Home Forums Discussions Problems cannot *completely* un-install

Hi folks. I'm the one with the "XP as administrator" problem. Doc decided to buy a new computer, so this problem gone.

But now... while we had that problem installing as "XP as adminstrator", the doc installed Amazing Charts on his laptop (XP Pro) as the "MAIN" computer. Since then, he has uninstalled the program, since we installed it on the new computer. There are 2 other XP Pro computers that the program were installed as "Local", and everything works fine.

However, when we go back to his laptop that had an initial install as "MAIN" and since uninstalled, and now try to install as "Local", we keep getting a "new version" error... but we know it's the *same* version.

I checked the Registry, and all entries point to the fact that this laptop is still considered to be a "MAIN" computer... including all data base files... even if we select "Local" computer when installing.

So, it seems that the "uninstall" from the "Add/Remove Programs" function in "Control Panel" doesn't clear out Registry completely.

Is this correct? If so, does anyone have ideas on *completely* installing the program... so we can change from "MAIN" to "Local" computer.

Thanks again to all of you for your experties.

OK, first, there is a program I have on every computer called Your Uninstaller 7. I don't use a lot of 3rd party utility programs, but I haven't been without this one in over 10 years. I uninstall everything using it as it does clean everything. It uses the native uninstaller when possible.

Go to C:\Program Files\Amazing Charts and see if after the uninstall the AC folder remains. If so, delete it manually.

Go to Programs and Features and scroll to SQL and see if SQL Server is still installed. If this is just a "plain" computer, there is no reason for SQL to be installed. When you left click on SQL it won't uninstall, it will show the instances on the computer. One would be AmazingCharts IF SQL is still there. Uninstall that.

Then run the Uninstaller program and reboot. You should be all set. If not, reinstall the entire program, and then uninstall it using the Uninstaller program. When I have issues uninstalling, it is usually because certain files didn't get uninstalled but at the same time, files needed to uninstall are missing. Reinstalling fixes that problem.

Hope this helps.

WOW... Bert... just "amazing" fast response. Thank you very much.

The first thing that I did when I realized that there may be left over stuff in the Amazing Charts folder after the uninstall was to manually delete that folder. I was very hopeful that this would fix this install problem. When I got the same results, I thought to look through the Registry, where I saw indications that the laptop was still considered as "MAIN". So it appeared to me that even if re-installing now as "Local", the stuff in Registry wasn't changed from the original install as "MAIN".

I looked for that "your uninstaller 7" program, and will try that. I will also look for the SQL Server, and uninstall that too, if necessary. This *is* a "plain" computer.

Again, thank you very much for your very quick response.

Just like Bert, I have used uninstaller programs for many years to fully clean computers of the junk left behind by the regular uninstall.

I have used both Your Uninstaller and a program which is very similar called Revo which is free. The AC uninstall leaves behind all the data and lots of stuff in the registry. I used the uninstaller program many times when initially working with AC to be able to do clean re-installs.

These programs generally work very well and are safe, but on one occasion, when taking the option to get rid of absolutely everything, a needed file was deleted, and then I had your same "run as administrator" problem. I eventually found the needed file in the Recycle bin and was able to restore it and get back in business.

Did you "reset the path" on the formerly main computer to use it as a client and direct it to look the the new main computer database? You will find this in the administrator options of AC.

Donna... thank you very much for your comments. When looking for Your Uninstaller, I also found Revo, and thought I'd try that one first.

When you say you once got the "run as Administrator" problem because a need file was deleted, can you remember which file that was... just in case I run into the same situation. In my "run as Administrator" problem, AC continued to say that the problem was in Registry, so I'm not sure we had the same problem.

As far as to "reset the path", you say that it's in the administrator options in AC. Well, so far for me, I cannot even get AC to run. I get the "newer version" and data base problem message box while the AC splash box is still loading the program.

Thanks again.

Les,
I understand that you are stuck now. (I have been there many times myself when I started with AC, very frustrating) If the complete uninstall and reinstall does not work, probably the most expeditious thing to do is to get the Guardian Angels to log in and take a look.

