How to use Microsoft Msizap to remove orphaned cached Windows installer files.

Orphaned cached Windows Installer files can sometimes remain on a PC system, even if the applications were removed following proper uninstall procedures and these cached files can prevent the clean reinstall of a Micro Focus Host Connectivity application, like Extra! X-treme, Reflection 14.x or Reflection Desktop.  Msizap.exe is a command line utility which can be used to remove all Windows Installer information for a specific product installed on a computer, but this is a very powerful and potentially dangerous tool, so make sure to read and understand its documentation before using it.

Information from Microsoft about the Msizap application, where it can be obtained, and the options available can be found at:  https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/desktop/msi/msizap-exe

To remove a specific application from the Windows PC use the following command line at an elevated Command Prompt:

        MsiZap.exe tw! {GUID}

t     Removes all information for the specified product code.
              When using this option, enclose the Product Code or Product GUID in curly braces.
              This option may be used with either the full path to the .msi file or with the product code.

w     Removes Windows Installer information for all users.
              When this option is not set, only the information for the current user is removed.
              Use of this option requires that the user's profile be loaded so that the user's per-user registry hive be available.

!     Forces a 'yes' response to any prompt.

Note:  Finding the Product GUID for a specific application and version is beyond the scope of this article.