Copyright: Smart Uninstaller Help


What is Smart Uninstaller

Smart Uninstaller is a program that analyzes every link information of the applications you have previously installed on your system, checks whether or not they point to existing files (even if they are stored on removable media) and then uninstalls those applications you don't need at all.

In addition to these functions, Smart Uninstaller allows you to:

•	redirect the uninstall command to another existing executable file;

•	remove the broken link information from the registry file;

•	import/export registry keys through a text file;

•	explore the Programs folder (Start/Programs menu).

Smart Uninstaller
Copyright © 1999, Cezar Botez
All rights reserved

Smart Uninstaller is freeware and may be distributed and used freely, in any commercial purpose or not, as long as it is distributed in its entirety.

This is a technical documentation of Smart Uninstaller program.

Only attributes specific to Smart Uninstaller are documented.

All products and company names mentioned here are the trademarks of their respective owners.

Send an email whenever you have questions, comments, suggestions or bug reports about this program.

Send an email and you will receive the newest version of this program.

Email: cbotez@mail.dntis.ro


System Requirements

This program was successfully tested on Windows 95/98 and NT systems.

In order to run Smart Uninstaller you need the Windows Common Control library (COMCTL32.DLL) Version 4.0 or later (usually located in the Windows\System or Windows\System32 directory).

The Windows Common Control library is part of Windows 98/NT, Microsoft Internet 4.0 and is currently available as a separate download from Microsoft or from different Internet sites as listed below:

•	ftp.cerious.com/pub/cerious/40comupd.exe

•	http://www.winzip.com/common_control_library.cgi

Detailed information: 40comupd.exe (about 500k).

In order to use the Smart Uninstaller 32-bit (True color) toolbar buttons, your Windows should display more than 256 colors (8-bit): select High- (16-bit) or TrueColor (24/32-bit) color palette (Display option in Start/Settings/Control Panel menu). If you cannot find these color settings, you must update your video card.

You can launch Smart Uninstaller from any storage media (hard disk, floppy, removable or network drives). Run SUN.EXE whenever you need to uninstall an existing application.


About Registry File

The Windows registry file is a database file for storing system and applications configuration data in a hierarchical form. This file contains all the information about how your computer/applications have been configured. You don't need to edit the registry file unless it is absolutely necessary and only if you know where and how to do this.

Removing a key from the registry file will not decrease its size until the registry is exported or rebuilt.

Warning: Before you start edit on your own the registry file, it's a good ideea to save (export) it. In case of emergency you can restore (import) the contents of the registry file.


Warranty

This Software Usage Agreement prescribes the terms and conditions in which you may use Smart Uninstaller software package. Use of this software means acceptance of these terms.

THE SOFTWARE IS SUPPLIED AS IS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND IS EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.

THE USER MUST ASSUME THE ENTIRE RISK OF USING THIS SOFTWARE.

THE AUTHOR WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR DATA LOSS, DAMAGES, DIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL, WHICH MAY RESULT FROM THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE.

YOU ARE ALLOWED TO USE AND MAKE COPIES OF THIS SOFTWARE AS YOU WISH. YOU MAY DISTRIBUTE EXACT COPIES OF THE ORIGINAL PACKAGE, IN ITS UNMODIFIED FORM (ALL FILES, INCLUDING THE NOTICES), TO ANYONE AND FOR ANY PURPOSE, COMMERCIAL OR NOT, WITHOUT PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THE AUTHOR.

YOU MAY NOT MODIFY OR REVERSE ENGINEER OF THE SOFTWARE.

Thank you for using Smart Uninstaller,

Cezar Botez


Screen Components

MENU

File

Import Registry File...

Import a key into the registry file

Export Registry File...

Export the currently selected entry to a text file

Exit

Exit this program

Edit

Uninstall Program

Uninstall the currently selected program

Remove Registry Key

Remove the currently selected entry from the registry file

Refresh Entry Views	[F5]

Reread the registry file

Programs Group

Open the Programs Group folder

Help

Help Topics	[F1]

Display the Help Topics screen

Search for Help On...	[Ctrl+F1]

Search the Help file for a topic

About...

