AnsweredAssumed Answered

Solidworks does not appear in Windows 7 control panel, I have all admin rights. How can I uninstall?

Question asked by Bryan Hellard on Nov 17, 2015
Latest reply on Nov 23, 2015 by Rohit Kumar

Like • Show 0 Likes0
Comment • 13

I'm trying to uninstall Solidworks 2015 to install Solidworks 2016, and there is no Solidworks in the control panel. I've looked for many uninstall guides, and all of them say that I need to have proper admin rights (domain and local). I keep asking my boss, and he is adamant that I have the appropriate rights on my computer to install and uninstall things (I've showed him the guides as well).

Is there any way to check what rights I have as a user? Or is there any other way to access the Solidworks uninstall?

Bryan Hellard Nov 21, 2015 9:10 AM

Correct Answer

I fixed it. I created a system restore point, so I could save myself if I broke anything, and just started deleting folders in the Solidworks directory. Then, I went to Solidworks, and got the 2015 updater, and started updating 2015 from SP2.0 to SP5.0.

Since I had deleted a bunch of folders, it errored partway through, but it made Solidworks 2015 appear in the control panel. Then I was able to uninstall it, reboot, and install 2016

Finally success!

See the reply in context

No one else had this question

Outcomes

Rohit Kumar Nov 19, 2015 6:39 AM

Hi Bryan,

Please make me clear:

1. Are you able to see all control panel except SolidWorks?

2. Are you able to install or uninstall any other software?

Actions

Bryan Hellard @ Rohit Kumar on Nov 19, 2015 1:22 PM

1. Yes

2. Yes

I can see every other program in the Control Panel, and I can install/uninstall other things just fine.

Actions

Rohit Kumar @ Bryan Hellard on Nov 20, 2015 11:41 PM

Hi Bryan, I doubt if anyone on your system has used a third party software (like Revo uninstaller) to uninstall SolidWorks. If it's So, it may trouble in removing SolidWorks.

can you just look up to this registry, if it's there or not ?

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\SolidWorks Installation Manager 20XX.

Actions

S. Casale Nov 19, 2015 1:42 PM

Can you show us an image of this control panel without SW showing up? (Snippet tool)

Actions

Bryan Hellard @ S. Casale on Nov 19, 2015 2:30 PM

Actions

Brian Hoerner Nov 19, 2015 1:56 PM

Is it possible that it has already been uninstalled? Keep in mind, the uninstall does not remove all OS folders, you have to manually delete them, so if you are going by it not being installed because folders exist on the OS, that may be the case.

Actions

Bryan Hellard @ Brian Hoerner on Nov 19, 2015 2:30 PM

I doubt it, I can still use it. I haven't tried deleting any folders, I was just looking for the uninstall process and couldn't get it to work

Actions

Brian Hoerner @ Bryan Hellard on Nov 20, 2015 10:17 AM

got it, shoulda asked that.

Actions

Thomas Morgan-Witts Nov 19, 2015 1:57 PM

If you want to do the legwork yourself you can go into program files and then just delete the main SolidWorks folder.

Probably run through the registry after that to make sure there isn't any weirdness, but not really needed most likely.

Also make a system restore point beforehand, just in case.

Actions

Bryan Hellard @ Thomas Morgan-Witts on Nov 19, 2015 2:30 PM

I could try that, I've had other programs cause troubles though when I delete them manually, rather than having an uninstall manager do it. Where can I find the registry?

I don't have any custom settings or templates, and all my models are saved elsewhere. So I can safely do a complete wipe of Solidworks, and not lose anything.

If I just delete the folder, would the next install of Soldiworks (trying to upgrade to 2016) fix any errors?

Actions

Kevin Chandler Nov 20, 2015 12:17 PM

Hello,

If you can access your 2015 install data (or download it from the mother ship), then run the installer.

I believe it will inspect your setup and come back with repair or remove options.

Go to Control Panel>User Accounts to see what your local level is.

Cheers,

Kevin

Actions

Bryan Hellard Nov 21, 2015 9:10 AM

Since I had deleted a bunch of folders, it errored partway through, but it made Solidworks 2015 appear in the control panel. Then I was able to uninstall it, reboot, and install 2016

Finally success!

Actions

Rohit Kumar @ Bryan Hellard on Nov 23, 2015 2:11 PM

Yeah Cheers Bryan Hellard !!

