Remove built-in version of Pester 3 (or -All) from Windows 10 Program Files and Program Files (x86).

Uninstall-Pester.ps1

#Requires -RunAsAdministrator

function Uninstall-Pester ([switch]$All) {
    if ([IntPtr]::Size * 8 -ne 64) { throw "Run this script from 64bit PowerShell." }

    #Requires -RunAsAdministrator
    $pesterPaths = foreach ($programFiles in ($env:ProgramFiles, ${env:ProgramFiles(x86)})) {
        $path = "$programFiles\WindowsPowerShell\Modules\Pester"
        if ($null -ne $programFiles -and (Test-Path $path)) {
            if ($All) { 
                Get-Item $path
            } 
            else { 
                Get-ChildItem "$path\3.*" 
            }
        }
    }


    if (-not $pesterPaths) {
        "There are no Pester$(if (-not $all) {" 3"}) installations in Program Files and Program Files (x86) doing nothing."
        return
    }

    foreach ($pesterPath in $pesterPaths) {
        takeown /F $pesterPath /A /R
        icacls $pesterPath /reset
        # grant permissions to Administrators group, but use SID to do
        # it because it is localized on non-us installations of Windows
        icacls $pesterPath /grant "*S-1-5-32-544:F" /inheritance:d /T
        Remove-Item -Path $pesterPath -Recurse -Force -Confirm:$false
    }
}

Uninstall-Pester

Gotcha! And I like it! Only question I have (might be because I'm on my phone right now) is where the $suffix variable comes from in the path(s)?

Thanks for pointing it out, it should not be there.

Will newer versions be shipped with new windows updates?

Doubt that.

Not sure if this makes it any 'cleaner' but here's my approach to finding any pre-existing path as we also were finding Pester in multiple folder locations especially if someone had also installed PowerShell v7:

$modules = Get-Module -Name Pester -ListAvailable
$pesterPaths = (get-item $modules.modulebase).parent.Fullname | Sort-Object -Unique
foreach ($pesterPath in $pesterPaths) {
....
}

@clemmesserli wouldn't this also take any version in the users profile directory too?

One thought to make the 64 bit/admin transition smoother, replace the top #Requires -RunAsAdministrator with this:

$isAdmin = (New-Object Security.Principal.WindowsPrincipal([Security.Principal.WindowsIdentity]::GetCurrent())).IsInRole([Security.Principal.WindowsBuiltInRole]::Administrator)

if ( ( ( $pshome -like "*syswow64*" ) -and ( ( Get-WmiObject Win32_OperatingSystem ).OSArchitecture -like "64*" ) ) -or -not $isAdmin ) {
    write-warning "Restarting script under 64 bit powershell as admin"
 
    # relaunch this script under 64 bit shell as adminstrator
    $CommandLine = "-NoLogo -NoProfile -NoExit -File `"$( $MyInvocation.MyCommand.Path )`" $( $MyInvocation.UnboundArguments )"
    Start-Process -FilePath "$( $pshome -replace "syswow64", "System32" )\powershell.exe" -Verb Runas -ArgumentList $CommandLine
 
    # This will exit the original powershell process. This will only be done in case of an x86 process on a x64 OS.
    exit
}

And delete the second #Requires -RunAsAdministrator

Grabbed this from https://gist.github.com/talatham/ad406d5428ccec641f075a7019cd29a8 and added the -Verb parameter.

@jcoryatjr Note that your version would fail on any 32-bit only systems. While it should be rare to nonexistent, it is a possibility to consider.

@jasonrush good point. I spent some time and refactored into a true cmdlet using advanced function syntax. The module name is Utils and must be installed in a location located within $env:PSModulePath. The file structure is:

• Utils
  • Utils.psd1
  • Utils.psm1
  • /Public
    • Uninstall-Pester.ps1
  • /Private

The Utils.psd1

@{

ModuleVersion = "1.0.0"

GUID = "e38b14a6-0d85-4be5-869e-38ed7e270126"

Author = "Your Name Here"

CompanyName = "My Company"

Copyright = "(c) 2021 My Company All rights reserved."

RootModule = "Utils.psm1"

}

Utils.ps1 file

Get-ChildItem -Filter *.ps1 -Path "$PSScriptRoot\public","$PSScriptRoot\private" -Recurse | ForEach-Object { . $_.FullName; Write-Verbose "Loaded $_.BaseName" }
Get-ChildItem -Filter *.ps1 -Path "$PSScriptRoot\public" -Recurse | ForEach-Object { Export-ModuleMember $_.BaseName; Write-Verbose "Exported $_.BaseName" }

