We're sorry, but WDS has detected a problem...
wiwth your desktop index and cannot continue.
Please reinstall WDS here: ...
So I goes to the toolbar.msn.com site - download it, and it (the installer) tells me that it is earlier than the WDS I have installed.
WDS is not indexing Outlook (I have a connection to Exchange Server - but store emails in a pst file). I also have an archive pst file.
Nothing in Outlook is, nor has been, indexed.
I would like to remove WDS - but can't!!!
It's not in Add/Remove programs - and I'm gettin somewhat brassed off everytime I log on, seeing the dialog "We're sorry, but..." etc.
I just want to remove it please.
I was looking forward to the extra capabilities of the indexing over Lookout - ie docs, SS's, etc. Even pdf's. However my Outlook indexing was *most* important to me - now I don't even have that.
If I can just remove it please, I think I have the old Lookout installer here still.
Cheers...
[989 byte] By [
T-boy] at [2008-2-20]
When you installed WDS did you install it with the MSN Toolbar or the enterprise version of Windows desktop search?
If you loaded the toolbar and only unisntalled WDS this may be the problem you are running in to.
In a previous post two other users had a similar issue, and they used the Windows Installer Cleanup utility to fix the situation. You can find the utility at the following location http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;290301
Please let me know if that helps.
Jeff R.
Only WDS was installed. And that's all I'm trying to remove.
The Windows Installer Cleanup utility was of no help because it only cleans programs (it seems anyway) that are in the "Add/Remove Programs" list. ie it's not there (to be removed).
I have disabled the program starting - by simply removing it from the Startup menu group (which I spotted after initially posting).
Anyway, it seems to still be there - there is no way I can see to remove it, other than perhaps removing it's folder under Program Files, and it's shortcut on the Start menu. I assume it writes to the Registry also - but haven't looked.
If it doesn't do lots to the Registry, perhaps I can just manually clean it up - wot do you think?
Duncan.
Let's start with something a little less envasive... Since the program files are still on your system, which I am assuming because you are still getting the error message, let's see if we can't back it out using the Uninstall package...
To uninstall Windows Desktop Search, use the Uninstaller package from the following locations for the following versions:
Version Location
2.6.0.2083 %systemroot%\$NtUninstallKB907371-V2$\spuninst
2.6.0.2057 %systemroot%\$NtUninstallKB907371$\spuninst
If you need to uninstall the product manually, the following should be enough to get you to the point that you can reinstall a newer version properly.
What you will want to do is start by deleting the program files. By default you will find them at:
C:\Program Files\Windows Desktop Search
Before removing anything from the registry it would be a wise idea to back up your registry first.
From the Registry try removing the following keys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Desktop Search
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Desktop Search
Do not delete the entire path in the registry, only the Windows Desktop Search nodes and their sub keys, folders etc.
I hope this helps.
Jeff
