I will often use an uninstall reg key/value to see if an app is installed rather than rely on a text file. We scrub and re-ghost machines often and don't like having to manage a text file.
If it's not for broad distribution then an include list is fine. For broad distribution, I use an exclude list. Either way, I may include the reg key check as well.
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Give a man a fish and he will be back for more. Slap him with a fish and he will go away forever.