Uninstall-Pester.ps1 file

function Uninstall-Pester {
    [CmdletBinding()]
    [OutputType([ bool ])]
    param(
        [Parameter()]
        [switch]
        $All = $false
    )
    
    begin {
        try {
            Write-Verbose -Message "[$(( Get-Date ).TimeOfDay )][$( $MyInvocation.MyCommand )]-Begin Enter"
            $result = $true
            $pesterPath = 'WindowsPowerShell\Modules\Pester'

            if ( -not $All ) {
                $pesterPath += '\3.*'
            }

            # See if there is anything to do
            $paths = @()
            foreach ( $path in @(${env:ProgramFiles}, ${env:ProgramFiles(x86)} ) ) {
                if ( $path -and ( Test-Path -Path "$path\$pesterPath" ) ) {
                    $paths += ( Get-ChildItem -Path "$path\$pesterPath" -Directory -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue ).FullName
                }
            }

            if ( -not $paths.Count ) {
                Write-Warning "There are no Pester$( if ( -not $All ) { " 3" } ) installations in Program Files and Program Files (x86)"
                $result = $false
                return
            }
        
            $isAdmin = (New-Object Security.Principal.WindowsPrincipal([Security.Principal.WindowsIdentity]::GetCurrent())).IsInRole([Security.Principal.WindowsBuiltInRole]::Administrator)
            $is32BitProcess = $pshome -like "*syswow64*"
            $is64BitOS = ( Get-WmiObject Win32_OperatingSystem ).OSArchitecture -like "64*"
            $filePath = $null
            
            switch ( $true ) {
                { ( $is32BitProcess -and -not $is64BitOS ) -or ( -not $isAdmin -and $is64BitOS ) } {
                    Write-Warning "Restarting script under 64 bit powershell as admin"
                 
                    # relaunch this script under 64 bit shell as adminstrator
                    $filePath = "$( $pshome -replace "syswow64", "System32" )\powershell.exe"
                    break
                 }
                 { -not $isAdmin } {
                     Write-Warning "Restarting script using admin privs"
                    $filePath = 'powershell.exe'
                 }
            }
            
            if ( $filePath ) {
                Start-Process -FilePath $filePath -Verb RunAs -ArgumentList "-NoLogo -NoExit -Command `" Import-Module -name Utils; Uninstall-Pester $( if( $All ) { "-All" } )  `""
                $result = $false
                return
            }
        }
        catch {
            $result = $false
            Write-Verbose -Message  "[$(( Get-Date ).TimeOfDay )][$( $MyInvocation.MyCommand )] Exception:`r`n$_"
            throw $_
        }
        finally {
            Write-Verbose -Message "[$(( Get-Date ).TimeOfDay )][$( $MyInvocation.MyCommand )]-Begin Exit"
        }
    }

    process {
        try {
            Write-Verbose -Message "[$(( Get-Date ).TimeOfDay )][$( $MyInvocation.MyCommand )]-Process Enter"
            if ( -not $result ) {
                return
            }

            foreach ($path in $paths) {
                takeown /F $path /A /R
                icacls $path /reset
                # grant permissions to Administrators group, but use SID to do
                # it because it is localized on non-us installations of Windows
                icacls $path /grant "*S-1-5-32-544:F" /inheritance:d /T
                Remove-Item -Path $path -Recurse -Force -Confirm:$false -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
            }
        
        }
        catch {
            $result = $false
            Write-Verbose -Message  "[$(( Get-Date ).TimeOfDay )][$( $MyInvocation.MyCommand )] Exception:`r`n$_"
            throw $_
        }
        finally {
            Write-Verbose -Message "[$(( Get-Date ).TimeOfDay )][$( $MyInvocation.MyCommand )]-Process Exit"
        }
    }
    
    end {
        try {
            Write-Verbose -Message "[$(( Get-Date ).TimeOfDay )][$( $MyInvocation.MyCommand )]-End Enter"
            return $result
        }
        catch {
            Write-Verbose -Message  "[$(( Get-Date ).TimeOfDay )][$( $MyInvocation.MyCommand )] Exception:`r`n$_"
            throw $_
        }
        finally {
            Write-Verbose -Message "[$(( Get-Date ).TimeOfDay )][$( $MyInvocation.MyCommand )]-End Exit"
        }
    }
}

@jcoryatjr my version is geared more towards non-interactive use. So I like that it fails when you are not admin. But thanks for sharing, hopefully someone will find it useful.

@jasonrush good point. I spent some time and refactored into a true cmdlet using advanced function syntax. The module name is Utils and must be installed in a location located within $env:PSModulePath. The file structure is:

• Utils

  • Utils.psd1

  • Utils.psm1

  • /Public

    • Uninstall-Pester.ps1

  • /Private

The Utils.psd1

@{

ModuleVersion = "1.0.0"

GUID = "e38b14a6-0d85-4be5-869e-38ed7e270126"

Author = "Your Name Here"

CompanyName = "My Company"

Copyright = "(c) 2021 My Company All rights reserved."

