So let's say I want to deploy an application so that it has a mandatory installation once, but then, if the user wants to uninstall it from Software Center, (or uninstall it and reinstall it from Software Center) they can do so.  What the best method?

If I deploy the application as 'Required', then I know that it will install during the next maintenance window.  But, the user cannot uninstall the application from Software Center.  And, if they uninstall it from 'Programs' in the Control Panel, then Software Center will reinstall it automatically.  Should I deploy it as 'Required', wait for the compliance to hit 100%, delete the deployment and they redeploy as 'Available'?  It seems like there should be a more elegant solution.

I would appreciate any advice.

Thank you.

• Edited by John Henninger 8 hours 35 minutes ago spelling

how about deploying the application to user that goes to application catalog with available option ? users can install anytime they want.

There is no elegant solution for this scenario but my question is why do you want this scenario in the first place? Once installed, why would you need to uninstall the app?

I want to deploy an application so that it has a mandatory installation once

But, the user cannot uninstall the application from Software Center

Either you decide to deploy the app to the users (Required) or just make the app available to the user in the app catalog and let the user install it if it's really required. When you deploy an app and make it mandatory for installation then why would you want users to uninstall it.

Second suggestion - Create two separate user groups, deploy app as required to one user group and for another group make it available in app catalog. You could move then move the users to each of the group based on the requirement.

I find this frustrating as well. Sometimes you need to uninstall and reinstall to fix a problem, and Required deployments made that difficult.

Usually I just train the local techs who are doing the troubleshooting to uninstall the application from Programs and Features (assuming it shows up there) and then run an Application Evaluation cycle from the ConfigMgr control panel. After that it will reinstall automatically, which is handy. It's not as elegant as you might like, but it keeps you from having to make a Required deployment and then replace it with an Available deployment.