RE: [avr-gcc-list] Installing WinAVR 20070122 broke older3.4.5install?

[Eric Weddington]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bruce D. Lightner [mailto:address@hidden 
> Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2007 2:35 PM
> To: AVR GCC List
> Cc: Eric Weddington
> Subject: Re: [avr-gcc-list] Installing WinAVR 20070122 broke 
> older3.4.5install?
> 
> Eric Weddington wrote:
> 
> 
>               
>               There is another key located at:
>               HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WinAVR
>                   
> 
>       
>       However, I'd like to note that the *GCC compiler* does 
> not look at that
>       particular key. That key is there mainly for the 
> installer to determine if
>       an installation of WinAVR already exists on the 
> computer and the location of
>       it. It pulls that location in during the installer so 
> it knows to install
>       the new WinAVR in the same location as the old one. 
> IIRC, the uninstaller
>       uses that key as well. Again, the compiler doesn't care 
> about that key.
>         
> 
> 
> Which explains another "strangeness" that I've encountered 
> when installing WinAVR, the last time when trying to test a 
> "trial" WinAVR release!  I'm pretty sure that I ended up with 
> "WinAVR_20060421" installed in the directory 
> "C:\WinAVR_20060125".  A bit confusing, don't you think!? :-)
> 
> The fact that the WinAVR "installer" wipes out the previously 
> installed version of WinAVR is a bit "heavy-handed" in my opinion.
> 
> At the very least, if you are going to do that, you should at 
> least give a *clear warning* to the user (or better yet, 
> given him/her the choice to "opt out" of that behavior).
> 
> Maybe this *too* should be documented in the "FAQ" somewhere.

No, you're right in the first part. WinAVR should be changed allow multiple
installations, hence, give the user the option to uninstall or not.

The current model is one installation, make it easy for the user to install
a new version by automatically uninstalling, *if* installed in the same
location.

It'll take some doing to change to a different format, but I'm convinced now
that it will make it a better "product".

Thanks for all your help and insight.

All I can say for now is my apologies for all the hassle, and let's see if
we can get this fixed on the next go-around.

Eric