It is impossible to remove package installed with uninstall binary created with Distutils unless you know that you need to specify -u switch. 

"E:\ENV\Python24\Removescons.exe" -u "E:\ENV\Python24\scons-wininst.log"

If there are any additional switches - they could be displayed in MsgBox instead of/along with error message. 

I do not remember what my original intention was to not document the usage of the bdist_wininst uninstaller.  However, this is the first time that this request has come up, so it seems there is no pressing need to run the uninstaller manually.  You could (and probably should) use the control panel app to remove packages.

Now, you have discovered the magic that is needed so you can use it.

I would prefer not to 'fix' this - especially since there are other problems with bdist_wininst, I guess it will be superseeded by bdist_msi sooner or later.

Changing this to 'feature request'.

New features are not added to distutils.

Tarek and Windows experts, do we want to remove bdist_wininst in favor of bdist_msi in distutils2?

No, we should keep both. bdist_wininst provides which which bdist_msi cannot provide.

Thanks for the reply. I’m reassigning to distutils2, since Thomas classified this as a feature request. Someone who wants this change can contribute a patch.

Closing per Thomas’ and Martin’s replies.