What is this NSIS.Library.RegTool file?

zanz · 18th August 2008, 21:15

I'm developing a few new installers, and I noticed that in the InstallDir, there's this file generated by NSIS installer:

NSIS.Library.RegTool.v2.{Some GUID}.exe.

At first I thought may be if i reboot my machine, this file will go away (this particular installer requires a reboot each time user installs the product).

Even after a reboot this file remains in the InstallDir. What's the function of this file? Is it safe to use? I tried searching for this file online, but didn't find much help. Thanks!

kichik · 19th August 2008, 05:13

It's a tool used to register DLL files after they have been replaced at reboot. It deletes itself after two reboots. One for the actual replacement and one for deleting itself.

zanz · 19th August 2008, 17:56

Got it, thanks Kichik.

zanz · 20th August 2008, 20:46

I noticed that if I do not reboot, but uninstall the product. Next time when the machine is rebooted, Windows throws an error that "Cannot find NSIS.Library.RegTool.v2.{GUID}.exe. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again.

How can this error be prevented on a reboot? any help will be appreciated.

kichik · 20th August 2008, 22:17

Which NSIS version?

zanz · 20th August 2008, 22:25

It's version 2.38, I don't want to jump to conclusion, but could it be a bug in NSIS?

kichik · 20th August 2008, 22:27

Attach a short example script. I'll check later.

zanz · 20th August 2008, 22:54

I'm not exactly sure which part of script you'd want to see but here's how the install section starts:

Section

SetRebootFlag true ; I want user to reboot the machine each time the product is installed.
.
.
.
;Install to InstallDir
File ${SOURCE_DIR}\myDLL1.dll
File ${SOURCE_DIR}\myDLL2.dll
File ${SOURCE_DIR}\${_LANG}\myFile.txt

!insertmacro InstallOnReboot ${SOURCE_DIR}\MyDLL3.dll $INSTDIR\MyDLL3.dll

!insertmacro InstallOnReboot ${SOURCE_DIR}\MyDLL4.dll $INSTDIR\MyDLL4.dll
.
.
.

!insertmacro InstallLib REGDLL SHARED REBOOT_NOTPROTECTED "${SOURCE_DIR}\myDLL3.dll" "$INSTDIR\myDLL3.dll" "$INSTDIR"

!insertmacro InstallLib REGDLL SHARED REBOOT_NOTPROTECTED "${SOURCE_DIR}\myDLL4.dll" "$INSTDIR\myDLL4.dll" "$INSTDIR"

;Install service
;Create registry keys/entries

the install section ends there. On uninstall, I just use UnRegDLL to unregister these DLLs except one of my DLLs where I use UnInstallLib to unregister a shared DLL

Joost Verburg · 21st August 2008, 12:55

Why are you using $INSTDIR as temporary folder?

zanz · 21st August 2008, 21:40

aww, I wasn't too clear after reading the documentation. Changing to TEMP folder instead of INSTDIR resolved the problem. I thought I had to use the INSTDIR (after reading the docs).
Thanks so much Joost and kichik for your prompt help!

18th August 2008, 21:15	#1
zanz Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 59	What is this NSIS.Library.RegTool file? I'm developing a few new installers, and I noticed that in the InstallDir, there's this file generated by NSIS installer: NSIS.Library.RegTool.v2.{Some GUID}.exe. At first I thought may be if i reboot my machine, this file will go away (this particular installer requires a reboot each time user installs the product). Even after a reboot this file remains in the InstallDir. What's the function of this file? Is it safe to use? I tried searching for this file online, but didn't find much help. Thanks!

19th August 2008, 05:13	#2
kichik M.I.A. [NSIS Dev, Mod] Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Israel Posts: 11,343	It's a tool used to register DLL files after they have been replaced at reboot. It deletes itself after two reboots. One for the actual replacement and one for deleting itself. NSIS FAQ \| NSIS Home Page \| Donate $ "I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand." -- Confucius

20th August 2008, 22:17	#5
kichik M.I.A. [NSIS Dev, Mod] Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Israel Posts: 11,343	Which NSIS version? NSIS FAQ \| NSIS Home Page \| Donate $ "I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand." -- Confucius

20th August 2008, 22:27	#7
kichik M.I.A. [NSIS Dev, Mod] Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Israel Posts: 11,343	Attach a short example script. I'll check later. NSIS FAQ \| NSIS Home Page \| Donate $ "I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand." -- Confucius

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19th August 2008, 17:56	#3
zanz Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 59	Got it, thanks Kichik.

20th August 2008, 20:46	#4
zanz Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 59	I noticed that if I do not reboot, but uninstall the product. Next time when the machine is rebooted, Windows throws an error that "Cannot find NSIS.Library.RegTool.v2.{GUID}.exe. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again. How can this error be prevented on a reboot? any help will be appreciated.

20th August 2008, 22:25	#6
zanz Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 59	It's version 2.38, I don't want to jump to conclusion, but could it be a bug in NSIS?

20th August 2008, 22:54	#8
zanz Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 59	I'm not exactly sure which part of script you'd want to see but here's how the install section starts: Section SetRebootFlag true ; I want user to reboot the machine each time the product is installed. . . . ;Install to InstallDir File ${SOURCE_DIR}\myDLL1.dll File ${SOURCE_DIR}\myDLL2.dll File ${SOURCE_DIR}\${_LANG}\myFile.txt !insertmacro InstallOnReboot ${SOURCE_DIR}\MyDLL3.dll $INSTDIR\MyDLL3.dll !insertmacro InstallOnReboot ${SOURCE_DIR}\MyDLL4.dll $INSTDIR\MyDLL4.dll . . . !insertmacro InstallLib REGDLL SHARED REBOOT_NOTPROTECTED "${SOURCE_DIR}\myDLL3.dll" "$INSTDIR\myDLL3.dll" "$INSTDIR" !insertmacro InstallLib REGDLL SHARED REBOOT_NOTPROTECTED "${SOURCE_DIR}\myDLL4.dll" "$INSTDIR\myDLL4.dll" "$INSTDIR" ;Install service ;Create registry keys/entries the install section ends there. On uninstall, I just use UnRegDLL to unregister these DLLs except one of my DLLs where I use UnInstallLib to unregister a shared DLL

21st August 2008, 12:55	#9
Joost Verburg NSIS MUI Dev Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 3,717	Why are you using $INSTDIR as temporary folder?

21st August 2008, 21:40	#10
zanz Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 59	aww, I wasn't too clear after reading the documentation. Changing to TEMP folder instead of INSTDIR resolved the problem. I thought I had to use the INSTDIR (after reading the docs). Thanks so much Joost and kichik for your prompt help!