The way to uninstall Windows Desktop Search 3.01

Dear friends,

I propose there a solution of trouble with Windows Desktop Search 3
deinstallation, discussed occasionally in Internet. I've got this
trouble too! The last update to version 3.01 invoked a serious system
resources leak and my work become slower twicer, my pauses to wait the
reaction from my computer increased from seconds to minutes, and I
understood that without reanimation my computer will work for 80% of
time only for this brilliant WDS!

But it's impossible to uninstall it in my Windows XP SP2 (and to
install f.e. Google Desktop instead)! I have not found any solution in
Internet, in newsgroups, even from Microsoft! So "if the mountain
won't come to Muhammad, Muhammad must go to the mountain!

There is my proposal to an answer "How to uninstall Windows Desktop
Search 3.0x"! Your comments and notes would be highly appreciated!

In the situation of incorrect setup utility behaviour of Windows
Desktop Search 3.0x, recommendations from Microsoft like "http://
www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows/search/dtstshoot.mspx#E4KAC"
and advices to use advanced uninstall tools are unuseful. The cause is
in some incomprehensible bug (or "feature"?!) when in some situations
after the setup of WDS the uninstall information is losted (f.e. for
WDS 3.01 it must be a folder "C:\WINDOWS\$NtUninstallKB917013$").
Without this uninstall information it's impossible to uninstall such a
complex application (there are drivers, filters, CLSID's etc.)
automatically.

To solve the problem you can create the uninstall information file
yourself manually, like the setup unitity!

I propose the next algorithm to uninstall WDS (and many others
applications) manually:
0. Not to forget about renew system restore point, system files
backup, system restore disk before to begin!
1. To find the setup configuration file "update.inf" in the
distributive
2. To collect in some special folder the files: spuninst.exe,
updspapi.dll
3. To convert the setup information from update.inf to uninstall
information file spuninst.inf and put spuninst.inf to the same folder
as in spuninst.exe
4. To run spuninst.exe - that's all!

This is a working method, I used it successfully whe this WDS 3.01
slowed down my computer catastrophically and Microsoft can't propose
any decision to solve problem! BUT it's for your own risk!

There is a common way:
1. Unpack the distributive (f.e. Start->Run->WindowsDesktopSearch-
KB917013-V301-XP-x86-enu.exe -x) in some folder f.e. "UnpWDSSetup"
2. Create folder to store the uninstall information, f.e. "UnpWDSSetup
\spuninst"
3. Copy to from "UnpWDSSetup" to "UnpWDSSetup\spuninst\": spuninst.exe
4. Copy to from "UnpWDSSetup\update\" to "UnpWDSSetup\spuninst\":
updspapi.dll
5. Get as a template any "spuninst.inf" file from "%SystemRoot%\
$NtUninstallxxxxx$". This file contains the common uninstall
information structure for spuinist.exe utility. But the contents
depends on the appliaction to uninstall! By analysing this template
"spuninst.inf" and "UnpWDSSetup\update\update.inf" you can
successfully build the contents of "UnpWDSSetup\spuninst\spuninst.inf"
necessary to uninstall WDS. It's not so difficult, but at the end of
this post I'll quote such an example of spuininst.inf to uninstall
Windows Desktop Search 3.01
6. Edit the section of "UnpWDSSetup\spuninst\spuninst.inf" and set
"RebootRequired = 1"
7. Before the happy to uninstall your folder "UnpWDSSetup\spuninst\"
must contain: spuninst.exe, spuninst.inf, updspapi.dll
8. Run "UnpWDSSetup\spuninst\spuninst.exe" and confirm that you can
exist without so beatiful Windows Desktop Search
9. At the end restart your system!

________________________________________
Best regards,
Andrew Kotsar


************************************************************
The contents of spuinist.inf to uninstal Windows Desktop Search 3.01
************************************************************
[Version]
Signature = "$Windows NT$"
NtServicePackVersion = 0
NtServicePackVersionText = "KB917013"
NtServicePackVersionFullText = "Windows Desktop Search 3.01"
NtServicePackPreviousVersion = 512
NtServicePackPreviousVersionText = "No KB917013"
IEVersion = "0.0.0.0"
DisplayTitle = "KB917013"
SP_TITLE = "Windows Desktop Search 3.01"
RebootRequired = 1

[SourceDisksNames]
1="Windows Desktop Search Source Files"

