Answer 1

Hi,

Before we start working on this I have several questions:

Thanks,

Bill Connors

Program Manager, Windows Desktop Search - Communities

Answer 2

Batman -  -  ,

where is the instructions  to remove  this software that does not work..  am in the same position as the communities young lady-man above (writing a letter and speaking of help) . need to get rid of this WDS thing and contract with the google investigation site to install  their stuff on my like computer.  have the idea   that google is greater to be the master inspector on my comper.  Now, that is above your reply not mine.  ok? 

post via patman resolution on termination of WDS. 

dandar,

robin

Answer 3

Rather than beating around the bush can Microsoft please just give some SIMPLE instructions  how to REMOVE Windows Desktop Search?

It doesn't appear as an option in add or remove  programs on the Control Panel nor can it be removed by using System Restore to restore to an earlier check point.  Windows Desktop Search just kills performance & I just want (like a lot of people) to get shot of it.

Why was it released without an uninstall option? (or at the very least a big health warning that once you install  it & see how bad it affects performance that you will have to rebuild your system from scratch to get rid of it)

Answer 4

The following instructions  are taken from the Windows Desktop Search Admin Guide which can be found in the Announcements section on the forum's top level page.  Please let me know if this works for you.

Thanks,

Bill Connors

Program Manager, Windows Desktop Search - Communities

When uninstalling Windows Desktop Search on individual systems, it is recommended that the product be removed using the Add/Remove programs  functionality provided in Windows Control Panel.  When uninstalling from Add/Remove Programs, be sure the check the Show updates  option and uninstall the newest product or product updates first.

While using Add/Remove programs to uninstall WDS 2.6.0 or later you may receive a message dialog stating “Setup has detected the following programs on your computer:” followed by a list of updates.  This dialog also states that “If Windows Desktop Search is removed; these programs may not run properly.  Do you wish to continue?”.  This is a due to the fact that WDS is installed  using an update.exe package and is listed with other Windows updates.  Some products updates are dependant on previous updates and if one is removed, it may cause issues.  This is not the case with WDS and removing WDS will not disable  or impact any other programs or updates listed.

When uninstalling Windows Desktop Search through a script or third party product,  if the Add/Remove Programs feature is not an option, it is suggested that the uninstall package (Spuinst.exe) be used, for the most recent versions.  Although Windows Desktop Search does create a system restore point  as part of the installation it is not the recommended method of removing the product from users  systems.

To uninstall Windows Desktop Search, use the Uninstaller package from the following locations for the following versions:

VersionLocation

2.6.0.2083                     %systemroot%\$NtUninstallKB907371-V2$\spuninst

2.6.0.2057                     %systemroot%\$NtUninstallKB907371$\spuninst

2.6.5.Beta                     %systemroot%\$NtUninstallKB911993\spuninst

Uninstall Options:

1.Interactive – Spuninst.exe is run without any command-line arguments. Uninstaller prompts for restart at the end.

%systemroot%\$NtUninstallKB907371-V2$\spuninst\spuninst.exe

2.Quiet – Spuninst.exe is run using the ‘/q’ or ‘/quiet’ command-line argument. Uninstaller forcefully restarts the system without informing the user after un-installation is complete

      %systemroot%\$NtUninstallKB907371-V2$\spuninst\spuninst.exe /q

          Or

      systemroot%\$NtUninstallKB907371-V2$\spuninst\spuninst.exe /quiet

3.Passive – Spuninst.exe is run using the ‘/passive’ command-line argument. Uninstaller prompts for restart displaying the wait time in seconds for automatic restart.

%systemroot%\$NtUninstallKB907371-V2$\spuninst\spuninst.exe /passive

Other command-line options are available in /help message. Please run the “spuninst.exe /help” command-line to see the other available options.

Uninstalling versions 2.5.0.1082 and 2.5.0.1119

Note: Version 2.6.X will not install  properly on a system currently running version 02.05.0.1082 or earlier.  You must first uninstall the older version then install the newer version.

Use the Msiexec.exe program  to uninstall.  Below are two suggested methods for uninstalling these packages. 

Using the Product Code

To locate the Product code in the registry, click Start then Run and type “Regedit” in the Open drop down box and press enter.  Next browse to the following location:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MSN Apps\MSN Toolbar Suite

The Product Code will be listed in the value of the PC key.  For example version 2.5.0.1082 PC registry value is 7d1dcbba-f6f5-42b4-b90b-f04ace4dfd6c.

Execute the following command line, listing the product code with in brackets.  For Version 2.5.0.1082 the command line would be as noted below.  Please note the brackets “{}” are required for this method to be successful. 

Note:  The /x switch causes Msiexec to uninstall the product and the /qn switch will ensure that there is no display while uninstalling.  Please see msiexec.exe help  (type msiexec /? From a command prompt) for more information regarding command line options for Msiexec.exe.

Msiexec.exe /x {7d1dcbba-f6f5-42b4-b90b-f04ace4dfd6c} /qn

Using the MSN Search Toolbar Windows Installer (.msi)

The MSN Search Toolbar Windows Installer (.msi) is located in the following location:

%windrive%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\MSN Search Toolbar\<Version Number>\en-us

In the path listed above “<Version Number>” is the version of the product being uninstalled, for example 02.05.0000.1082.

Use the following command line to uninstall the product.

msiexec.exe /x "<Windrive>:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\MSN Search Toolbar\<Version Number>\en-us\MsnSearchToolbar.msi" /qn

First method is preferred because the only required variable is the product code that is taken from the registry. For the second method, we need to give the <windrive> and the <version number> of the product installed in the command-line.

Answer 5

Thank you, this appears to have done the trick (I had version 2.6.5.Beta).

The %systemroot% directory was the windows  directory on the C Drive

When I executed "spuninst.exe" it warned me that it might cause PCGuard (the Firewall, AntiVirus, AntiSpyware package supplied by my ISP) not to work so I went off line uninstalled PCGuard, ran spuninst & then re-installed PCGuard without any problems before connecting up to the internet again. 

Answer 6

Answer 7

Answer 8

Bill,

I installed  WDS. I don't like it. I want to uninstall it. I clicked  the appropriate line in add remove  programs. The tool is still here. I tried to find in on my startup. It's service now does not start but the tool is still on my computer. I want it gone, do you know how?

I am not talking about MSN toolbars or anything for ie. I am talking about windows  desktop search.

Plus do you happen to know someone or an email form the ie7 people. I am having major issues uninstalling it because its uninstall folder is missing completely. (yes with show  updates checked)

Answer 9

If you only installed  WDS (not as part of the toolbar suite) use the update.exe information at the top of the uninstalling information.

The MSI Information is for those users  who installed MSN Toolbar, which includes WDS. 

Answer 10

I have the exact same issue regarding WDS Enterprise and IE7Beta2Preview (first version). I use CCLEANER and it deletes uninstallers I believe because I don't have either of the two uninstallers and Bill's instructions  are not specific for WDS Enterprise withOUT toolbar.

HELP!!

Answer 11

T.Beal,

I'm sorry to hear that you don't find WDS a useful tool.  I can assure you that WDS will not be installed  unless you explicity run the installer or your IT organization provisioned it to your system.  I'm not sure what you mean when you say you clicked  "DO NOT INSTALL" - what caused you to get a message related to WDS with that option?  Was it your IT organization?

If you installed the "MSN Toolbar Suite" it will include WDS.  You can deactivate just WDS if you still want to use the rest of the Toolbar, or install  the Toolbar standalone version.

If you have installed that bundle, it will show  up in Add/Remove Programs as "MSN Search Toolbar".

HELP. What is the point  of having multiple  users with passwords  if ANYONE can access  the entire  history of EVERYONE?

I'm not sure what you're asking about here.  If this is in reference to WDS, it will only index items that are accessible to the current user.  Each user has their own index with only their files and mails.  WDS does not index IE history  at all at this time.

Answer 12

Windows Desktop Search includes an uninstaller.  It was never released without that option.  WDS should never have a noticeable effect on system performance.  If you'd like help  determining what is affecting your system performance I'd be happy to help.

To uninstall the standalone WDS package, go to Add/Remove programs  and select "Windows Desktop Search" from the list, then click "remove."

If you installed  the "MSN Search Toolbar with WDS" - it will show  up as "MSN Search Toolbar" in the Add/Remove Programs control panel.

Answer 13

Looks like you need to put spaces, like this:

C:\Documents and Settings\Owner>msiexec.exe /x {7d1dcbba-f6f5-42b4-b90b-f0b-f04ace
4dfd6c} /qn

Answer 14

I would advise against using a tool that deletes uninstallers...  You're going to have a hard time removing either product if you delete the uninstall program.

