Using PowerShell to detect and remove certain type of software?

Ask your PowerShell-related questions, including questions on cmdlet development!
Forum rules
Do not post any licensing information in this forum.

Any code longer than three lines should be added as code using the 'Select Code' dropdown menu or attached as a file.
This topic is 5 years and 3 months old and has exceeded the time allowed for comments. Please begin a new topic or use the search feature to find a similar but newer topic.
Locked
User avatar
ITEngineer
Posts: 216
Last visit: Thu Mar 23, 2023 5:45 pm
Has voted: 4 times

Using PowerShell to detect and remove certain type of software?

Post by ITEngineer »

Hi All,

I need some help in modifying the below script that used to be working, but now it is not working.

The purpose of this script is to uninstall and remove all Microsoft Office 2010, 2013, 2016 any version (Standard or Professional) 32 and 64 bit.

Write it to the log file when failed.

Code: Select all

$AppDisplayName = 'Office'
$TARGETDIR = 'C:\logs\'
$LOGFILE = 'C:\logs\script.log'
$uninstallLog = 'C:\logs\uninst.log'

if (!(Test-Path -Path $TARGETDIR )) {
    New-Item -ItemType directory -Path $TARGETDIR
}
function WriteLog {
    #Adds info to log file with time stamp
    Param ([String] $Message)
    $tStamp = Get-Date
    $Day = $($tStamp).Day
    $Month = $($tStamp).Month
    $Year = $($tStamp).Year
    $Hour = $($tStamp).Hour
    $Minute = $($tStamp).Minute

    Write-Output "[$Day\$Month\$Year $Hour`:$Minute] $Message" >> $LOGFILE
}

function getUninstallInfo {
    Get-ChildItem -Path HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall, HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall |
        Get-ItemProperty |
        Where-Object {$_.DisplayName -like "*$($AppDisplayName)*" } |
        Select-Object -Property DisplayName, DisplayVersion, UninstallString
}

$uninstall = getUninstallInfo

Try {
    if ($uninstall.DisplayName -like "*365*") {
        Write-Host "$($ENV:COMPUTERNAME) is already using O365 , no need to uninstall" -ForegroundColor Yellow
        WriteLog "$($ENV:COMPUTERNAME) is already using O365 , no need to uninstall"
    }
    ElseIf ($uninstall.DisplayName -notlike '*365*') {
        WriteLog "Non Office 365 Detected - Querying Uninstall command"
        $productCode = "{$($uninstall.UninstallString.Split('{}')[1])}"
        Write-Output $productcode
        WriteLog "Uninstall command detected as $($uninstall.UninstallString) Attempting silent uninstall"
        $MSIArgs = @(
            '/x'
            $productCode
            "/qn"
            "/norestart"
            "/L*v"
            $uninstallLog
        )

        Start-Process 'msiexec.exe' -ArgumentList $MSIArgs -Wait -NoNewWindow
    }
}
Catch {
    Throw
    $message = "Error: $($_.Exception.Message)"
    Write-Host $message -ForegroundColor Red -BackgroundColor DarkBlue
    $message | Out-File -Append -Path $LOGFILE
}
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
/* IT Engineer */
jvierra
Posts: 15439
Last visit: Tue Nov 21, 2023 6:37 pm
Answers: 30
Has voted: 4 times
Been upvoted: 33 times

Re: Using PowerShell to detect and remove certain type of software?

Post by jvierra »

You have to tell us what doesn't work. What are the errors.

The code you have could only have worked under very restrictive circumstances if at all.

If you search the MS site you will find the official MS Office cleaner tool which will remove all versions of Office.
User avatar
ITEngineer
Posts: 216
Last visit: Thu Mar 23, 2023 5:45 pm
Has voted: 4 times

Re: Using PowerShell to detect and remove certain type of software?

Post by ITEngineer »

jvierra wrote: Tue Dec 11, 2018 5:31 pm You have to tell us what doesn't work. What are the errors.

The code you have could only have worked under very restrictive circumstances if at all.

If you search the MS site you will find the official MS Office cleaner tool which will remove all versions of Office.

Code: Select all

You cannot call a method on a null-valued expression.
At line:41 char:33
+ $uninstall.UninstallString.Split <<<< ('{}')[1]
    + CategoryInfo          : InvalidOperation: (Split:String) [], ParentContainsErrorRecordException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : InvokeMethodOnNull
Does the Office Cleaner tool can be scripted to be executed in bulk for multiple computers remotely?
/* IT Engineer */
jvierra
Posts: 15439
Last visit: Tue Nov 21, 2023 6:37 pm
Answers: 30
Has voted: 4 times
Been upvoted: 33 times

Re: Using PowerShell to detect and remove certain type of software?

Post by jvierra »

As I noted, the code as posted cannot work. It does not do anything you expect from what I see. It attempts to uninstall everything.

You try to uninstall everything that matches and doesn't math O365. That includes all software.

