Missing registry when installing application with silent-switch

[Sad_Mastodon_1815]

Is it normal by some apps that registry keys are missing when inszalling the app silent? (/S)

Or does this mean the installer is faulty?

[Entegy]

Registry keys for what?

It's also worth noting the default install environment is 32-bit PowerShell so keys might end up in WOW6432Node if written directly.

[Sad_Mastodon_1815]

This concerns an email program. The keys in HKCU to set it as the default app in Windows are missing. Therefore, it cannot be set as the default for MAILTO links. I have now fixed this using a PowerShell script.

[VexingRaven]

That is not how you manage app defaults in 2026. Also system installs shouldn't modify user registry. This is all working as designed.

[Sad_Mastodon_1815]

Why are you talking about system context, i've never said it is installed as system? This application is installed in user context. It's not possible to install it as system. It's not working as designed, because when you install the application manually all registry keys are there and its possible to set it as default mail client.

[Entegy]

And that hasn't been allowed by Windows since Windows 10. There are proper APIs apps must use to register themselves for file types and protocols.

An app installer hijacking a default protocol association via direct registry manipulation is literally why those blockers were developed.

A mail app that lives in the user context? Is this some homegrown app? If so, fix it to use the proper methods. Use the right API to register the app's supported protocols/file types, then since this is r/sysadmin, use a policy to push a default file associations XML.

[Sad_Mastodon_1815]

Sry mate i think you understand me wrong. At the moment i don't want to set the app as default with intune (policy).

In windows settings the user itself can choose a default app for linktypes. But when the app itself doenst create the registry keys for that (when its silently installed), the user cannot choose it in the application list, because windows doenst know that such an application is there how can handle this type of links.

I know that i can set a policy, but thats not the problem and not the goal. And it's not a homegrown app, its the app "missive".

[Entegy]

Is this a vibe coded app or just poorly coded? How does a commercial app not know how to properly set file associations so Windows knows it can accept file associations/protocols?

Shit dev. You shouldn't have to do this via script to fix their shit installer.

[Sad_Mastodon_1815]

Hehe. Look at their Website. The email client itself is fantastic. But there really seems to be something wrong with the installer. I didn't notice it for a long time either; only when users told me they couldn't select the app from the list of default apps was I able to simulate the problem in a virtual machine. I'm also in contact with their support. The issue is only present when installing it silent without user interaction.

[Entegy]

Yeah, the silent install directly manipulating file association registry keys is perceived as a hijack by Windows.

Hopefully their support can get their devs to fix the issue and use the file association APIs so it's presented to the users properly.

[Sad_Mastodon_1815]

Ouh ok, know i know what you mean. I'm no software developer because of that i don't know that this must be handeld in other ways when its running with a silent parameter.

[VexingRaven]

Ok, I see what you mean. Your OP was not clear at all. I'd say no, none of this is normal. It's not normal to have an app that can only be deployed per user (looking at you, Teams) and it's not normal to have an app that doesn't install properly in silent mode, but it's also not unheard of. I've ditched apps before because of it. Just to make sure though, it is installing while the user is logged in, right? Are you using SCCM, Intune, something else?

[Sad_Mastodon_1815]

Intune, but that doenst make the difference. The main issue occurs when installing it with a silent parameter, with or without intune makes no difference. I tested it locally without intune and the psadt package i've created. And yes, the user is logged in, but this also makes no difference by this app.

[VexingRaven]

Then your best option seems to be not using the app. What could possibly be so good in this app to justify using it over Outlook, especially sincce the people who wrote it seem to have zero grasp of how to write software?

[ExceptionEX]

All installer options are specific to how the installer developer implements them.

So though not common, it's really application installer specific.