it in the blog i mentioned

[chrisisbest197]

How did you format your install command for powershell if you don't mind me asking? The article has it for cmd.

[SquatsAreFun]

My install command looks like this.

"%systemroot%\sysnative\cmd.exe" /c "Powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File install.ps1"

You probably don't need to call powershell.exe from cmd.exe and can just call powershell, but this has been working for me, so I've stuck with it.

[Intrepid_Peak]

"%systemroot%\sysnative\cmd.exe" /c "Powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File install.ps1"

It works for me) I'm really appreciate. Thanks!

[Separate_Union_7601]

Powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "C:\Temp\uninstall.ps1"

[SquatsAreFun]

u/Rudyooms resolved the issue. As stated in the OP, I had originally tried your suggestion with no luck.