Show program information, version number and copyright

TOOLBAR

Import
Import a key into the registry file

Export
Export the currently selected entry to a text file

Uninstall
Uninstall the currently selected program

Remove
Remove the currently selected entry from the registry file

Refresh
Reread the registry file

Help
Display the Help Topics screen

Exit
Exit this program

LISTS

•	conventional entries

•	unconventional entries

•	details about the currently selected program

LINK INFORMATION BOX

NO SELECTED ENTRY

Select an entry in the lists above

NO CHECKED ITEM

Check the uninstall command or select this entry again

TOO MANY CHECKED ITEMS

Check the uninstall command only

EXISTING LINK

Uninstall and then remove this entry

MISSING DISK

To uninstall this program insert the appropriate disk

INVALID LINK

Try to uninstall and then remove this entry

EMPTY LIST

You can remove this entry

STATUS BAR

Short contextual help information

DIALOGS

Smart Uninstaller will prompt you every time when you select the commands below:

uninstall a program:

•	You are about to uninstall a program. Continue ? [OK/Cancel]

•	Cannot uninstall this program. [OK]

remove a registry key:

•	You are about to remove a registry key. Continue ? [OK/Cancel]

•	Cannot remove this entry. [OK]

If the Windows Common Control library (COMCTL32.DLL) version is smaller than 4.0 you will receive the following message:

•	In order to run this program you need COMCTL32.DLL Version 4.0 or later. [OK]

NOTATIONAL CONVENTIONS

entry

•	is always associated with a registry key, that means when you remove an entry in a list, you indirectly remove a key in the registry file;

conventional entry

•	conventional uninstall information corresponding to an installed application (always listed in the Add/Remove Programs options in Control Panel);

unconventional entry

•	unconventional uninstall information (never listed in the Add/Remove Programs options in Control Panel).


Link information
Link Information Panel

For both the Un- and Conventional Entries lists:

NO SELECTED ENTRY

Select an entry in the lists above

Recommended:

Select an item in the (Un)conventional Entries list.

NO CHECKED ITEM

Check the uninstall command or select this entry again

Recommended:

Check the appropriate uninstall command in the Details list or select the entry again.

If there is no uninstall command associated with the selected entry or this entry does not contain any items (there is nothing to check), check again and, if you really don't need that registry key, you may remove it.

TOO MANY CHECKED ITEMS

Check the uninstall command only

Recommended:

There are too many items checked in the Details list.

Check only one single item that identifies the valid uninstall command.

EXISTING LINK

Uninstall and then remove this entry

Recommended:

The current selected entry points to an existing uninstall file.

That means you can uninstall the program, remove the key or let it where it is (recommended to try in this order).

MISSING DISK

To uninstall this program insert the appropriate disk

Recommended:

This link points to information on a removable disk (for instance, MS Office/Run from CD, MS Visual C++/Run from CD etc).

Insert the disk (CD, floppy, ZIP, JAZ) and reselect the entry to refresh the link information. Then you can uninstall and/or remove this entry. You can directly remove this entry only when you are sure that the program does not exist.

INVALID LINK

Try to uninstall and then remove this entry

Recommended:

There is no link information about this entry (no uninstall command, missing or invalid location of the uninstall program).

In order to appear in the uninstall commands list in the Add/Remove Programs option, respectively in the (Un)conventional Entries lists of Smart Uninstaller, an application must provide an uninstall utility. Only applications designed for Windows 95 or later include this functionality.

Try to uninstall and then remove this entry.

If it fails, check another valid uninstall command in the Details list (keep in mind that there have to be only one checked uninstall command) and try again to uninstall the program.

If it still doesn't work, click twice in the Details list an change the location and/or the name of the uninstall file, then try to uninstall the program.

If however it doesn't work yet, you can remove the entry.

EMPTY LIST

You can remove this entry

Recommended:

When no item is selected in the (Un)conventional Entries list you can:

•	let it be (there are programs that need that registry key);

•	remove the entry.


Uninstalling a Program

Removing a Win16-based or MS-DOS-based application is relatively simple: select and delete the directory that contains the application.

