[Windows 10] Source tree won't update or install (the older version of SourceTree cannot be removed)
Asked by BenJBailey:

A few months ago I upgraded my Windows 7 machine to Windows 10 (on a vm running vmWare fusion on Mac OSX). I had the current version of Source tree at the time (which I believe is 1.6.22).

Every time an update became available, the installer would start then give me the message "The older version of SourceTree cannot be removed. Contact your technical support group."

I just ignore updates for a time till I finally needed the newer updates and wasn't able to install one. So far I've tried:

* Downloading the newest install and running it. I got the same message
* I would follow the step here: ["The older version of SourceTree cannot be removed"](https://answers.atlassian.com/questions/300711) but the recommended tool does not exist for Windows 10 ![sad](/html/@C495B4504065515364EB1894F812B34C/images/emoticons/sad.png "sad")
* Removing the folders and registry keys recommended here: <http://www.advanceduninstaller.com/SourceTree-21492036f47cd208ec5b38b09c675f22-application.htm> and here: <http://www.uninstallapp.com/article/How-to-uninstall-Source-Tree-1.0.0.1.html> (I know they look like shady sites, but I was careful)
* Searching computer for all remains of Atlassian, SourceTree and PuttyGen.
* After deleting all files, emptying recycle bin
* Restarting computer after steps

All those steps to no avail. It still won't install SourceTree. What else should I do? Anyone else having this problem?


Answers:
author: BenJBailey
body: Turns out that there was something wrong with the install (I did have it installed on Windows 7 previously before I upgraded). After running [CCleaner](https://www.piriform.com/ccleaner), the new version installed no problem.

comments: author: Brian
body: Is there another solution that doesn't involve installing another 3rd party app?


author: TimH
body: I had to delete the folders SourceTree and Atlassian from c:\\users\\\[username\]\\AppData\\Local before I could install successfully.


author: Januar Simarmata
body: I have deleted both directory from but didn't work.

It turns out that the application was installed on c:\\users\\\[username\]\\AppData\\Local\\SourceTree directory, so I just continue from there, i.e. create shortcut from Desktop.


author: mredman
body: To get the latest version working: 2.3.1.0 on Windows 10, I did the following.  

I uninstalled SourceTree  

Deleted everything in AppData\\Atlassian  

(running 2.3.1.0 just opened and closed)  

Ran the installer 2.0.20.1  

This came up with something about dictionaries, which I clicked delete  
(I assumed I would have deleted these, but I didn't stop to look at the paths)  

Then the installer wizard came up (for 2.0.20.1)  

I closed the installer and opened the 2.3.1.0 installer and that continued.

Hope this helps..  

<br />

Feedback, please test installers on non-clean machines that have had previous installs.

comments: author: Ryne Rayburn
body: Thank you! This was my solution too!


author: Monique Heinz
body: This was my solution too!


author: mredman
body: After posting the solution, SourceTree now doesn't open after a couple of days, very annoying... do I really need to do this every time?


author: mredman
body: This is the second solution to keep it running:  
<https://community.atlassian.com/t5/Sourcetree-questions/SourceTree-2-3-1-Windows-will-not-launch/qaq-p/643914>  

Come on Atlassian, sort it out please....


author: Derek Hibdon
body: Worked for me as well!


author: Michael LaValley
body: You are a godsend, this worked perfectly.


author: CHEN YUZONG
body: Thank you very very much. Perfect solution !


author: Mihael
body: worked as well for me! thank you!


author: jturi
body: Deleting everything from AppData\\Local\\Atlassian\\ worked for me as well. Thank you!


author: Jirapat Jantsakool
body: it's worked


author: dave dien
body: deleting C:\\Users\\\<username\>\\AppData\\Local\\Atlassian worked for me.

Thank you!


author: nguyenhiep2906
body: Worked for me,

Thanks


author: jovaniogaya
body: I'm using windows 10 and here's what I did:

Go to

C:\\Users\\user\\AppData\\Local\\Atlassian

Delete or rename all existing folders in it.

Then run the installer

comments: author: sreejithk2000
body: This worked for me. Thank you.


author: jovaniogaya
body: nice to hear :)


author: thiagopxp
body: It worked for me as well.


author: plutarco
body: Worked perfectly!


author: Dany Ellement
body: So if you are like me, and tried to uninstall sourcetree manually without any success and failed at installing the latest version here is the solution:

1. Download the lastest sourcetreesetup eg. SourceTreeSetup_1.8.3.exe
2. Then, using command line, run \[PATH TO SETUP\]\\**SourceTreeSetup_1.8.3.exe /L\*v log.txt**
3. open the log file, locate your previous version # ... tips: search for **SourceTreeSetup_**and once your found the version # that is lower than the current one, copy it.
4. In the browser download the previous using the following url: [https://downloads.atlassian.com/software/sourcetree/windows/SourceTreeSetup_x.x.xx.exe](https://downloads.atlassian.com/software/sourcetree/windows/SourceTreeSetup_1.6.17.exe) (where offcourse x.x.xx = your previously installed version #)
5. Install the previous version
6. Then finally install the latest version

Thanks Robert!

comments: author: naneutral
body: Best answer. Works 100%.


author: Adrian Cigher
body: Sorry. The installer doesn't run at all. I looked for the log file assuming it's in the same folder as the setup file and I didn't find it.  
But then again... I tried SourceTree 2.


author: minnsey
body: Hi Adrian,  

Do you see a splash screen when the 2.x installer runs?  
Are there any files in %localappdata%\\Sourcetree\\app-{version} ?


author: Ryne Rayburn
body: Has anyone experienced issues with v2.3.1 on Windows 10? I can install v2.1.11 fine but when I move to v2.3.1 it will never load. A peer of mine has it working fine on Windows 7. Previously I have had older versions of 1.x.y, v2 betas, and v2.1.10 \& older.

