Removing Database * Completely * 2

[JohnBates]

hi all,

In 10g, I created the base/default database (it has a default instance of orcl) using an incorrect character set.

There are no other DBs on this server.

This is what I did:
- ran the Database Config Assistant to delete the orcl db
- then ran the setup.exe for Databases

It gave me a default path of .....\db_2 I changed it to \db_1, but the Prerequisites Check failed saying "Problem: Oracle db can only be installed in a new home"

So I browsed the oradata\orcl folder and discovered that the db-related files for the original install are still there - the temp01, system01.DBF etc.

I want to completely clean out the original instance of db_1 so I can reuse that same path and name.

How do you completely remove/delete the orcl database? is it safe to just delete the folders within Explorer?

Thanks much. John

 

[Turkbear]

Hi,
Assuming Windows:

Run regedit and under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE..SOFTWARE
remove all references to Oracle ( the Oracle entry and the Oracle-related ones under ODBC)..

Delete the Oracle services ( if still there after your deinstall)

close Regedit

Edit your PATH environment variable to remove all references to the Oracle directories.

Delete the directories:
C:\Oracle,directory for all Oracle Versions 9 and Greater

C:\Program Files\Oracle- Oracle Product Installation and Inventory. Also home of Oracle J-Initiator

You may need to reboot before removing these since some may be seen by Windows to be in use..



Now you should be able to install again..




To Paraphrase:"The Help you get is proportional to the Help you give.."

 

[SantaMufasa]

John,

Keep in mind that TurkBear's suggestions remove everything Oracle, not just the database. You will need to re-install Oracle given the above instructions.

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
[I provide low-cost, remote Database Administration services: www.dasages.com]

 

[JohnBates]

Thanks Turkbear and SantaMufasa.

That's exactly what I did - ripped everything out. Before doing that, the Prerequisites Check always failed.

Just now I reinstalled db into ... db_1 and the client, this time choosing the correct char set the software vendor requires.

Oh well, I learned a bit more about Oracle!

Thanks to both of you.
John