You can try deleting the directory from "program files" directly, and deleting the associated registry keys ("Windows Desktop Search" and "RSSearch" under "Software\Microsoft" in both HKCU and HKLM).  Then run a registry cleaner to get rid of the invalid COM registrations. 

If you have trouble deleting the program  folder because files are in use, try renaming the file(s) and then rebooting.

Answer 15

Brandon,

I REALLY appreciate the deletion method...IT WORKED!!! I needed to uninstall WDS on my slow@$$ 500Mhz laptop. I'm definitely keeping it on my other machines though, great work!!!

Regards,

Brent

Answer 16

Answer 17

Hello mr.t.beal

the Easy why is this to remove  the message from msn tolbar from your pc

1 step install windows  cleanup.

2. remove  all the programs  one bye one

3 isntall again the msn tollbar

4 go to add and remove programs.

5 remove the msntolbar.

this way it work for me.

Answer 18

spiderman,

where do i find this Windows Cleanup (your step 1)

am hoping that like it will like work.

dandar gloof

Answer 19

My toolbar is the Ninemsn toolbar with desktop  search, i want the toolbar but not the WDS, you said above that you can deactivate the WDS and that's what i want to do but i can't find where to do it? I would be happy to uninstall the entire  toolbar and then install the toolbar as a standalone version but where do i find the standalone version?

WDS has caused many problems on my computer and i want to be rid of it!

Answer 20

I have Windows XP Professional.  When I try to uninstall the MSN Search Toolabar by clicking  "Remove Program" in the Control Panel, the process stops halfway through and tells me that I have "insufficient privileges to access  the directory C:\Config.msi" and that I must log on as administrator to do so.

Thank you in advance for your help!

Answer 21

I forgot to mention that although I'm running Windows XP Professional, it's on my home computer and I'm not part of any network.  That's why the request re. system administrator threw me.

Sherry 

Answer 22

I have Windows Desktop Search installed  on my PC and it is listed under Add or remove  Programs. Therefore if it isn't listed then you haven't got it. Or else what you have got is something retending to be Windows Desktop Search.

I have had various versions of Windows Desktop Search installed on my PC and am currently running version 3 and all of them were easy  to remove using the standard unistall option which exists with all of them.

Given that your version doesn't have unistall then I'd first ask where you got it from. If it was from Microsoft's site then why did you install  it if you didn't want it and if it was from elsewhere then why did you install it or rather how did this program  install itself.

Answer 23

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Answer 28

I think this is a rather complicated way of fully removing Windows Desktop search  (hereinafter: WDS). FYI: my operating system is Windows XP Home Edition.

I fully agree that the best to go is to uninstall going through $NtUninstal<whathaveyou>$. Unfortunately I remove  all those directories regularly. I always thought that those directories related to Windows updates  that I would never uninstall again. I was not even aware that there was one that related to WDS. On the other hand you can question how good uninstallers are in what they are supposed to do: fully uninstall the programs  you no longer want or use.

I was very unhappy with WDS. The program  gave all sort of errors in my event logs, errors I could not find a solution for. So I decided to remove WDS 3 entirely from my system. That was easier said than done. Shame on M$ for NOT providing a proper uninstaller for WDS 3.

But in the end I succeeded in fully uninstalling WDS 3. Here is how it goes:

1.Have a look at your system tray. Do you see that magnifying glass there? Okay, right-click on it and terminate it.

2.On into Administrative Tools (Start -> Control Panel -> Performance and Maintenance -> Administrative Tools) and open Services. Look for a service called Windows Desktop Search, right-click on it and stop this services. Right-click on it again, choose Properties and disable  the service.

3.Have a look at your taskbar. Do you see that little square box. Okay, right-click on the taskbar and go to Toolbars. There you ‘ll find Windows Desktop Search as toolbar. Click on it and you will see that the box disappears.

4.Open Explorer (WIN+E) and go to C:\Program Files\ Windows Desktop Search. Delete the entire  directory. If Windows does not allow that, you need a tool to release the directory. For that purpose I use a program called Unlocker. You will find it here: http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/#download. install  it, go back to C:\Program Files\ Windows Desktop Search, right-click on it and open Unlocker, follow the instructions  and remove the entire directory.

5.Reboot your machine.

6.After reboot, go to Administrative Tools and open the event viewers for Sytem and Application. You will probably still see some warnings and errors that relate to WDS.

7.Next step is to clean the registry of all entries that relate to WDS. For that purpose I use a tool called jv16 PowerTools. You ‘ll find it here: http://www.macecraft.com/jv16powertools2006 . It is actually a collections of tools, one of which is: Registry finder. Open Registry Finder and type in: Windows Desktop Search. The program will come back with all the occurrences of WDS in the registry. Select all these occurrences and create a backup reg-file; just in case something would go wrong. Right-click on the list again and remove everything.

8.Reboot your machine and notice the time of reboot.

9.After reboot go back to Administrative Tools and open the event viewers. Look at both System and Application. After the time of reboot the logs should only show  information. All errors and warnings should be gone.

10.Open Explorer (WIN+E) and go to Find. Let Windows find everything that relates to Desktop. Delete all occurrences of Windows Desktop Search.

11.One last thing, you have to do. Right-click on Taskbar -> Toolbars. You will see there a toolbar called Windows Search Deskbar. That is an CLSID in the registry. Open Regedit and search for Windows Search Deskbar. Remove the CLSIDs that you find. Right-click again on Taskbar -> Toolbars and you will see that the entry is gone.

Finally I would like to advice you to install Google Desktop. It offers so much more. WDS is a far cry from what it should have been.

Answer 29

Additon to my previous instruction for removing WDS:

Later on I got 1 error message in my System log. This error related to Terminal Services that refused to start. I found the solution on this page: http://www.administrator.de/index.php?content=33a0daec079f4f5023c0d9159b4d560f

The solution is in the contribution of chris1561. It is in German, so let me translate it for you:

"It is centainly already too late for this answer, but here is the solution:

HKeyLocalMachine / Software / Microsoft / MSLicensing / HardwareID

delete the key: ClientHWID."

Reboot and the key will be recreated. It seems to be problem in XP SP2.

You see why I think that computers are like women. Any idea why the renewel of this key is NOT automatic? It must be an inner logic that is beyond me.

Answer 30

Answer 31

That is a simple  way to remove  WDS, but it did not work for me. Worst is that WDS does not fully uninstall itself. Your registry is still littered with remnants of WDS. The reason is that for commercial reason M$ does not want you to uninstall WDS. And that is why M$ does not provide a good uninstaller for WDS.

Answer 32

Answer 33

I'll try this as well.  Just wanted to mention that this program  seemed to install  without permission on my computer as well.  I must have unknowingly approved during one of my automated updates.  I'll pay more attention next time but my feedback is that the add on and removal process is annoying.  I feel the add on option should have been more clearly emphasized.

Thanks again for the instructions.

Answer 34

I have WDS on my (work) Windows 2003 Server, with 3gigs of memory and a P4 processor.  WDS actually works great on this machine, and it successfully would pause indexing when I was working.  I didn't have any beefs with WDS.   However, I did have some issues that could be related to other applications, etc, so I decided to uninstall IE7 Tool Bar, WDS, etc. 

I uninstalled IE7 Tool Bar first via remove  Programs feature, and restarted machine (habit).  Upon returning to Remove Programs, I can't locate the WDS entry to uninstall it.  But I can open WDS and it works, etc.  I have CCleaner and opened it, and I see WDS as an entry there (but of course, it can't locate uninstaller; probably due to careless CCleaning, previous and past).

So, I basically wanted to point  out that either CCleaner removes uninstall info for WDS, or removing IE7 Tool bar first, might cause the issue.  Either way, it's not easy  to remove it appears.

My decision to remove is entirely lack of need currently, and WDS works awesome (on my machine).  I can see how this can be trivial for an average machine and user, since I'm an ASP.Net developer, and what-not.

Answer 35

Is "wds..." registry entries related to Windows Desktop Search?  I find these in my registry too after removing all "Windows Desktop Search" entries.   I still have it listed under "Start > Programs", and CCleaner still lists it as an application.

Answer 36

I have a similar problem with WDS self installing.  It was installed  by XP's Automatic Update software.  Also when I look into my "Add/Remove" there is no mention of the WDS... well, not in a format that would make any sense to the average user.  All that I get, after clicking  on the "Show updates," is a bunch of the "Hot fixes", "Security Updates" and regular "Updates".  But each of these have some nonsense number code with no description  that makes any sense.

All I want to do is remove  this "Window Desktop Search" as it is being such a resource hog, and making my system just bog done.

How does one get rid of this software that in all frankness, is rubbish when compared to the earlier version of "Search" that comes with windows?