To uninstall a Win32-based application using Smart Uninstaller, follow the steps below:

•	click the entry corresponding to the program you need to uninstall;

or

•	click the first entry in the list and use the down arrow key to scroll down through the items in the list until you find the program. You can see the detailed information and link status about the validity of each entry;

•	click the Uninstall button located on the toolbar;

•	after you uninstall the application, Smart Uninstaller will automatically refresh the entry lists (if sometimes don't, you can press the Refresh button or select Refresh item from the menu to reload the lists);

•	if the entry still exists atfer you uninstall the program and refresh the lists, you may remove the entry (Remove button).


Removing a Key

To remove a key, follow the steps listed below:

•	click the entry corresponding to the program you need to uninstall;

or

•	click the first entry in the list and use the down arrow key to scroll down through the items in the list until you find the program. You can see the detailed information and link status about the validity of each entry;

•	click the Remove button located on the toolbar.


Selecting Another Uninstall Command

Smart Uninstaller can easly identify any valid conventional or unconventional uninstall command string. If you need to select another uninstall command string, uncheck the current command string and check another valid item.

You can not uncheck all the items.

You can not have more than one item checked in the same time.


Redirecting the Uninstall Command

Sometimes you need to edit the uninstall command string (usually when you moved the application files to another location). To uninstall this program you must first enter the right destination of the uninstall command string.

In order to edit the command string, select the appropriate entry (corresponding to the program you need to uninstall) in the Conventional or Unconventional Entries list and double-click anywhere on the Details list panel. Smart Uninstaller will open a dialog box where you can type the valid command line/parameters. Press the OK button to confirm the new command string.

The new string doesn't appear in the Details list, nor in the registry file, and remains valid until you move out the currently selected entry.


Importing and Exporting Registry Keys

These commands allow you to save the registry keys before an uninstall/remove operation and to restore them in case of failure.

One single file can contains information about one or more programs. These information are structured as follows (some strings may differ, depending on each application):

[program_title]

DisplayName=program_name

UninstallString=command_line

[program_title]

DisplayName=program_name

UninstallString=command_line

...

Default file name: Untitled.ini


Removing from Start/Programs Menu

When a Windows-based setup application creates an application group and icons, Windows 95 creates folders and icons for the Programs menu in the Start menu. If a setup application fails to create/remove a shortcut correctly, you can do it manually.

If you installed applications designed for Windows 95 by using the Add/Remove Programs option in Control Panel, they can safely be removed in the same way or using Smart Uninstaller program. Because the application's components are tracked through the registry file, Windows 95 deletes all of the application's files unless those files are being used by another installed application.

You can add/remove entries directly in/from the Programs Group folder (Start/Programs menu) by clicking the button placed between the Conventional and Unconventional Entries lists (this command is also available by clicking the Remove button in the Start Menu Programs tab of the Start/Settings/Taskbar menu).


Running on NT
Running on Windows NT

If you ever have problems using Smart Uninstaller on Windows NT, please send an email with detailed information about the name of the program you tried to uninstall or remove.


Unusual Uninstall Strings

There are some situations when a program need to store its uninstall information in different locations, other than where they should normally be.

Smart Uninstaller ignores this kind of information.

You can remove these uninstall information only if you open up the registry file (launch regedit.exe utility), search the key and remove it.


Creating an Uninstall Key

If you find useful to create your own uninstall information key, follow the steps below:

•	create a text file named, let's say, MyUninst.ini, and type the following lines:

[My Program Version 1.0]

registry key: between the square brackets type a generic title representing your program (Smart Uninstaller displays this key in the Un- or Conventional Entries list)

DisplayName=My Program 1.0

application title: you can type here the same title (Windows displays this string in the Add/Remove Programs list, and Smart Uninstaller, in the Details list)

UninstallString=C:\MyProg\uninst.exe

application uninstall string: type the full path of the uninstall command (Smart Uninstaller displays this string in the Details list)

•	launch Smart Uninstaller (if it is not open yet);

•	click the Import button or select Import Registry File from the File menu;

•	in the Import Registry Key dialog box select the file you just created (in this case, MyUninst.ini) and click the Open button;

•	now, you should find the entry in the Conventional Entries list.