I have tried the above solutions in this article with nothing working. I've ran CCleaner, both disk \& regedit cleanup. I've went to C:\\Users\\user\\local... to remove the SourceTree \& Atlassian folders. Nothing seems to allow me to run v2.3.1. I'm look for any advice here.

comments: author: mustnecessity
body: Hi, I just ran into the same prolem with you, when I execute SourceTree Setup Exe, the exe run about 10 second and auto close.  

Later I try other version installer here:

**<https://www.sourcetreeapp.com/download-archives>**

**I dwonload [2.1.10.0](https://downloads.atlassian.com/software/sourcetree/windows/ga/SourceTreeSetup-2.1.10.0.exe) and install successfully.**


author: mustnecessity
body: Hi, I just ran into the same prolem with you, when I execute SourceTree Setup Exe, the exe run about 10 second and auto close.  

Later I try other version installer here:

**<https://www.sourcetreeapp.com/download-archives>**

**I dwonload [2.1.10.0](https://downloads.atlassian.com/software/sourcetree/windows/ga/SourceTreeSetup-2.1.10.0.exe) and install successfully.**


author: mredman
body: I cannot run this either, I am forced to try a previous version as productivity is getting lost.


author: Ryne Rayburn
body: My solution ended up matching Mark Redman's below. I deleted the custom dictionary file SourceTree v2.1.11 was complaining about and now v2.3.1 will load. I find it strange that the latest just closed instead of asking about the file.

I also learned the custom dictionary file didn't even exist on my PC. Some feedback would be to have SourceTree actually check if the file exists rather than setting a flag for the file and leaving it set.


author: minnsey
body: Hi Sourcetree checks that the files does NOT exist as it is the presence of a reference to a non-existent files that causes performance issues.


author: Francis Lui
body: [@mustnecessity](/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/833681): thanks for the tip! Your tip to install <https://downloads.atlassian.com/software/sourcetree/windows/ga/SourceTreeSetup-2.1.10.0.exe> worked for me.


author: agilerank
body: It look me a long time to figure out on Windows 10 especially after trying to mess with the registry values and deleting anything Atlassian related, but looking at the logs generated by Michael's suggestion above, I thought to find the exact same version that was previously installed (indicated by the logs, luckily). By using the matching installation package and repairing, I was able to accomplish both uninstalling the old corrupted version and installing the latest.

comments: author: Dany Ellement
body: Thanks! Your solution worked perfectly, i posted the exact step , with link to installation package.


author: David Storfer
body: My solution was related to WMI. If you go into Manage Computer under Services \& Applications and right-click WMI Control -\> Properties. If you see a failed message or other errors, this may be the issue. If you can't fix WMI the traditional ways described on the web, try this.

Go into dcomcnfg and try to look at the

Component services \> computers \> My computer \> Dcom config

It may prompt you for classes not registered - Say Yes. Once I did that, my WMI properties were working again and SourceTree reinstalled perfectly.


author: Sudheer Nair
body: I was getting installation error on my new Window 10 laptop. Tried few things mentioned above but couldn't resolve the issue. Then ran one utility from Microsoft to cleanup the registry as suggested in Atlassian site: <https://confluence.atlassian.com/sourcetreekb/the-installation-update-or-removal-of-sourcetree-is-not-successul-on-windows-735642921.html>.

It worked!


author: Hadrien
body: Could not start SourceTree 2.3.1 on Windows10. After trying uninstalling/reinstalling with no improvement, editing the user.config file as described here fixed it for me: <https://community.atlassian.com/t5/Sourcetree-questions/SourceTree-2-3-1-Windows-will-not-launch/qaq-p/643914>

comments: author: hollasch
body: This fixed it for me as well. Before this I tried cleaning the registry, uninstalling and reinstalling, and wiping the AppData/Local directories. Editing the config file as this post mentions finally did the trick.


author: IgorYastrebov
body: CCleaner cannot fix reg corruption.

In many cases, the problem is with MSI registry - corrupted reg.

Here is the only tool can fix corrupted MSI registry: <https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/mats/program_install_and_uninstall/en>


author: BenJBailey
body: Well, turns out that running [CCLeaner](https://www.piriform.com/ccleaner) was all I needed to do to get this working :/


author: minnsey
body: Hi,

Its probably worth you creating a support ticket at <https://support.atlassian.com.>  
It seems the installer is failing before SourceTree itself every runs. To provide some additional information Could you try running the installer with logging turned on? e.g.  
{code}  
.\\SourceTreeSetup_1.6.23.exe /L\*v log.txt  
{code}  
And then upload the log.txt tot he support ticket?  
It might also be useful to record the process using Windows' Problem Steps Recorder <http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/How-do-I-use-Problem-Steps-Recorder> and attaching the generated screenshots.  

Thanks