Thanks

James McMillan

Average Computer User

Answer 37

Answer 38

KneeWax,

I had to chuckle at your post. From what you say, you had WDS on your system and then went to Add/Remove programs  and clicked  Uninstall.

Now it's not running any longer on your system and the option to remove  is gone from control panel. As an IT Specialist, have you considered that maybe it's been removed?

Had to ask...

Answer 39

Answer 40

I had to ask... It was a 300 lb gorilla in the room...

I think that part of the confusion about this is that there are at least 3 different flavors of WDS that are delivered in at least as many ways. Depending how it's installed  it may not show  WDS in the control panel it may be MSN Toolbar with WDS or some permutation of that. Then depending what OS you are running things change a little there as well. Vista comes with WDS as the windows  search option, for example.

I have to say that I have been lucky. I've never seen the system hits or uninstall issues and have pushed it out to several systems. I know I'd be interested in what utilities, OS etc you are running on the systems that are having these issues and the MS guys probably wouldn't mind seeing it either. At least that way if there is a confilct somewhere I can test those packages before pushing them out to my systems/org.

Glad you got it handled!

JR

Answer 41

Answer 42

I am an IT consultant with 20 years of experience supporting Microsoft and mixed environments.  I have installed  WDS on a pet 2003 server running SP2 and have found that the interface does not work for me (search filters and options are not all that useful at this point) and I tried to uninstall it using the "Add / Remove" applet in Control Panel.  The uninstall failed to remove  WDS.  Now WDS is no longer in the "Add / Remove" program  list, and WDS itself is still present.

I have to say that it is bizarre to me that there is no on / off toggle option for this product so that a standard search  can be specified as a personal preference, especially with a new product that is essentially a beta.  And yes, I realize that the standard search can be invoked with a single extra mouse click.  It should really be a trivial matter to uninstall this product, and it isn't.  This makes the Microsoft WDS team look bad, and they should address this.

Answer 43

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Answer 45

Same here.

Trying the install  3.01 and uninstall to remove. I find it very frustrating when other programs remove  themselves quite easily and quickly that I am spending hours trying to find out how to remove this software that runs constantly.

Update! New install didn't create an Add/Remove entry (maybe because I had already tried to uninstall it that way?). Great!

What is up with this?

C

Answer 46

Answer 47

I have no luck trying to uninstall WDS 3.01.  I've installed  it again and again, no problems, but it does not show  up on un Add/Remove list.

The log file from c:\windows\kb917013.log shows:

     0.688: CreateUninstall = 0,Directory = C:\WINDOWS\$NtUninstallKB917013$

and there is no such directory created, even when searching through command prompt.  There is no such directory on the computer.  I would think it should =1

There is an entry of KB917013.cat in some directoy, windows\system32\catroot\blah blah blah

So it looks to me like the culprit is the installer not creating the uninstall directory.

Is there a way to force the installation to create the install  directory? A switch?

I've downloaded the KB917013.exe install from MS, saved to desktop, but would like to know if it can be switched to create the uninstall dir.

Anyone any ideas?  I believe this is why it is not creating the uninstall on some computers.

sam

Answer 48

None of these folders exist for me.  How do I remove  Windows Desktop Search and also how do I determine what version I am running? Thanks.

VersionLocation

2.6.0.2083                     %systemroot%\$NtUninstallKB907371-V2$\spuninst

2.6.0.2057                     %systemroot%\$NtUninstallKB907371$\spuninst

2.6.5.Beta                     %systemroot%\$NtUninstallKB911993\spuninst

Answer 49

I finally got it off. The problem is for some reason, it isn't creating the uninstall directory (which is mentioned in the log file).

So I installed  WDS on another machine and it DID create the $NTKB917013$ uninstall directory. So I zipped that up, moved it over and unzipped it into the WINDOWS directory of my problem machine and ran the spuninstall.exe inside the folder.

No more WDS on the machine. Uninstalled on the other machine and no more WDS.

Your Mileage May Vary.

Answer 50

Thank you RClayH!  That did the trick for me.  Even better it was very simple  and definitely preferrable to trying a manual uninstall.

Answer 51

Answer 52

Hello,

Same problem here. I installed  WDS 3.01, my system is beyond sluggish and now I can't uninstall it because it doesn't show  up in the Add/remove programs  list and there is no 917013 uninstall folder to be found.

Anyway, since I don't have the luxury of being able to install  it on another machine (nor would I want to, cos I might get stuck with it there too...), can anyone zip up this uninstall folder and post it somewhere, please please please !!

Or has someone found another way of getting rid of it?

Thanx!

Vincent

Answer 53

Answer 54

Many Thanks RCIayH, this is the only solution i found on the internet.

by the way if you havn't another pc to install  WDS to follow RCIayH steps you can download this file and unzip it in your windows  directory to complete the steps
the file here http://www.2daytech.com/$NtUninstallKB917013$.rar

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Answer 59

I have got wds and it tells me it is not running and to remove  and reinstall, I dont know how to do this and my machine is running so slow, it is difficult to use.  Please help  

Sue

Answer 60

I just wanted to say thanks.  Once I found KB917013 spuninst in the Windows Directory for version 3.01, there was no problem to uninstall.  I did not read all the posts here, however, I believe Office 2007 helped me to install  WDS in the first place.  Note:  I knew there was a reason I did not use this program  before now; it's very annoying - the regular Windows Search works just fine for me, thank you very much!  Thanks again for your post. 

Answer 61

MRashed!!
I finally got rid of wds

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Coyette's method works absolute wonders. WDS doesn't have to be listed as a "service" (*cough* *cough*), and it seems that step 2, 3, 6, 9 and 11 are not necessarily compulsory.

Thanks Coyette!

EDIT: I'm never trusting Windows Desktop Search ever again, even if it's *only* "an option". Hope MS makes sure that uninstallation won't be flawed in the future.

Answer 65

I am sorry, but this is a bunch of bs. if this is how microsoft office 2007 and accounting works. im using star office and quicken for my new business. sounds to me like the riaa is searching for unlinscenced music, in fact ill make my next computer an apple.

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I also didn't install  this product like many people here. What a load of ***.... I did how ever install the Windows Live Photo Gallery Beta, and unchecked all additional software, and even read on the Photo Gallery Blog that this component was not needed.  There is no excuse for this, so don't try to defend why this happened, an apology would be better than giving excuses as to why this software installed. 

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Hey (the person who typed in bold red), this is not right. If you can abuse the designers like this, why not design something better than WDS and show  us?

PS: WDS did install  itself without notifying (thats true) and there was no "uninstall" option in Add/Remove (that is why I am in this forum.) Nevertheless, turning on "show updates" did the trick.

I would have used WDS if it wasn't that flashy. It kind of had a too "flashy" feeling: as if the UI was designed for a kid. The application is no doubt a great one, but it should have been a bit more subtle and hidden, appearing as if it is a part of the normal windows.

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Thanks for that Coyette, but the search  pane in explorer has now changed

and they have MURDERED my little DOGGY 

At least WDS has gone

Answer 76

Answer 77

Bill,

I'm having a frustrating time trying and failing to remove  the MSN Toolbar. I am getting a message over the tray icon of  windows  Desktop search  the reads, "#gen_windows_desktop_search# has detected a problem and is rebuilding your index. Then an error message window pops up (again and again until I finally exit the desktop  search from the right mouse button menu exit command in the tray) that reads, " Windows Desktop Search Tool Tray Admin has encountered a problem..."

I  get the following message when I try to uninstall the program  using "Add/Remove Programs" and both methods you recommend for removing version 02.05.000.1082...ie the "Product Code" method and the "MSN Search Toolbar Windows Installer. All generated the same problem and failed to remove the program. So now I'm stuck with a failed Microsoft Add in causing endless grief whenever I start my computer. How can I solve this?

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Answer 79

Mr. Connors,

I am a system builder and a Microsoft partner. I custom build Gaming Systems and extreme technology. I never use indexing of any sort since Windos XP as it degrades performance and burns up hared drives just as over scanning for viruses can overheat a hard drive. I have wds 3.01 and dislike this guy because I do not use indexing and constantly have to ckick on classic search  anyway. Add remove tool gives me the handle is invalid. i click ok and then i get "the was not uninstalled." Notice that the program  name is not in the error statement. Extra info; i have MSN Mess. but did not install  toolbar. I am running office 2007 Enterprise that came wit my Action Pack.

