Unable to uninstall a software that were not removed correctly 1

[royboy75]

Hello,

I have installed the adobe reader for Pocket PC through my computer. The installation also installs this software to the regular PC. I have accidentaly deleted the installation folder from the Program Files folder without removing it first from Add/Remove Programs.
The result now is that the program exists at the Add/Remove Programs but when I want to remove it I receive this message:
Error Number: 0x80040702 Description: Failed to load dll: UnInstall.

If I want to reinstall it, I am asked if I want to remove this software from my PC and then receive the same error.
Now, I assume that somewhere at the registry this software is still marked as installed and therefore the uninstall is not possible since the files for uninstall are not present. The problem is that I cannot reinstall as well.
Any solution?

 

[Rick998]

Run regedit and navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall.

Inside this key are sub-keys for products installed using Microsoft certification guidelines. Scroll down through the sub-keys until you find Adobe Reader. Right-click on the sub-key and export it (just in case). Next, delete the sub-key and re-boot. You should now find that it's disappeared from the 'Add and Remove Programs' list, allowing you to re-install the program.

If you get any problems or make a mistake, just double-click on the saved .reg file (the one you exported) and merge it back into the registry.

Hope this helps...

 

[royboy75]

Hey Rick,

Found the reg key, deleted it and restarted the PC.
Now I see the installation twice at the 'Add and Remove Programs', the 2nd one I don't have even an option to remove!

 

[royboy75]

I have now removed every entry of the software in the registry, the 2nd installation I saw earlier is gone but I'm back to where we were. 1 Installation with the same error on removal...

 

[Rick998]

Check HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall to make sure there aren't any more sub-keys for Adobe Reader.

If there are then export them for safety then delete them. Reboot and check the 'Add and Remove Programs' list again.

BTW, what version of Acrobat Reader was it on your PC?

 

[royboy75]

Hi Rick,

Already verified that, nothing which is related to this software is there. Although, as I said, this is Adobe reader for PPC 2.0, I also have adobe reader 7.0 on my PC which is installed and working OK. These are two different installations at the 'Add and Remove Programs' but since it's the same company I assume there are some thingsw in common...

Roy

 

[Rick998]

Oops... just spotted your further post.

As the 'Error Number: 0x80040702' is related to the Windows Installer service I suggest the best thing now is to download Microsoft's Windows Installer CleanUp Utility (from

http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb;en-us;290301)

so it can clean up the remnants of the installer files.

Hope this info helps...

 

[royboy75]

Well, since I did all this today I made a System Restore to yesterday through Windows and it solved the problem. Perhaps a little bit "drastic" step but it helped!
Anyway, thanks for the cleanup utility I am sure I'll use it in other occasions

 

[Rick998]

Oops... just spotted your last post... again.

I've found a post at

http://www.adobeforums.com/cgi-bin/webx/.3bb73645

that describe the same "Error Number: 0x80040702 Description: Failed to load dll: UnInstall" problem you have been having.

It goes back to 2004 so I guess this may be a long-running issue. Anyway, most of the advice in the post is the same as what I've already given you.

The post does mention that you may need to download and use a Pocket PC registry editor as well (available from

http://www.phm.lu/Products/PocketPC/RegEdit/)

but I doubt that this is required in your case.

Hope this helps...

 

[Rick998]

Wow... either I'm way too slow or you're way too quick. Either way... I'm glad you got it sorted.

 

[royboy75]

... and a star for your good answers!