RootModule = "Utils.psm1"

}

Utils.ps1 file

Get-ChildItem -Filter *.ps1 -Path "$PSScriptRoot\public","$PSScriptRoot\private" -Recurse | ForEach-Object { . $_.FullName; Write-Verbose "Loaded $_.BaseName" }
Get-ChildItem -Filter *.ps1 -Path "$PSScriptRoot\public" -Recurse | ForEach-Object { Export-ModuleMember $_.BaseName; Write-Verbose "Exported $_.BaseName" }

Uninstall-Pester.ps1 file

function Uninstall-Pester {
    [CmdletBinding()]
    [OutputType([ bool ])]
    param(
        [Parameter()]
        [switch]
        $All = $false
    )
    
    begin {
        try {
            Write-Verbose -Message "[$(( Get-Date ).TimeOfDay )][$( $MyInvocation.MyCommand )]-Begin Enter"
            $result = $true
            $pesterPath = 'WindowsPowerShell\Modules\Pester'

            if ( -not $All ) {
                $pesterPath += '\3.*'
            }

            # See if there is anything to do
            $paths = @()
            foreach ( $path in @(${env:ProgramFiles}, ${env:ProgramFiles(x86)} ) ) {
                if ( $path -and ( Test-Path -Path "$path\$pesterPath" ) ) {
                    $paths += ( Get-ChildItem -Path "$path\$pesterPath" -Directory -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue ).FullName
                }
            }

            if ( -not $paths.Count ) {
                Write-Warning "There are no Pester$( if ( -not $All ) { " 3" } ) installations in Program Files and Program Files (x86)"
                $result = $false
                return
            }
        
            $isAdmin = (New-Object Security.Principal.WindowsPrincipal([Security.Principal.WindowsIdentity]::GetCurrent())).IsInRole([Security.Principal.WindowsBuiltInRole]::Administrator)
            $is32BitProcess = $pshome -like "*syswow64*"
            $is64BitOS = ( Get-WmiObject Win32_OperatingSystem ).OSArchitecture -like "64*"
            $filePath = $null
            
            switch ( $true ) {
                { ( $is32BitProcess -and -not $is64BitOS ) -or ( -not $isAdmin -and $is64BitOS ) } {
                    Write-Warning "Restarting script under 64 bit powershell as admin"
                 
                    # relaunch this script under 64 bit shell as adminstrator
                    $filePath = "$( $pshome -replace "syswow64", "System32" )\powershell.exe"
                    break
                 }
                 { -not $isAdmin } {
                     Write-Warning "Restarting script using admin privs"
                    $filePath = 'powershell.exe'
                 }
            }
            
            if ( $filePath ) {
                Start-Process -FilePath $filePath -Verb RunAs -ArgumentList "-NoLogo -NoExit -Command `" Import-Module -name Utils; Uninstall-Pester $( if( $All ) { "-All" } )  `""
                $result = $false
                return
            }
        }
        catch {
            $result = $false
            Write-Verbose -Message  "[$(( Get-Date ).TimeOfDay )][$( $MyInvocation.MyCommand )] Exception:`r`n$_"
            throw $_
        }
        finally {
            Write-Verbose -Message "[$(( Get-Date ).TimeOfDay )][$( $MyInvocation.MyCommand )]-Begin Exit"
        }
    }

    process {
        try {
            Write-Verbose -Message "[$(( Get-Date ).TimeOfDay )][$( $MyInvocation.MyCommand )]-Process Enter"
            if ( -not $result ) {
                return
            }

            foreach ($path in $paths) {
                takeown /F $path /A /R
                icacls $path /reset
                # grant permissions to Administrators group, but use SID to do
                # it because it is localized on non-us installations of Windows
                icacls $path /grant "*S-1-5-32-544:F" /inheritance:d /T
                Remove-Item -Path $path -Recurse -Force -Confirm:$false -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
            }
        
        }
        catch {
            $result = $false
            Write-Verbose -Message  "[$(( Get-Date ).TimeOfDay )][$( $MyInvocation.MyCommand )] Exception:`r`n$_"
            throw $_
        }
        finally {
            Write-Verbose -Message "[$(( Get-Date ).TimeOfDay )][$( $MyInvocation.MyCommand )]-Process Exit"
        }
    }
    
    end {
        try {
            Write-Verbose -Message "[$(( Get-Date ).TimeOfDay )][$( $MyInvocation.MyCommand )]-End Enter"
            return $result
        }
        catch {
            Write-Verbose -Message  "[$(( Get-Date ).TimeOfDay )][$( $MyInvocation.MyCommand )] Exception:`r`n$_"
            throw $_
        }
        finally {
            Write-Verbose -Message "[$(( Get-Date ).TimeOfDay )][$( $MyInvocation.MyCommand )]-End Exit"
        }
    }
}

Thanks your script worked out for to uninstall the module. And installing manually the newer version.

Thanks, helped me with this problem.

It's the year 2026 and this is still needed. Thanks for figuring this out and sharing. 😊