This may be a nifty utility for a business server with a huge inventory and a wide client base but for common users  and game junkies it is really a mute point. Computers now a days are fast enough that even if you have several thousand emails a non-indexed search takes less than a minute. Indexing wants to run when the computer boots using up resources that would be better put to booting windows  and runs in the background suposedly using very little processor time. This is a true statementr however you guys never seem to realize that harddrives are not truly multi tasking equipment and while indexing is using the drive the swapfile or paging file is creating a traffice jam because it has to be accessed at the same time. So when are you guys going to learn how to hyper thread or better hyper port? a hard drive?

DHaff, Systems Engineer

Answer 80

Answer 81

Hopefully you can help.

I have the removal option in add/rem programs  for WDS, but when I select remove  I get a message stating "The update could not be removed because newer updates  are installed. Please remove the newer updates first". There are no updates lised under add/rem programs and can't find them anywhere else.

Answer 82

Answer 83

The Item to remove  is hot fix KB915800 after you click chow all updates.

Hope this helps.

Robert

Answer 84

every time i try to remove  windows desktop  search i have a an warning pop-up telling me that programs  might not run properly.
How can i avoid this or what should i do to unistall it without problems ?

thanx,
james

Answer 85

Answer 86

Answer 87

When running the Uninstall process for WDS. (%systemroot%\$NtUninstallKB917013$\spuninst\spuninst.exe /p)

It also turns off Quick Launch bar on our client desktops.  The clients don't have admin rights and this has become a big issue with our users.  Has anyone found a work-around?  In our instance by creating the user profile it brought back the Quich Launch toolbar.

Answer 88

Answer 89

Bill -

Microsoft should be ashamed of Windows Desktop Search.

1. Every time we log on, the VERY first thing we do is 'snooze indexing' since the indexer consumes so many resources on our systems we cannot do anything else.

2. WDS is slower finding stuff than the old search  assistant.

3. WDS is slower finding stuff than Google Desktop.

4. WDS starts a bunch of programs  running. I could see maybe one; the indexer. Everything else is the result of poor software design.

5. When we removed ALL directories from the list of directories the indexer uses, the indexer STILL consumes so much CPU/memory we cannot run. If the list is empty, what the h*ll is it indexing????

6. When WDS gets installed, it 'hides' the Search Assistant; there is no longer any direct access  to it. When you click on Start-->Search you get WDS; you have to then click on 'Use Desktop Search Assistant' to gain access.

We have removed WDS from all our systems. They now run faster all the time, and we can find stuff more quickly.

Gary Sloane

SB/US Engineering Inc.

Answer 90

Windows Desktop Search is affecting MY performance.  I don't need to find documents.  I organize documents so that I know where to look for them.  What I do need to find is text in the documents, so that when information changes, I can find the documents that reference that information.  So every time I press Windows-F, I have to click on the link to the Search Companion.  Worse, the default window size seems to be tied to the Windows Explorer window size.  If that is too small, you can't see the Search Companion option.  There isn't even a way to scroll down in that pane.  I have to expand the window in order to get to the link that will take me where I want to go.  Stupid, stupid, stupid.

I didn't learn to type 60 wpm in order to keep my hands on a mouse all day!

I did not set up this computer.  It came from our IT department this way.  Windows Desktop Search 3.01 is listed in Add/Remove Programs.  However, when I click on it, I get (after a confirmation) "This action is only valid for products that are currently installed."

Answer 91

What I do need to find is text in the documents, so that when information changes, I can find the documents that reference that information.

You can do this using WDS (finding words, text etc. in docs) and it's actually a lot faster then using the old search  utility.  As for how to get rid of this if you find that you'd rather use the old search companion and wait while it does it's brute force search, you can contact your IT team and they should have no problems removing it.  However, I'd suggest you give WDS a try.  I do similar work where I need to find specific words or phrases in one of many subfolders and I find that WDS makes finding what I need a lot faster and easier then using the companion tool.  But that's just me...

Good luck!

JR

Answer 92

From the registry key HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MSN Apps\MSN Toolbar Suite\Version is listed as 03.01.6000.72 these instructions  do not work. The program  is not listed in Add\Remove Programs. The search  tool doesn't find half of the things the old search finds. Running XP pro and its this sort of irremovable "features" that I'm not touching vista without vlite.

Answer 93

I too am trying to uninstall WDS and I'm getting the same error...

"This action is only valid for products that are currently installed"

I think your reply is inappropriate.

Rather than further encouragement not to uninstall the product I'd prefer clear instructions  on how to resolve this problem.

Answer 94

>What I do need to find is text in the documents, so that when information changes, I can find the documents that >reference that information.

You can do this using WDS (finding words, text etc. in docs) and it's actually a lot faster then using the old search  utility.

How about some instructions  instead of a useless assertion?

The options in WDS that I see are: author, date, size, file name, folder.  Which of these mean "A word or phrase in the file:"? 

Oh, I get it.  Even though I'm searching for files on our network file server, I'm supposed to type what I'm looking for next to the button that says "Desktop."  How intuitive.  What a brilliant design.  Ya know, good Web site designers read Web Pages That Suck, and good interface designers used to read the Interface Hall of Shame (before the Webmaster had a kid and stopped updating it, more's the pity). 

Well, WDS won't run on the file server, because I'm not indexing it.  Geez, maybe I don't want to index 15 years worth of documents unrelated to what I'm doing.  WDS tells me to use Search Companion. 

Suggestion 1: If WDS is smart enough to know I should be using Search Companion, maybe it should be smart enough to fire up Search Companion for me.  Maybe it could even, ya know, pass along a few parameters.  "Hey, SC, she's looking for 'Michigan' in files in the \\support_docs\server folder.  Can you help  her out?"

Suggestion 2: If WDS is smart enough to know that where I'm searching isn't indexed, how about a one-click option to index the folder I told it to search.  How about making "Index for WDS" an option when right-clicking on a folder? 

The process of adding a folder to the index is too cumbersome.  It's as stupid as having selected a folder and going to Tools / Map Network Drive and having the Map Network Drive popup have no idea what folder you want to Map.  Hmm, maybe the one I just highlighted.

Who is testing the interface over there at Microsoft?  I'm guessing in an effort to make the software clueless-user friendly, Microsoft is testing with people who have the lowest level of computer knowledge.  The problem is, those people TRUST you.  They don't question you when you say "Because."  As in, why does windows  have two key-combos to get to the Desktop, Windows-M and Windows-D, but pressing Windows-D will bring your windows back up and pressing Windows-M won't?  

See, you build to the clueless, but alpha test on the L33T, and so ordinary working people get very, very frustrated. 

Answer 95

I found the simplest way yet!

In RegEdit, go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Desktop Search\DS and set "ShowStartSearchBand" to 0, and you'll get the default search  behavior back.

All hail Scott Hanselman! 

Answer 96

Answer 97

Brandon...If you are still on board with Ms...........

what a bunch of hockey puck your spiel has been!..........

Nice freakin company line.........

I just now have experienced this issue with WDS..... PIECE OF *** MS !

GET RID OF IT NOW !!!!!!!!!!

TELL ME HOW TO GET RID OF IT NOW TOO !

The *** doesn't show  up in add/remove etc...

and NOW.... I shut it down in MSCONFIG and it TELLS ME I DO NOT HAVE ADMIN AUTHORITY !

WHAT THE HECK HAVE YOU DONE TO MY COMPUTER MS ???????????????

Answer 98

Answer 99

Answer 100

Answer 101

I must agree with you on all points of your statements. The Desktop search  thing is about the most useless program  I have run into in a long time. I do not remember ever being asked and do know when or where Windows Desktop Search installed  itself but it sure magically replaced the Search Companion that works with the Desktop search thing. Your post may not be the most helpful but it is true! This happened to me twice on different computers..

Answer 102

I've found a very easy  way to remove  the Microsoft search  Tool.

Assuming that you’ve had no luck using the add/remove tool in the control panel

1.Go to http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/desktopsearch/default.mspx re-download the version you currently have on your machine.

2.Re-install the newly downloaded application.

3.As soon as the installation is complete go to add/remove programs  in the control panel and verify the date of the install  (should be today’s date).

4.Click uninstall

5.Re-boot you’re machine (do not skip this step)

6.Enjoy how much faster your machine is without all the system resource drain

Answer 103

I downloaded "Windiows search  4.0" from Microsoft for testing purposes and would like to remove  it too.  It was not part of a bundle, but a stand alone install.  When you mention WDS, are you also referring to Windows Search (WS)?  I'm asking because I've searched for instructions  for removing/uninstalling Windows Search, but have only found instructions for WDS. 

Thanks

Rob Wagner

Answer 104

Answer 105

I have removed “WDS” (Windows Desktop Search) from several of our computers.