[SourceDisksFiles]
msscolmn.txt=1
gathrprm.txt=1
schema.txt=1
msscntrs.dll=1
mssitlb.dll=1
searchprotocolhost.exe=1
searchfilterhost.exe=1
searchindexer.exe=1
mssph.dll=1
mssphtb.dll=1
mssprxy.dll=1
mssrch.dll=1
msstrc.dll=1
propdefs.dll=1
tquery.dll=1
msscb.dll=1
gsrvctr.h=1
gsrvctr.ini=1
gthrctr.h=1
gthrctr.ini=1
idxcntrs.h=1
idxcntrs.ini=1
msshsq.dll=1
structuredqueryschema.bin=1
structuredqueryschematrivial.bin=1
xmlfilter.dll=1
rtffilt.dll=1
srchadmin.dll=1
propsys.dll=1
searchindexer.exe.mui=1
mssrch.dll.mui=1
tquery.dll.mui=1
mssphtb.dll.mui=1
mssph.dll.mui=1
srchadmin.dll.mui=1
propsys.dll.mui=1
dsksrch.chm=1
deskbar.cfg=1
deskbar.dll=1
dbsetup.dll=1
dbres.dll=1
wordwheel.dll=1
wwres.dll=1
msnlDl.dll=1
msnldlps.dll=1
msnlExt.dll=1
msnlExtRes.dll=1
msnlNamespaceMgr.dll=1
msnlRed.dll=1
WdsMktTools.dll=1
wdsShell.dll=1
wdsView.dll=1
WindowsSearch.exe=1
WindowsSearchRes.dll=1
MarketStrings.cfg=1
mapine.dll=1
mapineres.dll=1
dbres.dll.mui=1
msnlExtRes.dll.mui=1
WindowsSearchRes.dll.mui=1
wwres.dll.mui=1
mapineres.dll.mui=1
oeph.dll=1
OEphRes.dll=1
OEphRes.dll.mui=1
UncPH.dll=1
UncRes.dll=1
UncCplExt.dll=1
UncNE.dll=1
UncDMS.dll=1
UncRes.dll.mui=1

[DestinationDirs]
System32.Files = 11 ; %windir%\system32
(replace if exist)
Search.Config.Files = 16419, "Microsoft\Search
\Config" ; ...\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Search\Config
Search.Data.Config.Files = 16419, "Microsoft\Search\Data
\Config" ; ...\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Search\Data\Config
Mui.Name.Files = 11, "%WDS_MARKET%" ; %windir%
\system32\<en-US style locale>
Mui.ID.Files = 11, "mui\%WDS_MARKET_LCID%" ;
%windir%\system32\mui\<lcid>
WindowsDesktopSearch.UI.Files = 16422, "%WDSAppsSubDir%" ;
Program Files\Windows Desktop Search
Ext.files = 16422, "%WDSAppsSubDir%" ;
Program Files\Windows Desktop Search
Ext.Mui.Files = 16422, "%WDSAppsSubDir%\
%WDS_MARKET%" ; Program Files\Windows Desktop Search\%WDS_MARKET%
OEPH.Files = 11 ; %windir%\system32 (replace
if exist)
OEPH.Mui.Files = 11, "%WDS_MARKET%" ; %windir%
\system32\<en-US style locale>
UNCPH.Files = 11 ; %windir%\system32 (replace
if exist)
UNCPH.Mui.Files = 11, "%WDS_MARKET%" ; %windir%
\system32\<en-US style locale>

[ProductCatalogsToInstall.delete.files]

KB917013.cat

[ProcessesToRunBeforeUninstall]
"%SystemRoot%\System32\cmd.exe /c ""%SystemRoot%
\System32\unlodctr.exe UGatherer"""
"%SystemRoot%\System32\cmd.exe /c ""%SystemRoot%
\System32\unlodctr.exe UGTHRSVC"""
"%SystemRoot%\System32\cmd.exe /c ""%SystemRoot%
\System32\unlodctr.exe wsearchidxpi"""

[Configuration]
UninstallationType = "Hotfix"
UnInstallLogFileName = "KB917013Uninst.log"
EventLogKeyName = "NtServicePack"
ProductName = ""
CustomizationDll = ""
WaitTimeForServiceStop = 0
OverwriteThirdParty = 0
RestartDevice = 0
ServiceFileInUseDetect = "0"
UninstallCustomizationDLL = wss_SpCustom.dll