Actions

13 Replies

Rohit Kumar Nov 19, 2015 6:39 AM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
Hi Bryan,

Please make me clear:

1. Are you able to see all control panel except SolidWorks?
2. Are you able to install or uninstall any other software?
Like • Show 0 Likes0
Actions
- Bryan Hellard @ Rohit Kumar on Nov 19, 2015 1:22 PM
  Mark Correct
  Correct Answer
  1. Yes
  2. Yes
  
  I can see every other program in the Control Panel, and I can install/uninstall other things just fine.
  Like • Show 0 Likes0
  Actions
  - Rohit Kumar @ Bryan Hellard on Nov 20, 2015 11:41 PM
    Mark Correct
    Correct Answer
    Hi Bryan, I doubt if anyone on your system has used a third party software (like Revo uninstaller) to uninstall SolidWorks. If it's So, it may trouble in removing SolidWorks.
    
    can you just look up to this registry, if it's there or not ?
    
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\SolidWorks Installation Manager 20XX.
    Like • Show 0 Likes0
    Actions
S. Casale Nov 19, 2015 1:42 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
Can you show us an image of this control panel without SW showing up? (Snippet tool)
Like • Show 0 Likes0
Actions
- Bryan Hellard @ S. Casale on Nov 19, 2015 2:30 PM
  Mark Correct
  Correct Answer
  Like • Show 0 Likes0
  Actions
Brian Hoerner Nov 19, 2015 1:56 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
Is it possible that it has already been uninstalled? Keep in mind, the uninstall does not remove all OS folders, you have to manually delete them, so if you are going by it not being installed because folders exist on the OS, that may be the case.
Like • Show 0 Likes0
Actions
- Bryan Hellard @ Brian Hoerner on Nov 19, 2015 2:30 PM
  Mark Correct
  Correct Answer
  I doubt it, I can still use it. I haven't tried deleting any folders, I was just looking for the uninstall process and couldn't get it to work
  Like • Show 0 Likes0
  Actions
  - Brian Hoerner @ Bryan Hellard on Nov 20, 2015 10:17 AM
    Mark Correct
    Correct Answer
    got it, shoulda asked that.
    Like • Show 0 Likes0
    Actions
Thomas Morgan-Witts Nov 19, 2015 1:57 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
If you want to do the legwork yourself you can go into program files and then just delete the main SolidWorks folder.

Probably run through the registry after that to make sure there isn't any weirdness, but not really needed most likely.

Also make a system restore point beforehand, just in case.
Like • Show 0 Likes0
Actions
- Bryan Hellard @ Thomas Morgan-Witts on Nov 19, 2015 2:30 PM
  Mark Correct
  Correct Answer
  I could try that, I've had other programs cause troubles though when I delete them manually, rather than having an uninstall manager do it. Where can I find the registry?
  
  I don't have any custom settings or templates, and all my models are saved elsewhere. So I can safely do a complete wipe of Solidworks, and not lose anything.
  
  If I just delete the folder, would the next install of Soldiworks (trying to upgrade to 2016) fix any errors?
  Like • Show 0 Likes0
  Actions
Kevin Chandler Nov 20, 2015 12:17 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
Hello,

If you can access your 2015 install data (or download it from the mother ship), then run the installer.
I believe it will inspect your setup and come back with repair or remove options.

Go to Control Panel>User Accounts to see what your local level is.

Cheers,

Kevin
Like • Show 0 Likes0
Actions
Bryan Hellard Nov 21, 2015 9:10 AM
Unmark Correct
Correct Answer
I fixed it. I created a system restore point, so I could save myself if I broke anything, and just started deleting folders in the Solidworks directory. Then, I went to Solidworks, and got the 2015 updater, and started updating 2015 from SP2.0 to SP5.0.

Since I had deleted a bunch of folders, it errored partway through, but it made Solidworks 2015 appear in the control panel. Then I was able to uninstall it, reboot, and install 2016

Finally success!
Like • Show 0 Likes0
Actions
- Rohit Kumar @ Bryan Hellard on Nov 23, 2015 2:11 PM
  Mark Correct
  Correct Answer
  Yeah Cheers Bryan Hellard !!
  Like • Show 0 Likes0
  Actions

Solidworks does not appear in Windows 7 control panel, I have all admin rights. How can I uninstall?

Outcomes

Related Content

Recommended Content