Answer 106

Answer 107

What a sorry piece of s/w.  When you click on search  network places for a computer, it brings up this stupid desktop  that has no way to search for a computer.  I removed it from my client's computer.  Doesn't Microsoft ever vet their products on real people???

vern

Answer 108

I have Vista Home Premium and WDS installed  without any interaction from me. One day I saw it as an icon of it next to the 'start' button, wondered what it was and left it, not knowing if deleting it would cause problems. Only microsoft installs I have performed on my computer have been Microsoft Office 2003 and Microsoft OneNote.

Answer 109

Hi everybody.

Your cannot uninstall Windows Desktop search  4.0 cause you did clean-up with CCleaner?

Cause nobody are great in troobleshooting, Here the Uninstall folder of Windows Desktop Search 4.0 for the English version on Windows XP. You just have to download the file, extrack the folder named "$NtUninstallKB940157$" into C:\Windows then go into it, then into the folder spuninst, then double-click on spuinst.exe. It should remove  all entry of WDS 4.0. Reboot after uninstall and it should work great.

Here The link: http://rapidshare.com/files/136773896/WDS40_Uninstall.zip.html

If anytime nobody need it again and rapidshare has deleted my file, please send me e-mail at matrix_power@hotmail.com

I'll create another link to download it.

Have a great day

Xtrem3

Answer 110

Answer 111

Mr. Bill, This is your reply for a request to "simple" uninstall???? Good grief do you not know that the bulk of people out here are not computer techies?  I have read all the posts here and i must say... it really feels like a farce. Microsoft would never put out a package without a uninstall package??  For that not to be a lie in many peopples eyes they will have to learn to be as savy as you to uninstall this. Not installed  without our consent?? I suppose in the strictest sense this is true as you "do" label it in the "auto" updates  installer. But you hide behind that excuse b/c Microsoft "recomends" the express installer which would not show  you the "knowledge base xxx" "version" of the search  tool.

As an IT administrator for a number of companies I am increasingly disappointed in MS ploys and directives aimed at "pushing" people into products they dont want.

As difficult as you have made it to uninstall and as elusive as the surprise install  of this product, adding to that the dismal explanations for MS policy here... you can sure bet each and every one of my 3000+ clients will never see this product again...

Microsoft is thinking small to think we the customers will continue to put up with their deceptive ploys...

Ron

Answer 112

This removes WDS but does not remove  the indexing service that was installed  along with the update. The indexing icon still appears in the system tray and shows that the application is still running upon restarting the system.

Is there a way to remove this application (or completly disable  it) without searching removing the system binaries?

Answer 113

Answer 114

Here is how to uninstall the Microsoft Desktop 4.0 Search engine in Windows XP SP3.

First, I always recommend moving, not deleting, the $NTUninstall... folders from the \Windows folder BEFORE doing any new updates.   This makes finding these things much easier.

This process can be used to find MOST of Windows updates  and patches.

Answer 115

It seems there are several things going on here.

1)  The main purpose for WDS is to compete with Google desktop  search, and not to benefit the consumer per se.

2)  Clearly Microsoft makes it easy  to load desktop search  and much more difficult to uninstall.  Sure it includes an uninstaller, but clearly lots of people are having difficulty with it.

3)  Whenver someone posts in this forum about WDS being slow, or not working properly someone is there to jump in and offer support for the product.

4)  Whenever someone posts in this fourm about WDS being difficult to uninstall, the party line seems to be that they must have done something wrong.

5)  Clearly some people have done something wrong by deleting the uninstaller, but not everyone has done this.

6)  I've been in computer support for a long time.  One thing I've learned is to listen to my users.  If a lot of people tell me something, then there's something to it, even if the users  aren't using exactly the right language.

7)  In this case, the users are clearly saying that lots of users have problems with WDS and lots of users have problems uninstalling it.  To the WDS team, who seems to be truly in love with their own product, it probably seems unthinkable that anyone would even want to uninstall WDS, but they do.

8)  The users are clearly asking for a more foolproof way of uninstalling WDS.  Microsoft seems unwilling to provide this.

9)  This behavior is quite a bit like the spyware vendors who make it difficult to uninstall their product.

10)  Perhaps Spybot, and AdAware could start offering an uninstall option for WDS since its behavior about uninstallation seems akin to spyware.

11)  If Microsoft wants to really compete with Google they should consider this:

I have accidently installed  Google toolbar or desktop before and it is easy to uninstall.  Try it sometime.  If Microsoft really wants to compete with Google they have to be as user friendly as Google, instead of trying to be like big brother and trying to force stuff on you and make it difficult to remove.

Answer 116

Seems as though anytime a Microsoft Tools product is installed, such as SQL 2005 or VS 2005 (2008 now but I am not sure it installs the WDS), the WDS is reinstalled.  I disabled the WindowsSearch.exe by renaming the exe to something else which kept it from reinstalling, but then the Reporting Services started whining about an Administrator account.  I can't see anyway around it.  It looks as though the old ideal where F3 provides a file search  is replaced with the less effective, over-bloated copy of search called WDS.   I am trying everything I can to keep it from running on my systems because, as from my tone, it is not something I like having on my system.   If a future release of windows  comes out, I am hoping they either improve the search tool or provide a way for use to use the older, less bloated file search engine that has been on every copy of windows since nt4 came out (perhaps earlier, I don't remember if 3.11 used a file search from the F3).  When XP came out, it became more difficult to configure the F3 button to work properly until one learns that searching with F3 is and Advanced search feature (apparently Microsoft did not want people searching for files?) and now this horribly bloated tool (WDS) is out to help  all the people who couldn't figure a way around the search.

That's my take anyway.  It is one new feature that Microsoft has come out with which has not only become a huge disappointment but moreover, a huge reconfiguration nightmare.

Answer 117

Generally there should be an uninstall option in Add/Remove Programs to uninstall Windows search  4 on XP. Most often when this option is not present it's due to the C:\Windows\$NtUninstallKB940157$\ directory having been deleted somehow. We are still curious to understand better the circumstances where this can happen - we know this can happen with certain registry cleaners but if people are experiencing this problem for another reason we 'd like to know the details. It is very much not the search team's desire to make Windows Search hard or impossible to uninstall.

If the uninstaller has been deleted like this, and there's no C:\Windows\$NtUninstallKB940157$\spuninst\spuninst.exe to manually uninstall {note this is a hidden file}, then the option I would recommend trying is this:

1/ Delete the following reg keys:

"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Updates\Windows XP\SP3\KB940157"

"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\KB940157"

This will make the installer believe no Windows Search 4 is on the system.

2/ Reinstall Windows Search 4.

This will add the uninstall files back to C:\Windows\$NtUninstallKB940157$

3/ Now the uninstaller should be present in Add/Remove Programs again and can be uninstalled as normal.

Let me if this works for you or anyone else. I think this may be a bit simpler than some of other methods people have detailed on these forums.

Dave Wood

Answer 118

I ran Windows Update yesterday and got WDS installed  somehow.

I've never installed any betas that I know of.

I don't want it, and I want my old search  assistant functionality back by default.

I don't have "Windows Desktop Search" in my add/remove programs.

I don't have "MSN Search Toolbar" in my add/remove programs.

I don't have a $NtUninstallKB907371-V2$ folder nor a $NtUninstallKB907371$ folder

Answer 119

Further issue:

I only have a (Default) key (value not set)
and a Version key 04.00.6001.503

Answer 120

Another issue:

When checking %windrive%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\

There is no MSN Search Toolbar folder.

I just want to get rid of this software !

Answer 121

Ah this is better.

I have the folder C:\WINDOWS\$NtUninstallKB940157$

Yet Desktop search  does NOT show  ( as I asid before) in any of the usual places.

So now I can remove  it with C:\WINDOWS\$NtUninstallKB940157$\spuninst

Answer 122

None of these are availabile,

WDS had to be installed with XP Service Pack 3.

No Option to not install.

I have removed from Startup.

Hoping for One more shot at searching for a solution before hacking the registry.

There is no version information in the search  Interface

There is no Remove

Search and Indexer spike processor to 100% during the rendering of every web page.

making the workstation completely unusable and stopping background services.

This causes a redundant lock while browsing complex web development projects.

URGENT, PLEASE HELP

Answer 123

In Add or remove  Programs

Check for Windows search  4.0

That is how it appeared on my machine. No WDS or MSN WDS or .....

I don't have a clue how it got installed  on my machine other than through XP Service Pack 3. I looked for the WDS in add remove and then did the Reg search and uninstall but ..nothing. Then noticed the Windows Search 4.0 in Add or Remove Programs.

That was the version # I saw in the Registry.

Worked for me.

Answer 124

Answer 125

Guy,

Windows Search is not installed  with XP SP3. But we have recently added Windows Search 4 to Windows Update as an optional {not required} update.

