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Topaz PhotoAI update failure.

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Redcrown

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My Topaz PhotoAI update on Windows regularly fails. In an email dialogue with Topaz support I finally found out why.

When PhotoAI "updates", it first uninstalls the old version. Unlike other Topaz software and unlike all other software I know of, PhotoAI uses the original installer to uninstall. During the initial install, it copies the installer (Topaz PhotoAI x-x-x.msi) to the users TEMP folder. That's right, PhotoAI uses a Windows "temp" folder to store a file it will need weeks or months from now.

Topaz DenoiseAI, SharpenAI, GigapixelAI, and all older Topaz products don't do this foolishness. They all follow industry standards and put an "uninstall.exe" file in the Windows "Program Files" folder for each product.

My system backup routine deletes all Windows temp data before running, to avoid cluttering backups with useless data. Thus, the Topaz installer (uninstaller) hidden there was wiped out. So, any future update failed because it could not uninstall the old version. The initial solution was to re-download the installer for the old version, run it and do a "repair". That restored the msi installer in the temp folder, so now the update could find it.

Topaz = creativity at a new and dangerous level!
 
Redcrown said:
My Topaz PhotoAI update on Windows regularly fails.

My system backup routine deletes all Windows temp data before running, to avoid cluttering backups with useless data.
Click to expand...
Change YOUR backup routine to accommodate... ;-)

Cheers... M :-D
 
Last edited:
Redcrown said:
During the initial install, it copies the installer (Topaz PhotoAI x-x-x.msi) to the users TEMP folder. That's right, PhotoAI uses a Windows "temp" folder to store a file it will need weeks or months from now.
Click to expand...
Dear Redcrown,

I have just cleared my user %TEMP% folder (C:\User\{username}\AppData\Local\Temp) and system %TEMP% folder (C:\Windows\Temp) with Windows built-in cleaning app "CleanMgr", then updated Photo AI to 1.1.8 with no problems.

May I know where is the TEMP folder specifically so that I can test further?

Thank you.
 
Annie Ng said:


I have just cleared my user %TEMP% folder (C:\User\{username}\AppData\Local\Temp) ...., then updated Photo AI to 1.1.8 with no problems.

May I know where is the TEMP folder specifically so that I can test further?

Thank you.
Click to expand...
Interesting, that ...username\AppData\Local\Temp folder is the culprit for me. I wonder if Topaz fixed it between V 1.1.7 and your 1.1.8. FWIW, I was going from 1.1.1 to 1.1.7,

I'll try the 1.1.8 update later.

And also FWIW, version 1.1.7 did not improve any of the faults I'd found in 1.1.1. Most noticeable is when "Recover Faces" is used, the recovery extends half way down the neck and half way up into the hair, but then abruptly cuts off. Here's a sample:



c1e6c1a403c6465282e5ce58858217e8.jpg
 
I always delete Topaz Photo AI's installer file (TopazPhotoAI-1.x.x.msi) from the temp folder after install. It's since long ago (probably since its beta period). And I don't meet any install error. Really wondering why...
 
I am losing interest in Photo AI. Sharpen AI 4.1.0 meets most of my needs.
 
Redcrown said:
And also FWIW, version 1.1.7 did not improve any of the faults I'd found in 1.1.1. Most noticeable is when "Recover Faces" is used, the recovery extends half way down the neck and half way up into the hair, but then abruptly cuts off. Here's a sample:
Click to expand...
As far as I know, version 1.1.x does not improve on face recovery, and could produce even funky results with hair.

You may have a look at the roadmap for expected updates.
 
zerored said:
I am losing interest in Photo AI. Sharpen AI 4.1.0 meets most of my needs.
Click to expand...
I also mostly use Sharpen AI.

Currently I would not suggest spending $199 on Photo AI. It just so happened that I bought the trio (DeNoise, Sharpen and GigaPixel) on sale and got Photo AI for free.
 
The concept that AI does it all for me is not appealing. For me part of the joy of digital photography is manually processing images.
 
Redcrown said:
My Topaz PhotoAI update on Windows regularly fails. In an email dialogue with Topaz support I finally found out why.

When PhotoAI "updates", it first uninstalls the old version. Unlike other Topaz software and unlike all other software I know of, PhotoAI uses the original installer to uninstall. During the initial install, it copies the installer (Topaz PhotoAI x-x-x.msi) to the users TEMP folder. That's right, PhotoAI uses a Windows "temp" folder to store a file it will need weeks or months from now.