I am sorry, I was not clear, what I meant about the path was that you did not need to uninstall AC from the laptop "main" computer. To use it as a client, I believe all you would have needed to do was to reset the path, directing it to look at the database on the new main computer. Thus, avoiding the complication of the uninstall/reinstall process. This is really for future reference.

Les,

Thanks. Not sure you have done all the steps. First, and I could be wrong here where there are problems, but I usually have to use Run As the first time I start up and for utilities.

There isn't really a main or local version. Think of it as two versions. The 3rd is the same as the second. It either installs it with SQL and its connections and without.

If you can, reinstall AC as the "main" version or the 2nd selection with SQL. Then try an uninstall with Uninstaller 7 (trial version). I don't know much about Revo, and I am sure it is good, it's just that I do know Your Uninstaller v7 is awesome and dependable. It gives you four types of uninstall. Take the last one. Again, installing puts all the files back and you can start from scratch. Whatever you do, don't go through the registry and delete keys, etc.

Finally, and I can't believe I forgot this, is System Restore running? If so, just go back to a point where things worked.

Another finally, if you find you can install the "main" version, just do that. You can then uninstall SQL or just leave it there and cripple AC as far as allowing it to be used. All you would have to do is change AmazingCharts.mdf to AmazingCharts.old.

Bert... thanks again. I just got back from the doctor's office. Success.

A couple of things I wanted to mention. Before doing anything today, I tried again to install AC as "Local". When trying to run AC, I didn't get the "new version" error message box, but got the data entry screen as if it was the first time for a "Main" installation. I "quit", tried running AC again, and this time it asked for the location of the AC files. So I pointed to the xml file on the server, and everything appeared to work correctly. I don't know what was different from yesterday, since all I did was run the AC installer again.

Anyway, not being comfortable with the result, I left AC installed as is, and ran Revo. Revo also has 4 levels of registry cleaning. I set it to the 3rd deepest (since it was selected as if was the default). The 4th level, apparently, is the deepest and takes the longest. It turns out that Revo automatically sets system restore points before it starts uninstalling and after it's done uninstalling. After Revo finished, I installed AC as "Local", and everything worked as expected.

One interesting thing happened, though. After this install as "Local", and then first running AC, it didn't ask me for the server location of the xml file, but just continued as if it already knew. My only thought is that this particular key wasn't cleaned out by Revo (see above, where it first asked for the xml file location)... maybe the 4th level would have gotten it. In any case, I looked through Registry again, and everything appeared as I would have expected. AC was *not* the "Main", and the data bases all pointed correctly to the server.

So, I think all is well. Thank you again ,Bert and Donna, for your quick responses to my problem. It's very helpful to get "immediate" responses... and is very much appreciated.

Les,
I am glad you got it fixed!

What you described with the run as administrator/registry problem was exactly what I experienced. I cannot remember exactly which file it was since it is almost 1 1/2 years ago, but I may have notes somewhere if it occurs again. It happened when I was working on a test machine, and had a whole host of problems, so was repeatedly installing/uninstalling. I used Revo at the deepest clean level, and then could not reinstall. Revo first uses the program's own uninstaller and then its own deeper levels. As I recall, it asks you to confirm he deletions for the deepest 2 levels, and it sends those files to the recycle bin, rather than truly deleting them.

In any case, all is well with you now.

Les,

That's good news! It very may well be that there was still a folder in C:\Program Files which was overwritten, but the SystemSettings.xml file may have stayed. Who knows. But, it has the path to the main computer. Or, there could be settings in the registry that are not known. Guess it doesn't matter.

Donna... thanks for the info on your "old" run as administrator/registry problem. Please don't spend the time looking for "old" notes. But, since you mentioned it and Revo, we still have that computer that had that problem (which was replaced with the new one), and if I have time, I'll try to install, then use Revo with the 4th level deepest clean, and see if this helps.

Bert... I'll go look at that SystemSettings.xml file... if nothing else, just for my curiosity. As you say, it may be that file, it may be a "deep" registry key, or whatever.

Again, many thanks to the both of you. The doc can now get on with "business"... and getting his incentive reimbursements!!!