If you have Windows Search installed and want to remove  it there normally should be an option to uninstall it in the Add/Remove programs  Control Panel.

===============

Some people have reported not having this uninstall option in Add/Remove programs. Most often when this option is not present it's due to the C:\Windows\$NtUninstallKB940157$\ directory having been deleted somehow.

If the uninstaller has been deleted like this, and there's no C:\Windows\$NtUninstallKB940157$\spuninst\spuninst.exe to manually uninstall {note this is a hidden file}, then the option I would recommend trying is this:

1/ Delete the following reg keys:

"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Updates\Windows XP\SP3\KB940157"

"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\KB940157"

This will make the installer believe no Windows Search 4 is on the system.

2/ Reinstall Windows Search 4.

This will add the uninstall files back to C:\Windows\$NtUninstallKB940157$

3/ Now the uninstaller should be present in Add/Remove Programs again and can be uninstalled as normal.

Let me if this works for you or anyone else.

Dave Wood

Answer 126

To remove  the lastest version of Windows search  4.0 from KB940157 (I removed it from XP Home)

Start

Run

%systemroot%\$NtUninstallKB940157$\spuninst

Back to the old search.

Answer 127

Worked a treat, the file name was slightly different but your post was several years ago.

Windows search, or Windows msn search. the optimum word is "search"

Answer 128

Guys,

I had a situation where I was stuck with 3.01. The icon to uninstall was present in the Add/Remove programs  but clicking  it would result in a "This action is only valid for products that are currently installed". I could not upgrade to 4.0 either and reinstalling the same version did nothing.

I came to the conclusion that being 3.01 was already installed, the installer was not recreating the uninstall folder, so I followed the instructions  below from Dave only that replacing the KB940157 with KB917013 which was the 3.01 number. After deleting the key (because I only found the first one) I reinstalled version 3.01 and this time it did create the uninstall folder in the Windows folder. I then ran the uninstall through the Add/Remove Programs and that did the trick. My machine is back to good old search.

I hope that works for other people out there so you don't have to spend 3 hours searching and trying stuff like I did. Don't forget to reboot your machine afterwards just to make things "official", lol....

To the creators of this feature: I love Microsoft, I really do, but I think I will stick with Google for search  functionality, at least for now.... In my case my problem with the tool was not speed (even though I did notice some change) but the intrusiveness of it. I wanted my regular file search and all of a sudden I am presented with this *** on the side that I have no idea what it is or how to use that I have never seen before. Perhaps some introduction and an ON/OFF switch would help?

Answer 129

I have news for you Bill! WDS also installed  itself on my laptop without my authority - it just appeared one day! I also will be glad to see the back of it.  As far as I am concerned there is too much unsolicited software junk sent out by many companies.  I do not want extra add-ons, registry cleaners, video converters, automatic updates  etc. etc.  If I want them, I'll go looking for them. That includes SP3, which is documented on the web as causing all sorts of problems. I spend a lot of time removing all this garbage from friends and customer registries aft it slowing down their PC's. Never had this problem with DOS. My mottos is 'don't fix something if it aint broke'.

Answer 130

Answer 131

Obviously you don't know what you're talking about - Just because something works on YOUR computer doesn't mean that it works with ALL Windows configurations.

Having been a tech for 15 years and programming in C++ for the past 6 years I can assure you that no program is 100% guaranteed to work on EVERY system - there are just too many variables to consider (not professing to know everything!!).

I have Windows Search 4 installed on my computer and it does NOT show  up in the Add/Remove Programs list.

It is the latest stand-alone Window Search for XP (32 bit) (WindowsSearch-KB940157-XP-x86-enu.exe) downloaded from the Microsoft site this morning at:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/desktopsearch/choose/windowssearch4.mspx?tab=Install%20It

it's currently running on my system and I have used it after installing it.

There is absolutely no mention of it in the Add/Remove Programs at all (yes, the updates  checkbox is checked) - not under "Desktop", "Microsoft", "Search", or "Windows". It's not listed as a either a stand-alone program nor as a KB###### update.

I think Microsoft definately needs to get their programmers together and create a more user-friendly uninstall option for this product as there are a lot of people that are struggling with this issue.

I have had 9 customers in the past 2 months request me to remove it for them - 6 of them were the same as myself (and others) and had no entries in the Add/Remove Programs to facilitate easy & simple  removal for them.

I'm lucky as I clone my hard drive very often so that I have a very simple and fast restoration process if something goes awry and in 10 mins I'm back to where I was prior to the installation.

I don't have the registry entries listed in my registry and I have no easy uninstall option. I'm not interested in spending the next week or two looking for a solution so I'm simply going to back up my files, reclone from my most recent image and copy my files back over - 10 mins tops and Windows Search 4 is gone forever - never to be tried again.

Answer 132

I have the same problem.  I can not uninstal WDS!!

MS Search 4.0 was installed  on an sbs 2003 thought windows  update although it was not selected.  Which has made it very slow.
We want to remove  MS Search 4.0.  However there is no entry in add/remove
prog. There is not an unistaller package in the windows dir ie
%systemroot%\$NtUninstallKB907371-V2$\spuninst

So how do you uninstall this beast?

Thank You in advance

Answer 133

John,

Reposting my instructions  from above:

Windows Search is not installed  with XP SP3. But we have recently added Windows Search 4 to Windows Update as an optional {not required} update.

If you have Windows Search installed and want to remove  it there normally should be an option to uninstall it in the Add/Remove programs  Control Panel.

===============

Some people have reported not having this uninstall option in Add/Remove programs. Most often when this option is not present it's due to the C:\Windows\$NtUninstallKB940157$\ directory having been deleted somehow.

If the uninstaller has been deleted like this, and there's no C:\Windows\$NtUninstallKB940157$\spuninst\spuninst.exe to manually uninstall {note this is a hidden file}, then the option I would recommend trying is this:

1/ Delete the following reg keys {one or both of these should be present}:

"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Updates\Windows XP\SP3\KB940157"

"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\KB940157"

This will make the installer believe no Windows Search 4 is on the system.

2/ Reinstall Windows Search 4.

This will add the uninstall files back to C:\Windows\$NtUninstallKB940157$

3/ Now the uninstaller should be present in Add/Remove Programs again and can be uninstalled as normal.

Let me know if this works for you {or anyone else}. As usual, if you have any information on whether the C:\Windows\$NtUninstallKB940157$\ directory could have gotten deleted somehow that would be really helpful to us.

Dave Wood

Answer 134

ok did what you said deleted the reg keys by the way it is an sbs server 2003.  Tried to reinstall wds 4.0 and it failed.

Now how do you uninstall and update that you did not select.  Or at least give us a step by step manuel uninstall. or fix the problem with an wds 4.0 uninstaller.  There is a problem here look at all of the posts!  We need to get this problem not issue fixed.

Answer 135

You can get the missing uninstaller from here.  I cannot locate the original link that led me to this, but I tried it and it worked perfectly on my production servers.

http://rs6.rapidshare.com/files/136773896/WDS40_Uninstall.zip

Answer 136

Works great.  Now why could microsoft provide this?

Thanx for you help

Answer 137

Answer 138

Answer 139

He is how I remove  wds

You can get the missing uninstaller from here.  I cannot locate the original link that led me to this, but I tried it and it worked perfectly on my production servers.

http://rs6.rapidshare.com/files/136773896/WDS40_Uninstall.zip

1) Why couldn't ms have given this info.

2) WDS should not have installed  itself.  You are right but it did!

3) If WDS is not showing up in Add/Remove then it likely isn't fully installed - or installed properly.  Don't know  ask windows  update.

4) Please make everyone happy and get ride of wds. or remove it from windows update so it is not automatically installed!

Answer 140

re 1 )  Hm, yes, why couldn't MS have given this info? 

a) MS does not want to admit that they could be wrong.

b) MS wants you to keep WDS for some reason, even if you don't like it, and even if they could fairly

easily have fixed problems and make enhancements that would have made WDS useful & userfriendly.

Why, for example, is there no method to find a file by its extension (you know: *.doc, *.xls) that you as enduser

get to define and at the same time also by date.   

The simple  DOS based utility programs  of about 1984 through 1993 had that capability, and then, ever since "Windows Explorer" appeared, finding a file by its extension became "outlawed".  Who makes such decisions? Mr Grinch?

And, please don't get me started about permissions!  Garrr!!! 

(Dear MS, I own my computer. How much do I have to pay you to get permission to use my computer?)  Garrr!!

