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Remove application from W2K Registry

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8 replies

by pikikoko

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My hard drive "D" was reformatted. Now I need to remove an application from the Registry because on reinstallation of the application to the "C" drive it is identified as being located in the "D" drive and W2K wants to install it in the "D" drive. Ican go into the registry and remove the application under "Software". Will this work and are there other locations in the Resistry that I need to remove any references to this application before I can attempt to install it to the "C" drive?
I have other applications I need to remove from the Registry. Before I do this I would like someone who has done this give me some input. This is my lab computer so I can wipe out the OS but I would like to learn how to remove software references in the W2KRegistry. Using the uninstall & remove application is not an option. The application do not exist. The "D" drive is clean.

8 replies

by kevin_b

as far as I can tell, it works the same as NT4. I just use regedit and search for the string, either the program name or the folder it was installed under, the name of the executable, or something unique to that program and search and delete until its all gone. If it is just the install point, search and change the install drive from d: to c: and that should fix it without having to remove it all fom the registry. It may have instances in other hives besides software, so do a search of the entire registry. I have had to do this with an offending app in win2k and it works fine.

Good Luck!

p.s. remember the usual microsoft disclaimer about editing the registry and that if caught or killed, the secretary will disavow all knowledge of you and your team. good luck mr. phelps....this email will self destruct in 5 seconds.......

by mckaytech

I agree with the first answer. A software application can make keys all over the registry and the only way to track them all down and kill them is to figure out some search terms that are unique to that application and then use the FIND utility in regedit (or regedt32).

Over the years, I've used a few registry cleaning utilities and I've been underwhelmed with them. So usually I just do a FIND and then delete the keys that seem to be trouble spots.

But it is good to have a backup of theregistry in case you accidentally kill off a couple of mission-critical keys. Been there, done that, have the tee-shirt.

paul

by cajundon

The simple solution is to reinstall the program you want to run into the C: drive. This will reset the registry and you will not need to change any registy values.

Good luck and have a great day.

Don Thibodaux, Independent Computer Technology Consultant.

by cajundon

I forgot to mention you need to disconnect the hard drive D: after a shut down so the BIOS or Windows does not reconize it, before reinstalling the program.

by pikikoko

My D drive is disconnected and removed from the BIOS. I think I will try the first answer. Thanks

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