An apparatus and method that allows developers to create installation programs in which variables and variable values used during a product installation are automatically stored in a system product registry and/or a fileset object. During installation of a product, variables and variable values may be stored in a hashtable. The hashtable is saved as part of a fileset object. When the fileset is reinstated at uninstall time, the installation information is contained within the reinstated fileset. Objects used by the uninstall program can make use of this information to affect the uninstall behavior. Alternatively, the variable and variable values may be stored in a hashtable that is saved to the system product registry at the end of the installation process so other programs and tools may have access to the information. This allows other installation programs to query the registry for information used in the installation of other products.