While I am at it:  Will anyone ever fix SQL to make it more userfriendly?  I won't ever try MICROSOFT DYNAMICS

because it uses SQL, which is a painfully unintuitive and horrible "Structured Query Language".  Ever wonder how much

business MS never gets, because it never understands what part of its software is unintuitive, and therefore, for the

home user, of no use ?  But I digress.  

c) May be there is a hidden reason that there is no MS MVP (Most valuable professional) that is connected to WDS,

    and that the WDS helpfile makes no mention about uninstalling.

    There is no help  - ABOUT info anywhere in the program, no product ID, no version ID, no update

    ID.  There is no info about lead programmers, project managers, etc.  It has all the feel of a

    skunk works product, or an illegal drive-by killer program. No one wants to be responsible for it.

    Speaking of feel: The program  acts as if a service like GOOGLE didn't exist. You need ZERO KNOWLEDGE

    to use GOOGLE.  You need a degree in computer science to may be, just may be, figure out how to

    porgram a socalled IFILTER in order to find a file that WINDOWS Desktop search  decided you are not allowed

    to find, e.g. a file with an extension not known to the WDS programmer.  Never mind that with web technology

    MICROSOFT could have automated that process, e.g. if you look for a file with an unknown extension, an automatic

    request for an IFILTER for that file goes to MS, and a program that rewrites and revises programs gets going

    and sends the finished product to the enduser.  That would have been nice, but never mind.  It boggles the mind

    to think about all the possible things that MS decides are just impossible. 

re 2) WDS should not have installed  itself.

a) Oh, Dear, you shouldnt' have!

b) If you use the MS Update "Express Install", the "MS recommended" approach, MS update will just install  

    everything MS thinks you computer should have. Like it or not. This can be good or bad.  

    Pretty Bad, if bad software gets pushed down the pike in this manner. Bad, if security updates  come in

    automatically and knock out progams or processes you depend on, with no recourse, etc.  

    Can also be good, if a security update indeed prevents your computer from catching a really vile virus, trojan, rootkit,    

    etc.   Also, good, if the update really, I mean really, fixes something without destroying something else.

c) You can set up your Windows or MS Update so that it will download files, and inform you about the

    update that's available, and then it is up to you to decide which update you want to have actually

    installed.  This is another gamble, because you don't know for sure whether some program will do what

    it says it will do.  At least this method gives you the opportunity to look at each update's info on the MS website

    and research whether it has a "known issue" or "incompatibility".  Sometimes you might find it affects only

    users of the "1996 Version of Legoland versus Batman and Godzilla", and then you jump over your shadow

    and install it.  At other times you find notices about how the update makes the internet disappear, and

    Excel might explode and Word withers into a woolly ball and dies. Then you might do well to wait for

    a new improved update.  

Another thing is that the WDS update did not mention that it would remove  or destroy the "old Search

facility that was part of Windows XP", which in itself was slow, clunky, but at least workable.  If I uninstall

"WDS" now, will I get the the old one back?   Not very likely,

Note: This post contains no code sample. I am using plain English, which is easy  to misunderstand.

Answer 141

Thank you TOM!

I've unzipped the content of your archive in my %SYSTEMROOT% folder and then ran spuninst!

The strange thing about uninstall: it told me that almost 99% of my applications were installed  after WDS and this could lead to strange effects. Not the case - everything works fine, even better that I expected.

I do believe that I got WDS because I andwered with "YES" to Outlook 2007 question related to faster search  inside my huge PST files. As soon as I gert rid of WDS Outlook asked me again same question: if you wand higher speed you must download an update.

Thank you MS, but NO, THANK YOU!

Answer 142

HI SIR,

            I'VE GOT WINDOWS SEARCH ON THIS LAPTOP. I HATE TO REMOVE ANY MICROSOFT APS. IT'S ALL MICROSOFT AND THAT'S THE WAY I LIKE IT.

             UNFORTUNATLEY I'VE DECIDED TO REFURBISH A WEBSITE SO I COPIED AND PASTED HTML. PAGES INTO ANOTHER FOLDER SO THAT I COULD WORK ON THE NEW IMPROVED SITE.

            CHANGING THE HTML. IN THE NEW FOLDER. THE LINKS TURN UP AN ERROR: FILE NOT FOUND.

I'M WONDERING IF THIS IS A WINDOWS SEARCH PROBLEM? OR AN I.E. CONFLICT.

            I DID CHANGE THE NAME OF THE FOLDER AND THE HTML A BIT.

SYNTAX AS FOLLOWS

<a id="policy" href=“policy.html” target=“display”><font face="times new roman" font size="6pt" color="white">Policy</font></a>

YES THE POLICY.HTML PAGE IS IN THE SAME FOLDER AND IT' IS TITLED <TITLE>POLICY</TITLE>

CAN YOU LET ME KNOW WHAT'S UP?

REGARDS,

                 HEINZ STAPFF

Answer 143

Answer 144

There are two things going on here.

First - WDS does install  itself without prompting with various auto updates  and Office 2007 install.  This is the kind of thing that gets Microsoft sued again and again.  If you think there was a huge settlement because of trouble uninstalling IE, wait for this one.

Second - the fact that it's hard to uninstall and is a memory hog is simply because it's a Microsoft product. Microsoft assumes you are running a brand new machine with Office and nothing else. It's no wonder that every week I get a notice that there is a critial system update needed. Who knows what else they are hiding on our machines?

There should be a way to just turn it off, but there isn't. Each time I boot I must snooze it - which still leaves processes running.  In a perfect world there would be a system config file you could run and with simple  checkboxes pick what features you want and don't (like IE, WDS, etc.).

Answer 145

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I gave it a chance. I really did. However I find the old Search Assistant (even with all it's flaws) FAR superior. It's much faster, less boated, much more intuitive, and doesn't decide it's gonna do things in the background that I never told it to do.

Why in the name of Pete and his older brother Roland the Loon does Windows Search 4.0 need to run three processes in the background eating 40% of my CPU and a huge chunk of memory --ALL THE TIME-- and bog my system down to a crawl? Why? In the off chance I might need to search for an email? Guess what. That's already built into Outlook Express and works fine and doesn't require that I feel like I'm suddenly running Windows 95 on a 486.

This has to be the biggest disapointment I've ever seen from MS and I'm one of your fanbois!

This is NOT an OS update! Treating it as one is the root of all the problems we are having.

If I wanted my computer to run like this I would just throw it down the stairs myself. I don't really need you guys to do it for me and call it an update.

Thanks!

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I having been looking for ways to uninstall WDS also.  I don't like what I have found so I did some investigating on my own.  What I have done works for me..   I didn't uninstall it, I just disabled it.
First I disabled it from the startup group.  I did so by using the program  Autoruns.exe  from the website www.sysinternals.com.  
Then I disabled the service, "Windows Search"  by going to Start | Run   
Type  services.msc  in the open box and click ok.   Find the service called windows  Search and right click it, select properties.   In the startup type box, use the dropdown menu and select Disabled. 
From here I had to restore the old way of searching because I would still get the windows desktop  search dialog box but it would tell me that the service is not running.  So...  Start | Run and type regedit.exe
Locate the key 
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Desktop Search\DS\ShowStartSearchBand and to set it to 0 to disable  the pane. 
Voila!  The program still exists on my computer but it is not loading or running any background processes and I am performing searches the old way again. 

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TO:  T. Beal

Anything I don't like on my system, I use a utility like Process Explorer to find out where it lives.  In this case, Windows Search lives in the "C:\Program Files\Windows Desktop Search" directory.  I then rename the directory.  In my case, I renamed it to "Get Rid of It - WDS".  I then reboot the system, in case it has any open files to the directory.  I then run my favorite registry cleaner to get rid of the offending program  for good.  In my case, I use Norton Win Doctor.  I have kept my 2006 release of Norton System Works registered with Symantec ( Norton ).  These steps work with any installed  program you want to get rid of permanently.

Doug C Haman

Answer 172

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I'm sorry to hear that you don't find WDS a useful tool.  I can assure you that WDS will not be installed  unless you explicity run the installer or your IT organization provisioned it to your system. 

Answer 175

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T.Beal,

I'm sorry to hear that you don't find WDS a useful tool.  I can assure you that WDS will not be installed  unless you explicity run the installer or your IT organization provisioned it to your system.  I'm not sure what you mean when you say you clicked  "DO NOT INSTALL" - what caused you to get a message related to WDS with that option?  Was it your IT organization?

If you installed the "MSN Toolbar Suite" it will include WDS.  You can deactivate just WDS if you still want to use the rest of the Toolbar, or install  the Toolbar standalone version.

If you have installed that bundle, it will show  up in Add/Remove Programs as "MSN search  Toolbar".

HELP. What is the point  of having multiple  users with passwords  if ANYONE can access  the entire  history of EVERYONE?

