Uninstall Windows Search 4.0 for Windows XP (KB940157)

this is the easiest way I found to get back to the Search Companion and get rid of Windows Search 4.0.
The method would be to set the vaule of HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/Windows Desktop Search/DS/ShowStartSearchBand to 0 to disable the pane.
also go to run/services.msc, look for Windows Search and stop it and set it to disabled.

"Paultx", alias "Nexx", wrote Tue 26 May "Thanks a lot!!!! You steps worked great!".

So, please "PA Bear [MS MVP]", could you post, here on the MS Newsgroup (so that it gets propagated into the other images of the thread), a more precise link to (or at least a copy of) the solution? TIA,

Versailles, Mon 10 Aug 2009 18:48:45 +0200


----- Thread ("news://" links are clickable in OE) -----
Newsgroup: news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general
More persistent Image: http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/brow...frm/thr


----- Intermediate Message ("news://" links are clickable in OE) -----
From: "Nexx" <Nexx.DeleteThis@discussions.microsoft.com>
Message: news://msnews.microsoft.com/2377A83F-84F5-43AC-AB78-37E540B001AA@microsoft.com
Sent: Tue 26 May 2009 00:26:00 GMT
Subject: Re: Uninstall Windows Search 4.0 for Windows XP (KB940157)

Thanks a lot!!!! You steps worked great!


----- Parent Message ("news://" links are clickable in OE) -----
From: "PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP.DeleteThis@gmail.com>
Message: news://msnews.microsoft.com/OPllCto2JHA.1424@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl
Sent: Fri 22 May 2009 03:12:13 GMT
Subject: Re: Uninstall Windows Search 4.0 for Windows XP (KB940157)

Post here instead, please: http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/windowsdesktopsearchhelp/threads
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002


----- Parent Message ("news://" links are clickable in OE) -----
From: "Paultx" <Paultx.DeleteThis@discussions.microsoft.com>
Message: news://msnews.microsoft.com/CA090786-281B-483A-93DC-9645AE0254CA@microsoft.com
Sent: Thu 21 May 2009 18:06:09 GMT
Subject: Re: Uninstall Windows Search 4.0 for Windows XP (KB940157)

Here's my case. I have WDS 4.0 in the 'Add/Remove programs' list. I have the $NtUninstallKB940157$ folder in Windows, but I can't open it to check if spuninst.exe is there, 'cause I don't have administrative rights.

Strange here is that I click 'Remove' in 'Add/Remove programs' and get a warning saying something like this (original language is Brazilian Portuguese):

Uninstallation error
Error when trying to remove Windows Search 4.0. It maybe already uninstalled. Do you want to remove Windows Search 4.0 from the 'Add/Remove programs' list?

Any idea?

Hi Nepatsfan.. good day.

I am on the same issue.. couldn't run the win search 4.0 indexing in
Outlook 2007 or in the desktop..

I want to remove the Windows Search 4.0 but couldnt..

I followed your instructions and stoped on the follwoing:

1- I couldnt find this after reinstalling the windows search 2.0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\KB940157
2- I cannot find :
$NtUninstallKB940157$ folder in C:\Windows.

I reinstalled again the windows search 4.0 again but same things ..

if you want i can send you a couple of screen shots of some strange errors I
have regarding the windows search.

hence,
*I have win XP Pro.
*Hidden Files are viewed.
*I tried before and after the reinstalling d win search.

this issue appeared when i updated the latest windows live essential.--(has
a problem..i couldnt save the email or password for the nex log in to the
messenger)

in outlook search indexing - search ooptions .. cannot check or select..
error message says "a problem was encountered while trying to change which
data files to index..)

thanks and regards,

Great!!!. This worked for me.

"Nepatsfan" wrote:

> First off, in Control Panel -> Folder Options, is "Show hidden files and
> folders" selected in the Advanced settings box on the View page?
>
> If it is and you still can't find the $NtUninstallKB940157$ folder, let's see if
> the following helps.
>
> Go to Start and click on Run.
> In the Run box, enter regedit.exe.
> In the Registry editor, click on the + signs in the left hand pane to navigate
> to the following registry key.
>
> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Updates\Windows XP\SP3\KB940157
>
> Right click on this key and select Delete from the menu.
>
> Do the same for this key.
>
> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\KB940157
>
> Once you deleted these two keys, close the registry editor. Next, reinstall
> Windows Search 4.0. Check in Add or Remove programs to see if it is now listed.
> If not, look for the $NtUninstallKB940157$ folder in C:\Windows.
>
> Note: It's a good idea to create a restore point before editing the registry.
> System Restore can be launched from the Start menu through All Programs ->
> Accessories -> System Tools -> System Restore.
>
> Note: Post back if you're not comfortable editing the registry.
>
> Good luck
>
> Nepatsfan
>
>
> "Pseu" <Pseu RemoveThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:4BA39301-7F40-4E02-AA9A-21EF5F728374@microsoft.com...
> > Hello Nepatsfan,
> >
> > The folder named $NtUninstallKB940157$ is not present in C:\WINDOWS. After
> > checking C:\WINDOWS, I reinstalled Windows Search 4.0 for Windows XP
> > (KB940157) and rebooted. Unfortunately, it still does not show in Add/Remove
> > or in C:\WINDOWS. Windows Search 4.0 still functions okay. Do you have any
> > other suggestions?
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Pseu.
> >
> > "Nepatsfan" wrote:
> >
> >> "Pseu" <Pseu RemoveThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> news:373C94BD-9CF1-4B4F-B971-EFDC312506C7@microsoft.com...
> >> > Hello,
> >> >
> >> > I want to uninstall Windows Search 4.0 for Windows XP (KB940157) but it
> >> > does
> >> > not appear in Add/Remove, how do I completely remove it?
> >> >
> >> > I shall thank everybody in advance for any help.
> >> >
> >> > Regards,
> >> >
> >> > Pseu
> >> >
> >>
> >>
> >> One option would be to install Windows Search again to see if an entry is
> >> added
> >> to the list in Add or Remove Programs.
> >>
> >> You could also look in your C:\Windows folder for a folder named
> >> $NtUninstallKB940157$. Open this folder and look for a folder named spuninst.
> >> Within the spuninst folder you should find a file named spuninst.exe. Running
> >> this file should manually uninstall Windows Search. Note: You need to have
> >> configured Windows to display hidden file and folders through the Folder
> >> Options
> >> applet in Control Panel in order to see the $NtUninstallKB940157$ folder.
> >>
> >> Good luck
> >>
> >> Nepatsfan
> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>
>
>

Sorry for the blank reply, what I really meant to say (LOL) is I followed the
instructions because a user was getting a prompt saying Windows Search 4.0
not installed or requires updates after the application was removed. I
verified in all steps below that the KB940157 was not available for
uninstall, and did not show in either registry key. Is there a registry edit
to remove this nonsense prompt once the program has been uninstalled?

"Nepatsfan" wrote:

> First off, in Control Panel -> Folder Options, is "Show hidden files and
> folders" selected in the Advanced settings box on the View page?
>
> If it is and you still can't find the $NtUninstallKB940157$ folder, let's see if
> the following helps.
>
> Go to Start and click on Run.
> In the Run box, enter regedit.exe.
> In the Registry editor, click on the + signs in the left hand pane to navigate
> to the following registry key.
>
> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Updates\Windows XP\SP3\KB940157
>
> Right click on this key and select Delete from the menu.
>
> Do the same for this key.
>
> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\KB940157
>
> Once you deleted these two keys, close the registry editor. Next, reinstall
> Windows Search 4.0. Check in Add or Remove programs to see if it is now listed.
> If not, look for the $NtUninstallKB940157$ folder in C:\Windows.
>
> Note: It's a good idea to create a restore point before editing the registry.
> System Restore can be launched from the Start menu through All Programs ->
> Accessories -> System Tools -> System Restore.
>
> Note: Post back if you're not comfortable editing the registry.
>
> Good luck
>
> Nepatsfan
>
>
> "Pseu" <Pseu.TakeThisOut@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:4BA39301-7F40-4E02-AA9A-21EF5F728374@microsoft.com...
> > Hello Nepatsfan,
> >
> > The folder named $NtUninstallKB940157$ is not present in C:\WINDOWS. After
> > checking C:\WINDOWS, I reinstalled Windows Search 4.0 for Windows XP
> > (KB940157) and rebooted. Unfortunately, it still does not show in Add/Remove
> > or in C:\WINDOWS. Windows Search 4.0 still functions okay. Do you have any
> > other suggestions?
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Pseu.
> >
> > "Nepatsfan" wrote:
> >
> >> "Pseu" <Pseu.TakeThisOut@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> news:373C94BD-9CF1-4B4F-B971-EFDC312506C7@microsoft.com...
> >> > Hello,
> >> >
> >> > I want to uninstall Windows Search 4.0 for Windows XP (KB940157) but it
> >> > does
> >> > not appear in Add/Remove, how do I completely remove it?
> >> >
> >> > I shall thank everybody in advance for any help.
> >> >
> >> > Regards,
> >> >
> >> > Pseu
> >> >
> >>
> >>
> >> One option would be to install Windows Search again to see if an entry is
> >> added
> >> to the list in Add or Remove Programs.
> >>
> >> You could also look in your C:\Windows folder for a folder named
> >> $NtUninstallKB940157$. Open this folder and look for a folder named spuninst.
> >> Within the spuninst folder you should find a file named spuninst.exe. Running
> >> this file should manually uninstall Windows Search. Note: You need to have
> >> configured Windows to display hidden file and folders through the Folder
> >> Options
> >> applet in Control Panel in order to see the $NtUninstallKB940157$ folder.
> >>
> >> Good luck
> >>
> >> Nepatsfan
> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>
>
>