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View Full Version : Need help with uninstalling SH3 - keep getting an error


DirtyACE
11-10-08, 01:54 PM
I haven't played SH3 for a few months, and now that GWX 2.1 is out, I'd like to start a new career. I was checking my computer to see if I had already uninstalled the game it self and saw that there was still a SH3 folder in the Program Files and there was also still an entry for the game in the windows start menu. I went into the Add/Remove Programs in the control panel to try to uninstall the game. When the uninstaller started it scaned through some files and then gave me an error. The error said "Error 1316.A network error occured while attempting to read from the file C:\Windows\Installer\Silent Hunter III.msi". I decided to have a look at the location specified and saw that there was no folder called "Installer" within C:\Windows and obviously no file called "Silent Hunter III.msi".

So now I thought that I probably did remove the game early on, but did not remove all the files. I went ahead and just manually deleted the SH3 folder in Program Files. Then I removed a few entries from the registry that have to do with the game as well. However, the game still shows up as being on my system when I look in the Add/Remove Programs menu, and when I try to just install a new version, it asks me if I want to repair the previously installed version. I decided to go ahead and try to repair the old version, perhaps then I would be able to uninstall it successfully without the error. The game installs and then I try to uninstall it only to run into the same error (the one I mentioned above) again.

Can anyone help me with this? I'm eager to play the game again but this uninstalling problem is driving me a bit crazy. I've never had any problems with unistalling before.

Wreford-Brown
11-10-08, 03:57 PM
Have you tried uninstalling through the game disk rather than add/remove programs?
The GWX team recommend uninstalling that way then reinstalling - if they recommend it then it's got to be worth a try.

DirtyACE
11-10-08, 04:42 PM
Have you tried uninstalling through the game disk rather than add/remove programs?
The GWX team recommend uninstalling that way then reinstalling - if they recommend it then it's got to be worth a try.
Yes, I've tried that as well but it kept giving me the error. In any case, I seem to have solved the problem. Just needed a couple of nifty third party programs to completely remove all the remaining files that the uninstaller did not take out apparently. The error was essentially caused by a file that was missing. Whether it was removed by the uninstaller when I originally ran, perhaps.

It almost sounds like some fluke glitch because I've never had a problem uninstalling and installing SH3 before.

Wreford-Brown
11-11-08, 03:06 AM
Glad you're sorted.

Jimbuna
11-11-08, 02:27 PM
Don't forget your SH3 C\MyDocs file.

I use RegCleaner after an uninstall. http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/pirate.gif

DirtyACE
11-11-08, 04:40 PM
Don't forget your SH3 C\MyDocs file.

I use RegCleaner after an uninstall. http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/pirate.gif

I deleted that one too.

I ran CCleaner after wards.

CTU_Clay
11-13-08, 01:20 PM
This is a great uninstall cleanup utility by good old Microsoft. I used it to rid my computer of all traces of SH3.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301#

After running the utility it is always good to run a good registery cleaner too.