PRB: Unable to Remove Previous MSDN Installation

• Microsoft Developer Network, versions April 97, July 97

SYMPTOMS

When you uninstall the April 97 or July 97 versions of Microsoft Developer Network, the following error occurs:

   An error occurred while trying to remove Microsoft Developer Network.
   Uninstallation has been canceled.

CAUSE

This might be caused by a missing or corrupted MSDN Setup.exe. This file can be found in <DevStudio Path>\MSDN\Setup\Setup.exe.

RESOLUTION

To install the new version of MSDN, you must follow these steps:

1. Reinstall the older version of MSDN. This fixes/replaces Setup.exe.

2. On the Start Menu, point to Settings and click Control Panel.

3. Double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon.

4. In the Add/Remove Programs dialog box, select the older version of MSDN.

5. Click the Add/Remove button.

6. Click Remove All.

STATUS

Microsoft is researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious, system-wide problems that may require you to reinstall Windows to correct them. Microsoft cannot guarantee that any problems resulting from the use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use this tool at your own risk.

If you are unable to reinstall the existing version of the MSDN, you can manually delete a large part of MSDN on the hard drive and in the registry. It is important to reinstall and immediately uninstall, because the MSDN's uninstall will clean out all the files and registry entries for each version. This will prevent other MSDN problems in the future.

How To Remove Most of the MSDN Manually Before Reinstall

1. On the taskbar, select Start and click Run.

2. Type "Regedit" and press return.

3. The Windows registry editor should appear.

4. Expand the branches until you reach:

         [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Infoviewer\5.0]
   

5. Under this subkey delete the following key:

         [...\Folders\Microsoft Developer Network - DATE]
         Where "DATE" is the version of MSDN (April-97 for example)
   

6. Also delete [...\Locations\MSDNCD#D#], where D# is the disk number (1 or 2). If there are multiple CDs, there will be a key for each CD. Delete all.

7. From the registy menu, click Exit to close RegEdit.

8. Use the Windows Explorer to find "<DevStudio Path>\MSDN"

9. In the MSDN directory delete the Setup and Bin directories.

10. Reinstall and uninstall the old version of MSDN to clean out all other registry entries and files.

Keywords          : VSInfoView VWBIss VSMSDN
Version           : WINNT:97
Platform          : winnt
Issue type        : kbprb