How to prevent Windows from auto-restoring a file

Hi folks,

I use InstallShield to install my applications and associated resources. I am currently testing an update program which I intend to send to all my clients which removes old files and programs which were included in the original installation but which are no longer required. I've noticed that, on some PCs, Windows seems to have some sort of autocorrection feature which stubbornly automatically restores the files as soon as the update application deletes them. It's a real pain. Does anyone know what this feature is and if it can be disabled?

Thanks!

XP and newer have a 'cache' in the Windows directory. If you remove the file from the 'cache' it will be unable to restore it.

I'm not exactly sure what it's called. Try search.

You are probably falling afoul of Windows File Protection, which is really trying to tell you your installer is faulty. Usually it means you are trying to deploy system files that should not be part of your installation.
Protected File List
All SYS, DLL, EXE, and OCX files that ship on the Windows CD are protected. True Type fonts--Micross.ttf, Tahoma.ttf, and Tahomabd.ttf--are also protected.

Do not remove files from the system dllcache manually.
After Setup is complete, WFP runs a scan of all protected files to ensure that they have not been modified by applications that were installed using unattended installation methods. This scan also populates the dllcache directory with verified file versions. If the dllcache directory becomes corrupted, run SFC /PURGECACHE. SFC will delete the contents of the dllcache directory, rescan all Windows files, and repopulate the dllcache directory with verified file versions.

Windows File Protection and Windows (http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/archive/wfp.mspx)

Thanks to both of you.

Interesting. But I'm not affecting any Windows SYS, DLL, EXE, and OCX files at all. The update application is only deleting the following which should not be regarded as protected files:
- the license file of my application which is in System32
- one of my applications
- a shortcut which is located in the Windows startup folder.

Thanks for the reference. It will make for great reading. I'll likely find my answer in there.

Thanks!

A big DON'T is storing files in the System32 folder.
Better use the Application Data structure.

See this older thread:
http://www.xtremevbtalk.com/showthread.php?t=279463