Zombie files in root of Windows user profile: PCPE 3.0.2 on Win7/64

[MoxieMomma_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 12/18/2012

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Hi:

New to this forum, but not to APC UPS or PCPE.

Issue: Clean install of PCPE 3.0.2 on new Win7/64 desktop PC for a new XS1300G UPS installed many language DLL, setup.exe and other files to the "root" of my Windows user profile.

This was a clean, standard installation from a fresh d/l of the installer from the APC site.
The program files themselves are in the correct directory.
The application (and the UPS) are performing normally.

However, I have never, ever seen ANY 3rd-party application of any kind leave so many and such "zombie" files in such an odd location, causing such needless clutter.
In fact, I am still running PCPE 2.2 on a nearly identical Win7/64 platform with an identical XS 1300G -- no such "zombie" files.

Tech support has been very nice.
They are able to reproduce the issue.
However, they explain that this is "normal" and that these files cannot be deleted, moved or even collected into a folder, b/c the PCPE application needs them to run.
I find that hard to believe.
Moreover, to troubleshoot, as requested, I cleanly UNinstalled PCPE and even rebooted the system, only to find these same zombie files in the same place - they were not removed even when the program was completely uninstalled.
I had to MANUALLY delete them before I attempted another clean reinstall.
Needless to say, they were all recreated in the same location, <username>, again.

This is not a "tech support" issue, per se.
It appears to be a software programming problem.
Even recent PCPE builds (2.2) don't install such files, at least in this atypical location.
To my untrained eye, these look to be setup files (e.g. language files, etc) that should have been cleaned up during the setup wizard when PCPE 3.0.2 was installed.
Or, at the very least, if they are needed, they should NOT install to this peculiar location.

So, my questions are:
1) WHY does PCPE 3.0.2 (but not earlier numbered builds, such as 2.2) create THESE files in THIS location?
2) WHY are they LEFT BEHIND even when the program is uninstalled?
3) ARE they REALLY needed to run PCPE, or CAN THEY BE DELETED?

Much obliged for any insight and advice,

MoxieMomma

PS I have been a loyal fan and customer of APC for many years. And I still like your UPS devices.:-)

[MoxieMomma_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 12/21/2012

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Hi:

Yes, that seems to be the same exact issue (sorry I didn't find that original topic).

I will go ahead and remove those leftover files from my profile, as you advise that it is safe to do so. 🙂

Thanks very much for your prompt and expert reply.

I do hope that the software developers will fix this problem soon -- it has been more than a year since it was reported, it was not fixed with either of the intervening minor build update and is just REALLY sloppy programming.X-(

MM

PS Someone might want to update your Tech Support people about this issue. It would have have saved me (and them) quite a lot of time and effort, had they been able to provide the correct information when I first contacted them.;-)

[BillP]

This reply was originally posted by Angela on APC forums on 1/2/2013

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thanks for the feedback. let me pass it along to see what we can do.

EDIT - we made a knowledge base on this today -> http://www.apc.com/site/support/index.cfm/faq/ -> FA166755

[BillP · Accepted solution]

This reply was originally posted by Angela on APC forums on 12/19/2012

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i believe you are seeing the same thing as noted in this previous post. see my replies on that -> Referenced content removed