Prefer package-manager uninstall (winget / scoop / choco) over vendor uninstaller when app was installed via one

[chirag127]

Summary

BCU already detects Scoop (#244, #666), Chocolatey (#184), and Windows Store (Store-app helper). It even queries winget in some paths (#363 hints at this). What it does not do consistently is delegate the uninstall back through the package manager the app was installed with — it runs the vendor uninstaller instead.

Why this matters

When an app was installed by scoop install X, the correct uninstall is scoop uninstall X. Running the vendor uninstaller instead:

• Leaves the scoop manifest, shims, and persist directory behind (already reported: why not remove persist scoop when uninstalling package #388 open, "why not remove persist scoop when uninstalling package")
• Leaves the winget/choco package DB thinking the app is still installed → next winget upgrade --all may reinstall
• Chocolatey/scoop shims in %USERPROFILE%\scoop\shims or C:\ProgramData�ocolatey�in become dead links

Proposal

Detect the "install source" during scan (BCU can already tell scoop apps from registry keys under HKCU\…\Uninstall\<name> where UninstallString starts with %USERPROFILE%\scoop\…, and choco from C:\ProgramData�ocolatey\lib\<pkg>). Then:

• Scoop-installed apps → scoop uninstall <name> (with --purge when user opts into "remove leftovers")
• Chocolatey-installed apps → choco uninstall <name> -y --remove-dependencies
• winget-installed apps → winget uninstall --id <id> --silent
• Store apps → keep existing StoreAppHelper path (works)
• Vendor installer only → keep existing behaviour

Gate behind a settings toggle "Prefer package manager uninstall when available" (default on for scoop/winget, off for choco to stay conservative since some choco packages call vendor uninstaller anyway).

Cross-refs

• why not remove persist scoop when uninstalling package #388 open — scoop persist leftover, root cause = same issue
• Define Uninstaller Kind of scoop as "Scoop" #244 / Missing some packages installed via choco #666 closed — scoop/choco detection landed, but delegation did not
• [Suggestion] Use winget to query Microsoft Store applications #363 closed — related winget query hint

Version

BCU v6.2.0.0 on Windows 11. Scoop 0.5.x + winget 1.10 + chocolatey 2.x on the same box.