[GlobalRegistryChanges]
DelReg = Del.Reg

[Del.Reg]
HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search
HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows Desktop Search
HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows Search Service
HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows Search, "CurrentVersion"
HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows Search, "DataDirectory"
HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows Search, "InstallDirectory"
HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows Search, "DefaultColumnFile"
HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows Search,
"UseLowPriorityConfiguration"
HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows Search,
"SetupCompletedSuccessfully"
HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows Search,
"indexer:ci:MaxRestrictionNodes"
HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows Search\Applications
HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows Search\CatalogNames
HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows Search\ContentIndexCommon
HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows Search\CrawlScopeManager
HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows Search\Databases
HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows Search\DataDirectory
HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows Search\Gather
HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows Search\Gathering Manager
HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows Search\Indexer
HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows Search\InstallDirectory
HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows Search\PerformanceCounters
HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows Search\SearchService
HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows Search\UsnNotifier
HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows Search\PreviousSettings
HKCU, Software\Microsoft\Windows Search
HKCU, Software\Microsoft\Windows Desktop Search

[Del.Reg.PerfCounters.Uninstall]
HKLM, System\CurrentControlSet\Services\UGatherer
HKLM, System\CurrentControlSet\Services\UGTHRSVC
HKLM, System\CurrentControlSet\Services\wsearchidxpi

[Product.Del.Reg.UI]
HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Search-ms
HKLM, Software\Classes\CLSID\{70804ECC-7272-4dc8-
AFFC-97CD66AAA282}
HKLM, Software\Classes\Search.MapPI
HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows Desktop Search

