Installshield Product Code ◉ «Reliable»

: If two versions of a product have the same Product Code, Windows treats them as the same entity. Changes to the Product Code are typically required for "Major Upgrades" to allow the installer to recognize the new version as a replacement for the old one.

Once a Product Code is used in a released build, it is . Do not reuse it, even for a different product. Windows Installer caches product information in the registry at HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData . Reusing a code will cause conflicts. installshield product code

You release App v1.0 (Product Code A). Later, you build App v1.1 but . Your users install v1.1. What happens? Windows Installer sees Product Code A already installed, so it enters "maintenance mode" or fails with an error. Users end up with two separate entries in Control Panel – one that works and one that is broken. : If two versions of a product have