Howdy,

I am using XP SP2 on a IBM T40 laptop, accessing through two accounts; one with admin privilege and the other under Power User. For daily usuage, I used the latter. The problem is I can't uninstall WDS v02.06.5000.5378. It is because:

a) WDS isn't listed in Add/Remove Programs

b) the Uninstaller package is not listed in %systemroot%\$NtUninstallkb911993-V2$\spuninst

and lastly c) The "Windows Install Clean Up" does not have WDS listed

BUT I found instructions to remove the product manually at http://www.hide-link.com/ ;SiteID=1, but upon doing so, I found:

a) while under the Admin account, "Search for Files and Folders" in the Start menu was restore to its original state.

The account under Power User mode is still "stuck" with a WDS mode [Entering "Search for Files and Folders" cause a blank Explorer window to open. Later, the WDS's windows open, but it does not operate]

b) the main WDS programs in still located in Program Files

Now, could I ask how do I restore the "Search for Files and Folder" to its original state under both accounts and uninstall WDS once and for all

Tony

Hello Tony,

The instructions you followed for removing WDS 2.6.5 have probably left remnanats of the program on your machine. I followed the same steps and was able to reproduce your problem. I was able to successfully uninstall 2.6.5 by doing the following:

1. Leave your PC as-is

2. Log on as admin and reinstall 2.6.5 from here: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/desktopsearch/enterprise/default.mspx

3. Uninstall 2.6.5 (still signed in as admin) by going into Add/Remove programs and going through a standard uninstall.

I know that you said WDS was not showing up in your Add/Remove programs list. It should appear once you reinstall WDS. If it does not, please check "Show Updates" at the top of the Add/Remove window.

Following the above should completely uninstall WDS (it did for me). Please let me know if this helps.

Paul Nystrom - MSFT

Hi Paul,

I've followed your instructions to remove WDS. However, WDS does not show up in Add/Remove programs list (when signing in as admin).

Tony

Ah - frustrating. Well, let's try the following then.

1. Log in as Admin

2. Open windows explorer and navigate to whatever drive your windows installation is on (probably C)

3. Open your Windows folder

4. In explorer go to Tools:Folder Options and select the "View" tab.

5. Select "Show hidden files and folders" and the click on the "Apply" button.

6. Find the folder named $NtUninstallKB917979$ and open it.

7. Open the spuninst folder and run the spuninst executable.

This should remove WDS 2.6.5 from your PC.

Paul Nystrom - MSFT

Hi again,

I've said my prayers and stay away from Google's and Yahoo's Desktop Search site before heading into the dark corner of the Windows root folder but.... I couldn't find the folder you have mentioned.

Perhaps the nuke* option is necessary, and our only solution! (I meant, of course, manually removing the program's folder and its associate reg keys.)

Tony

Okay, my guess is that you may be using a slightly different version of WDS than I have on my machine. Could you pleaes give me your WDS version number You can find this by right clicking on the WDS icon in the system tray and selecting Help:About Windows Desktop Search. I'll need the entire version number to make sure I give you the right uninstall folder number.

Paul Nystrom - MSFT

Hi,

I got WDS v02.06.5000.5378.

Tony -

My apologies, I noticed that you posted your version in the title. Anyhow, you will want to follow the instructions above, but for your version of WDS you will want to find the Uninstall folder titled:

$NtUninstallKB911993$

Paul Nystrom - MSFT

Hi again,

Sorry, can't see the folder. (Screenshot here)