I'm not sure what you're asking about here.  If this is in reference to WDS, it will only index items that are accessible to the current user.  Each user has their own index with only their files and mails.  WDS does not index IE history  at all at this time.

 

What? Are you really serious? There are over 50 million hits in Google with keywords “uninstall windows  desktop search”. Still wondering if WDS works?

It’s useless, it doesn’t work, it slows down the system, it installed itself without permission, it doesn’t uninstall, its annoying…. (Should I keep on?). How could these developers sleep at night with at least 50 million pissed off users?

Answer 177

Answer 178

Hi,

Before we start working on this I have several questions:

WDS should not have installed  itself.  What were you doing when this occurred and do you recall how the installation started? If WDS is not showing up in Add/Remove then it likely isn't fully installed - or installed properly. Can you pls clarify what you mean by: "What is the point  of having multiple  users with passwords  if ANYONE can access  the entire  history of EVERYONE?"

Thanks,

Bill Connors

Program Manager, Windows desktop  Search - Communities

 

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I had the same situation Bill. I consider myself a concious guy and I can not remember any situation that I fully knowingly had installed  your WDS. I work with computers for over 20 years and I think I know what I am doing.

No programm of any origin, especially by such a well known name as MS should be designed to "somehow" install  itslef and later not be able to be unistalled.

Answer 182

Answer 183

Hi

Any news on this four year old issue?

My servers have slowed to a crawl!

There is no way I can remove  this product. Do not know how it got on there in the frist place - which also makes me nervous. I can disable  it, but it seems to sprng right back!!

Come on Billy Gates and crew - any ideas?

Answer 184

I am amazed how difficult you make to uninstall this program which sneaked into getting installed somehow on my laptop. I am not a specialist to go through a complex operation shown above to remove this program. It is not showing up in add/remove. I may have to hire a specialist and pay to get rid of this nuissance unless someone can find a user friendly way for common people to get rid of this. It is taking a big part of the bottom bar on my laptop and I will be happy to get rid of that long button (Search Desktop) atleast. I am frustrated to see this code.

Answer 185

 

I've found a very easy way to remove the Microsoft Search Tool.

 

Assuming that you’ve had no luck using the add/remove tool in the control panel

 

1.       Go to http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/desktopsearch/default.mspxre-download the version you currently have on your machine.

 

2.       Re-install the newly downloaded application.

 

3.       As soon as the installation is complete go to add/remove programs in the control panel and verify the date of the install (should be today’s date).

 

4.       Click uninstall

 

5.       Re-boot you’re machine (do not skip this step)

 

6.         Enjoy how much faster your machine is without all the system resource drain

 

It's working.

After reinstall using latest WDS installer from Windows (thanks to Kilo), I do the uninstallation process based on Xtrem3_:

Here The link: http://rapidshare.com/files/136773896/WDS40_Uninstall.zip.html

and WDS successfully gone!

Thank you.

Answer 186

 

Hi everybody.

 

Your cannot uninstall Windows Desktop Search 4.0 cause you did clean-up with CCleaner?

 

Cause nobody are great in troobleshooting, Here the Uninstall folder of Windows Desktop Search 4.0 for the English version on Windows XP. You just have to download the file, extrack the folder named "$NtUninstallKB940157$" into C:\Windows then go into it, then into the folder spuninst, then double-click on spuinst.exe. It should remove all entry of WDS 4.0. Reboot after uninstall and it should work great.

 

Here The link: http://rapidshare.com/files/136773896/WDS40_Uninstall.zip.html

 

If anytime nobody need it again and rapidshare has deleted my file, please send me e-mail at matrix_power@hotmail.com

I'll create another link to download it.

 

Have a great day

 

Xtrem3

 

I've found a very easy way to remove the Microsoft Search Tool.

 

Assuming that you’ve had no luck using the add/remove tool in the control panel

 

1.       Go to http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/desktopsearch/default.mspxre-download the version you currently have on your machine.

 

2.       Re-install the newly downloaded application.

 

3.       As soon as the installation is complete go to add/remove programs in the control panel and verify the date of the install (should be today’s date).

 

4.       Click uninstall

 

5.       Re-boot you’re machine (do not skip this step)

 

6.         Enjoy how much faster your machine is without all the system resource drain

 

Good job!

After reinstall using latest WDS installer from Windows (thanks to Kilo):

Go to http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/desktopsearch/default.mspxre-download the version you currently have on your machine.

I do the uninstallation process based on Xtrem3_ and WDS successfully gone!

Thank you.

Answer 187

Posted 08-07-10 by AuntieCarol

from -  http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/windowsdesktopsearchdevelopment/thread/9bb7e674-8795-4c67-aa73-0a830e6f97ff/

[T.Beal’s original question and Bill Connors’ response both written  03-16-06]

     (original T.Beal question)

I have written to MS without receiving  a simple, non-MIS/IT description  of how to remove  this horribly intrusive add-on, that installed  itself DESPITE clicking  on DO NOT INSTALL.

So (and without getting into the politics of who is behind this), all I want is the easy  way to remove this program.

I have gone into Add/Remove programs  and YES, clicked  on show  Updates, but there is NOTHING clearly identified  as windows  Desktop Search

ALSO, and most important, I DO NOT want to disable  or screwup other programs/software.

HELP. What is the point  of having multiple  users with passwords  if ANYONE can access  the entire  history of EVERYONE?

     (1st Bill Connors reply)

Hi,

Before we start working on this I have several questions:

1.  WDS should not have installed itself.  What were you doing when this occurred and do you recall how the installation started?

2.  If WDS is not showing up in Add/Remove then it likely isn't fully installed - or installed properly.

3.  Can you pls clarify what you mean by: "What is the point of having multiple users  with passwords if ANYONE can access the entire history  of EVERYONE?"

Thanks,

Bill Connors

Program Manager, Windows desktop  Search – Communities

(and NOW, MY letter, written 08-07-10)

Dear Bill,

I am writing because just yesterday I updated several features on my WinXP computer and got the Windows Desktop search  Deskbar as an UNWANTED LITTLE GIFT.  I went online primarily to find out HOW to use it, as I found the brief instructions  both miniscule and deficient.  Rather, I discovered all of these additional problems users have had, which I do not want to EVER deal with.  I want to remove this forthwith and I am believing that, as so much time has passed since this was first introduced, SURELY there must be an EASIER, MORE STRAIGHTFORWARD and CORRECT way to remove this ridiculousness than is suggested by yourself and other users (and I know THEY’RE trying to be helpful).  I know many of these technology websites are valuable but I am loath to follow the instructions of a non-Microsoft, non-professional to amend my computer.  I want everything to come from the horse’s mouth, Microsoft.

After I’ve read nearly all of the posts located on the above mentioned website and found your 1st reply (shown above) and your second VERY COMPLICATED set of instructions regarding the removal of this product, I decided to look you up on the internet.  I found your name popping up on several other sites such as Technology Questions, TechNewsGroups, WindowsKB and us.generation-nt.com but they seemed to have picked you up and copied you into their pages.  Clearly, many users have been trying to address this issue.

I’m sure Gates & management, et al., thought this Desktop Search Deskbar was a brilliant idea at the time.  But when SO MANY want to remove this product from their computers, this problem should have been fixed at the administrative level long ago with a proper UNINSTALL patch.  For heaven’s sake, you’ve had over 4 years of complaints to get your act together.  AND, for your information, as in my case, this product DID install  ITSELF as well as on almost everyone else’s computer, giving neither notice nor options to unselect installation. 

AND, unlike your advice to uninstall Windows Desktop Search through Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel, I can only find “Windows Search 4.0” in my populated list and, as a simple  user in an unfriendly world, I don’t KNOW whether THAT is the Desktop Search and not the regular Search, so I would be reluctant to go ahead and uninstall THAT.  Your comment that if WDS is not in the Add/Remove Programs, it isn’t fully installed or it is installed improperly.  And who’s responsibility would that be, being as how the program  installed itself automatically?

Some users asked you for a direct contact email and you have not, to my knowledge, provided any.  Unless you dropped off the face of the earth, got a promotion in spite of your dismal performance in this arena, or moved on to greener pastures (although in this economy, I cannot envision any greener pastures than Microsoft), I hope you will respond to this flurry of cries for help  on this WDS issue, YOUR issue and YOUR responsibility.  If this is no longer your bailiwick, perhaps your successor will step up to the plate.

I will give you approximately one week to respond and I will include my actual email address for a personal response if you are brave enough.  After that, I will be in touch with Microsoft and YOU will be one of my complaints that I will carry to the very top.  If you aren’t able to handle this problem at your level, someone higher up needs to be aware of it and stop this type of INFLICTION of UNINVITED GARBAGE into our computers.

Carol Meixsell

carol.meixsell@hotmail.com