Topaz DenoiseAI, SharpenAI, GigapixelAI, and all older Topaz products don't do this foolishness. They all follow industry standards and put an "uninstall.exe" file in the Windows "Program Files" folder for each product.
Click to expand...
Photo AI installed okay the very first time somehow. Seems like there should be a way to completely install it and start over.
Redcrown said:
My system backup routine deletes all Windows temp data before running, to avoid cluttering backups with useless data. Thus, the Topaz installer (uninstaller) hidden there was wiped out. So, any future update failed because it could not uninstall the old version. The initial solution was to re-download the installer for the old version, run it and do a "repair". That restored the msi installer in the temp folder, so now the update could find it.

Topaz = creativity at a new and dangerous level!
Click to expand...
 
Annie Ng said:
I have just cleared my user %TEMP% folder (C:\User\{username}\AppData\Local\Temp) and system %TEMP% folder (C:\Windows\Temp) with Windows built-in cleaning app "CleanMgr", then updated Photo AI to 1.1.8 with no problems.
Click to expand...
I finally got around to trying it. Downloaded the update for version 1.1.8 and got "TopazPhotoAI.msi" (with no version numbers as before). Made sure my "Temp" folder was empty, and ran the update with no errors. And when it was done, there was no footprint in the Temp folder.

So, Topaz fixed it. I'd like to think my complaint was the reason. I also noticed there was no "uninstall.exe" anywhere either.
 
Doing routine cleanup, I found a file named "516992.msi" in the C:\Windows\Installer folder which was suspiciously the same size as a Topaz PhotoAI installer (huge 729,388 KB). And the Properties of that file say it is a "Topaz Photo AI Installer".

Just more junk left behind by Topaz.
 
Redcrown said:
Doing routine cleanup, I found a file named "516992.msi" in the C:\Windows\Installer folder which was suspiciously the same size as a Topaz PhotoAI installer (huge 729,388 KB). And the Properties of that file say it is a "Topaz Photo AI Installer".

Just more junk left behind by Topaz.
Click to expand...
If you learn about how Windows works you will realize that it's not "junk". Here are some links for you:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/a...delete-files-in-the-windirinstaller-directory

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/106233/installer-and-winsxs-folder-huge-size

"The C:\Windows\Installer folder contains Windows installer cache, it's used to store important files for applications installed using the Windows Installer technology and should not be deleted.

The installer cache is used to maintain (remove / update) the applications and patches installed on the computer. The installer files are a record of file versions and registry dependencies involved in a particular application or application update installation. The availability of this record in the cache helps to uninstall and update applications properly."

"So, the question usually asked is: Can I safely remove the files in this directory? The answer is flatly: No. So let's talk about why this is a bad idea..."

So, the file you found was exactly that - the Topaz PhotoAI installer renamed. And you were mislead or misunderstood. Topaz didn't change anything. I haven't updated my PhotoAI for quite a while since I rarely use it and I don't have any Topaz installers in my temp folders, at the exact locations you mentioned. I am not sure why you encountered the issue you described.

Besides, it's not Topaz who decides where to store their installers. .msi installers are managed by Windows, and I believe even if Topaz wanted to store them somewhere else they wouldn't have been able to.

And the proper backup strategy would be to ignore the temp folders instead of deleting their content.
 
Pov2 said:
Redcrown said:
Doing routine cleanup, I found a file named "516992.msi" in the C:\Windows\Installer folder which was suspiciously the same size as a Topaz PhotoAI installer (huge 729,388 KB). And the Properties of that file say it is a "Topaz Photo AI Installer".

Just more junk left behind by Topaz.
Click to expand...
If you learn about how Windows works you will realize that it's not "junk". Here are some links for you:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/a...delete-files-in-the-windirinstaller-directory

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/106233/installer-and-winsxs-folder-huge-size

"The C:\Windows\Installer folder contains Windows installer cache, it's used to store important files for applications installed using the Windows Installer technology and should not be deleted.

The installer cache is used to maintain (remove / update) the applications and patches installed on the computer. The installer files are a record of file versions and registry dependencies involved in a particular application or application update installation. The availability of this record in the cache helps to uninstall and update applications properly."

"So, the question usually asked is: Can I safely remove the files in this directory? The answer is flatly: No. So let's talk about why this is a bad idea..."

So, the file you found was exactly that - the Topaz PhotoAI installer renamed. And you were mislead or misunderstood. Topaz didn't change anything. I haven't updated my PhotoAI for quite a while since I rarely use it and I don't have any Topaz installers in my temp folders, at the exact locations you mentioned. I am not sure why you encountered the issue you described.

Besides, it's not Topaz who decides where to store their installers. .msi installers are managed by Windows, and I believe even if Topaz wanted to store them somewhere else they wouldn't have been able to.

And the proper backup strategy would be to ignore the temp folders instead of deleting their content.
Click to expand...
I was just about to post pretty much the same thing. You saved me a lot of typing. 😄

If the OP has been routinely "cleaning" this folder, that would account for the problems encountered.
 
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