Kotsar Andrew wrote:
> Dear friends,
>
> I propose there a solution of trouble with Windows Desktop Search 3
> deinstallation, discussed occasionally in Internet. I've got this
> trouble too! The last update to version 3.01 invoked a serious system
> resources leak and my work become slower twicer, my pauses to wait the
> reaction from my computer increased from seconds to minutes, and I
> understood that without reanimation my computer will work for 80% of
> time only for this brilliant WDS!
>
> But it's impossible to uninstall it in my Windows XP SP2 (and to
> install f.e. Google Desktop instead)! I have not found any solution in
> Internet, in newsgroups, even from Microsoft! So "if the mountain
> won't come to Muhammad, Muhammad must go to the mountain!
>
> There is my proposal to an answer "How to uninstall Windows Desktop
> Search 3.0x"! Your comments and notes would be highly appreciated!
>
> In the situation of incorrect setup utility behaviour of Windows
> Desktop Search 3.0x, recommendations from Microsoft like "http://
> www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows/search/dtstshoot.mspx#E4KAC"
> and advices to use advanced uninstall tools are unuseful. The cause is
> in some incomprehensible bug (or "feature"?!) when in some situations
> after the setup of WDS the uninstall information is losted (f.e. for
> WDS 3.01 it must be a folder "C:\WINDOWS\$NtUninstallKB917013$").
> Without this uninstall information it's impossible to uninstall such a
> complex application (there are drivers, filters, CLSID's etc.)
> automatically.
>
> To solve the problem you can create the uninstall information file
> yourself manually, like the setup unitity!
>
> I propose the next algorithm to uninstall WDS (and many others
> applications) manually:
> 0. Not to forget about renew system restore point, system files
> backup, system restore disk before to begin!
> 1. To find the setup configuration file "update.inf" in the
> distributive
> 2. To collect in some special folder the files: spuninst.exe,
> updspapi.dll
> 3. To convert the setup information from update.inf to uninstall
> information file spuninst.inf and put spuninst.inf to the same folder
> as in spuninst.exe
> 4. To run spuninst.exe - that's all!
>
> This is a working method, I used it successfully whe this WDS 3.01
> slowed down my computer catastrophically and Microsoft can't propose
> any decision to solve problem! BUT it's for your own risk!
>
> There is a common way:
> 1. Unpack the distributive (f.e. Start->Run->WindowsDesktopSearch-
> KB917013-V301-XP-x86-enu.exe -x) in some folder f.e. "UnpWDSSetup"
> 2. Create folder to store the uninstall information, f.e. "UnpWDSSetup
> \spuninst"
> 3. Copy to from "UnpWDSSetup" to "UnpWDSSetup\spuninst\": spuninst.exe
> 4. Copy to from "UnpWDSSetup\update\" to "UnpWDSSetup\spuninst\":
> updspapi.dll
> 5. Get as a template any "spuninst.inf" file from "%SystemRoot%\
> $NtUninstallxxxxx$". This file contains the common uninstall
> information structure for spuinist.exe utility. But the contents
> depends on the appliaction to uninstall! By analysing this template
> "spuninst.inf" and "UnpWDSSetup\update\update.inf" you can
> successfully build the contents of "UnpWDSSetup\spuninst\spuninst.inf"
> necessary to uninstall WDS. It's not so difficult, but at the end of
> this post I'll quote such an example of spuininst.inf to uninstall
> Windows Desktop Search 3.01
> 6. Edit the section of "UnpWDSSetup\spuninst\spuninst.inf" and set
> "RebootRequired = 1"
> 7. Before the happy to uninstall your folder "UnpWDSSetup\spuninst\"
> must contain: spuninst.exe, spuninst.inf, updspapi.dll
> 8. Run "UnpWDSSetup\spuninst\spuninst.exe" and confirm that you can
> exist without so beatiful Windows Desktop Search
> 9. At the end restart your system!
>
> ________________________________________
> Best regards,
> Andrew Kotsar
>
>
> ************************************************************
> The contents of spuinist.inf to uninstal Windows Desktop Search 3.01
> ************************************************************
> [Version]
> Signature = "$Windows NT$"
> NtServicePackVersion = 0
> NtServicePackVersionText = "KB917013"
> NtServicePackVersionFullText = "Windows Desktop Search 3.01"
> NtServicePackPreviousVersion = 512
> NtServicePackPreviousVersionText = "No KB917013"
> IEVersion = "0.0.0.0"
> DisplayTitle = "KB917013"
> SP_TITLE = "Windows Desktop Search 3.01"
> RebootRequired = 1
>
> [SourceDisksNames]
> 1="Windows Desktop Search Source Files"
>
> [SourceDisksFiles]
> msscolmn.txt=1
> gathrprm.txt=1
> schema.txt=1
> msscntrs.dll=1
> mssitlb.dll=1
> searchprotocolhost.exe=1
> searchfilterhost.exe=1
> searchindexer.exe=1
> mssph.dll=1
> mssphtb.dll=1
> mssprxy.dll=1
> mssrch.dll=1
> msstrc.dll=1
> propdefs.dll=1
> tquery.dll=1
> msscb.dll=1
> gsrvctr.h=1
> gsrvctr.ini=1
> gthrctr.h=1
> gthrctr.ini=1
> idxcntrs.h=1
> idxcntrs.ini=1
> msshsq.dll=1
> structuredqueryschema.bin=1
> structuredqueryschematrivial.bin=1
> xmlfilter.dll=1
> rtffilt.dll=1
> srchadmin.dll=1
> propsys.dll=1
> searchindexer.exe.mui=1
> mssrch.dll.mui=1
> tquery.dll.mui=1
> mssphtb.dll.mui=1
> mssph.dll.mui=1
> srchadmin.dll.mui=1
> propsys.dll.mui=1
> dsksrch.chm=1
> deskbar.cfg=1
> deskbar.dll=1
