Visual Studio 2015 Update 3 - Uninstalling Windows 10 SDK (10.0.10586) Fails

Question

_{Friday, October 27, 2017 12:22 AM}

I tried to uninstall it different ways:

• From the Control Panel -> Add Remove Programs, select Visual Studio -> Change OR Modify -> uncheck Windows 10 SDK (10586)
• From Add Remove Programs, select "Windows Software Development Kit - Windows 10.0.10586.212", right click it and choose Uninstall or Change

Both ways fail with error "Windows 10 SDK(10.0.10586) The installer failed.  Fatal error during installation.  Error code: -2147023293"

Looking at the log file I see this

[1678:31D8][2017-10-26T16:55:00]i000: MUX:  Source confirmed
[1678:2D60][2017-10-26T16:55:01]i000: MUX:  Finished connecting secondary installer pipe
[1678:1E30][2017-10-26T16:57:46]i000: MUX:  Updating secondary installer progress display name: Outer=Windows 10 SDK (10.0.10586), Inner=
[26F8:0F68][2017-10-26T16:58:20]e000: Error 0x80048646: Process returned error: 0x80048646
[26F8:0F68][2017-10-26T16:58:20]e000: Error 0x80048646: Failed to execute EXE package.
[1678:1AEC][2017-10-26T16:58:20]e000: Error 0x80048646: Failed to configure per-machine EXE package.
[1678:1AEC][2017-10-26T16:58:20]i000: MUX:  Installation size in bytes for package: VSSecondaryInstaller_box MaxAppDrive: 0  MaxSysDrive: 8171608  AppDrive: 0  SysDrive: 3403864

-- d.

All replies (2)

_{Friday, October 27, 2017 2:42 AM ✅Answered | 1 vote}

Hi _db_,

Thank you for posting in MSDN forum.

Please with following steps to troubleshoot:

1. Run Fix it tool to fix problems that block programs from being installed or removed.

2. Go to Control Panel>Programs>Programs and Features, select Win 10 SDK 10.0.10586.212, right-click and manually uninstall it.

3. If the above steps still can't remove this SDK, you could use msiinv to find the Win 10 SDK product code, run this command from an admin prompt: msiexec /X {product code} to uninstall it.

Usually, the Error 0x80048646 is related to system environment, before installation, I suggest check your Windows update and install all the patches. If any problem persists, please feel free to contact us, we are willing to help you troubleshoot.

Best Regards,

MSDN Community Support
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_{Friday, October 27, 2017 4:48 PM}

Thank you Lana, I actually manage to resolve it.  My attempts above failed.  But I rebooted my machine, made sure nothing is opened (I have a feeling VS will lock some files and keep them locked for a while even after closed) and attempted again to uninstall.

It failed again

But I rebooted again and attempted again to uninstall and it failed again

I rebooted again and it was gone.

So, I havent had a chance to try your suggestion but if I run into the issue again, I will.

Much appreciated.

-- d.