The following logic includes all things found:

if ($uninstall.DisplayName -like "*365*") {
} ElseIf ($uninstall.DisplayName -notlike '*365*') {
}


The code you have was originally designed to install one office product but seems to have been changed badly.
User avatar
ITEngineer
Posts: 216
Last visit: Thu Mar 23, 2023 5:45 pm
Has voted: 4 times

Re: Using PowerShell to detect and remove certain type of software?

Post by ITEngineer »

jvierra wrote: Tue Dec 11, 2018 8:54 pm As I noted, the code as posted cannot work. It does not do anything you expect from what I see. It attempts to uninstall everything.

You try to uninstall everything that matches and doesn't math O365. That includes all software.

The following logic includes all things found:

if ($uninstall.DisplayName -like "*365*") {
} ElseIf ($uninstall.DisplayName -notlike '*365*') {
}


The code you have was originally designed to install one office product but seems to have been changed badly.
Hi Mr. Vierra,

yes, the goal of the script is to uninstall the Software that is matching the $AppDisplayName variable.
in this example, I need to uninstall Microsoft office.
/* IT Engineer */
jvierra
Posts: 15439
Last visit: Tue Nov 21, 2023 6:37 pm
Answers: 30
Has voted: 4 times
Been upvoted: 33 times

Re: Using PowerShell to detect and remove certain type of software?

Post by jvierra »

Here is a rethink of what you are doing. It can help you to discover your issue. It is tested. I am posting it to help you get an idea of how you have to approach a problem like this. It will not remove anything until you change the "$ShouldProcess" variable.
Attachments
Test-RemoveOffice.ps1
(2.3 KiB) Downloaded 122 times
User avatar
ITEngineer
Posts: 216
Last visit: Thu Mar 23, 2023 5:45 pm
Has voted: 4 times

Re: Using PowerShell to detect and remove certain type of software?

Post by ITEngineer »

jvierra wrote: Wed Dec 12, 2018 5:54 pm Here is a rethink of what you are doing. It can help you to discover your issue. It is tested. I am posting it to help you get an idea of how you have to approach a problem like this. It will not remove anything until you change the "$ShouldProcess" variable.
Mr. Vierra,

Thanks for the help,
however, the script run with the error below:

Code: Select all

The "=" operator is missing after a named argument.
At line:7 char:29

Missing function body in function declaration.
At line:17 char:2

Missing function body in function declaration.
At line:23 char:2
/* IT Engineer */
jvierra
Posts: 15439
Last visit: Tue Nov 21, 2023 6:37 pm
Answers: 30
Has voted: 4 times
Been upvoted: 33 times

Re: Using PowerShell to detect and remove certain type of software?

Post by jvierra »

Works perfectly for me. You must have damaged the file in some way.

Download this again and don't make any changes to the file before running it.
Attachments
Test-RemoveOffice.ps1
(2.32 KiB) Downloaded 128 times
User avatar
ITEngineer
Posts: 216
Last visit: Thu Mar 23, 2023 5:45 pm
Has voted: 4 times

Re: Using PowerShell to detect and remove certain type of software?

Post by ITEngineer »

jvierra wrote: Wed Dec 12, 2018 9:36 pm Works perfectly for me. You must have damaged the file in some way.

Download this again and don't make any changes to the file before running it.
Is it because I'm executing it under Windows 7 Test PC:

Code: Select all

PS C:\Windows\system32> $PSVersionTable

Name                           Value                                                                                                                                                                          
----                           -----                                                                                                                                                                          
CLRVersion                     2.0.50727.8762                                                                                                                                                                 
BuildVersion                   6.1.7601.17514                                                                                                                                                                 
PSVersion                      2.0                                                                                                                                                                            
WSManStackVersion              2.0                                                                                                                                                                            
PSCompatibleVersions           {1.0, 2.0}                                                                                                                                                                     
SerializationVersion           1.1.0.1                                                                                                                                                                        
PSRemotingProtocolVersion      2.1    
The error is still:

Code: Select all

The "=" operator is missing after a named argument.
At C:\Users\Admin\Desktop\Test-RemoveOffice (1).ps1:7 char:30
+         [Parameter(Mandatory) <<<< ]
    + CategoryInfo          : ParserError: (:) [], ParentContainsErrorRecordException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : MissingEqualsInNamedArgument
/* IT Engineer */
jvierra
Posts: 15439
Last visit: Tue Nov 21, 2023 6:37 pm
Answers: 30
Has voted: 4 times
Been upvoted: 33 times

Re: Using PowerShell to detect and remove certain type of software?

Post by jvierra »

PowerShell 2 is no longer supported by Microsoft. It is considered a security problem. You need to upgrade.

PS does not support most of the extensions to PS at V3 and later. Just add the "= $true" to the "[Parameter(" statement

[Parameter(Mandatory=$true)]
This topic is 5 years and 3 months old and has exceeded the time allowed for comments. Please begin a new topic or use the search feature to find a similar but newer topic.
Locked