> dbsetup.dll=1
> dbres.dll=1
> wordwheel.dll=1
> wwres.dll=1
> msnlDl.dll=1
> msnldlps.dll=1
> msnlExt.dll=1
> msnlExtRes.dll=1
> msnlNamespaceMgr.dll=1
> msnlRed.dll=1
> WdsMktTools.dll=1
> wdsShell.dll=1
> wdsView.dll=1
> WindowsSearch.exe=1
> WindowsSearchRes.dll=1
> MarketStrings.cfg=1
> mapine.dll=1
> mapineres.dll=1
> dbres.dll.mui=1
> msnlExtRes.dll.mui=1
> WindowsSearchRes.dll.mui=1
> wwres.dll.mui=1
> mapineres.dll.mui=1
> oeph.dll=1
> OEphRes.dll=1
> OEphRes.dll.mui=1
> UncPH.dll=1
> UncRes.dll=1
> UncCplExt.dll=1
> UncNE.dll=1
> UncDMS.dll=1
> UncRes.dll.mui=1
>
> [DestinationDirs]
> System32.Files = 11 ; %windir%\system32
> (replace if exist)
> Search.Config.Files = 16419, "Microsoft\Search
> \Config" ; ...\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Search\Config
> Search.Data.Config.Files = 16419, "Microsoft\Search\Data
> \Config" ; ...\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Search\Data\Config
> Mui.Name.Files = 11, "%WDS_MARKET%" ; %windir%
> \system32\<en-US style locale>
> Mui.ID.Files = 11, "mui\%WDS_MARKET_LCID%" ;
> %windir%\system32\mui\<lcid>
> WindowsDesktopSearch.UI.Files = 16422, "%WDSAppsSubDir%" ;
> Program Files\Windows Desktop Search
> Ext.files = 16422, "%WDSAppsSubDir%" ;
> Program Files\Windows Desktop Search
> Ext.Mui.Files = 16422, "%WDSAppsSubDir%\
> %WDS_MARKET%" ; Program Files\Windows Desktop Search\%WDS_MARKET%
> OEPH.Files = 11 ; %windir%\system32 (replace
> if exist)
> OEPH.Mui.Files = 11, "%WDS_MARKET%" ; %windir%
> \system32\<en-US style locale>
> UNCPH.Files = 11 ; %windir%\system32 (replace
> if exist)
> UNCPH.Mui.Files = 11, "%WDS_MARKET%" ; %windir%
> \system32\<en-US style locale>
>
> [ProductCatalogsToInstall.delete.files]
>
> KB917013.cat
>
> [ProcessesToRunBeforeUninstall]
> "%SystemRoot%\System32\cmd.exe /c ""%SystemRoot%
> \System32\unlodctr.exe UGatherer"""
> "%SystemRoot%\System32\cmd.exe /c ""%SystemRoot%
> \System32\unlodctr.exe UGTHRSVC"""
> "%SystemRoot%\System32\cmd.exe /c ""%SystemRoot%
> \System32\unlodctr.exe wsearchidxpi"""
>
> [Configuration]
> UninstallationType = "Hotfix"
> UnInstallLogFileName = "KB917013Uninst.log"
> EventLogKeyName = "NtServicePack"
> ProductName = ""
> CustomizationDll = ""
> WaitTimeForServiceStop = 0
> OverwriteThirdParty = 0
> RestartDevice = 0
> ServiceFileInUseDetect = "0"
> UninstallCustomizationDLL = wss_SpCustom.dll
>
> [GlobalRegistryChanges]
> DelReg = Del.Reg
>
> [Del.Reg]
> HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search
> HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows Desktop Search
> HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows Search Service
> HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows Search, "CurrentVersion"
> HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows Search, "DataDirectory"
> HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows Search, "InstallDirectory"
> HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows Search, "DefaultColumnFile"
> HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows Search,
> "UseLowPriorityConfiguration"
> HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows Search,
> "SetupCompletedSuccessfully"
> HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows Search,
> "indexer:ci:MaxRestrictionNodes"
> HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows Search\Applications
> HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows Search\CatalogNames
> HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows Search\ContentIndexCommon
> HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows Search\CrawlScopeManager
> HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows Search\Databases
> HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows Search\DataDirectory
> HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows Search\Gather
> HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows Search\Gathering Manager
> HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows Search\Indexer
> HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows Search\InstallDirectory
> HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows Search\PerformanceCounters
> HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows Search\SearchService
> HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows Search\UsnNotifier
> HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows Search\PreviousSettings
> HKCU, Software\Microsoft\Windows Search
> HKCU, Software\Microsoft\Windows Desktop Search
>
> [Del.Reg.PerfCounters.Uninstall]
> HKLM, System\CurrentControlSet\Services\UGatherer
> HKLM, System\CurrentControlSet\Services\UGTHRSVC
> HKLM, System\CurrentControlSet\Services\wsearchidxpi
>
> [Product.Del.Reg.UI]
> HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Search-ms
> HKLM, Software\Classes\CLSID\{70804ECC-7272-4dc8-
> AFFC-97CD66AAA282}
> HKLM, Software\Classes\Search.MapPI
> HKLM, Software\Microsoft\Windows Desktop Search
Among the free desktop search (DTS) applications, my preference is for
Copernicus DTS. I had tried Google DTS earlier, but settled for
Copernicus about a year back. CNN reviews http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-3684_7-5536376-1.html
rates Copernicus DTS as the best.