Instructions for a "clean uninstall" of Palm Desktop prior to reinstalling

[smkranz]

One of the more popular threads on the old Palm Support Community, which seems un-findable here, is the instructions to perform a clean uninstall of Palm Desktop software prior to attempting a reinstallation.  Here they are, as best as I have been able to locate them:

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You should first make a copy of your data. If you have Palm Desktop 4.2 and lower you can copy your user folder by going to C:\Program files\Palm or PalmOne. Once in here look for your username and right click on it and copy it. Then open up My Documents and Pasting it in here. If you have Palm Desktop 6.2.2 go to My Documents/Documents --> Palm OS Desktop. Copy the folder(s) in here and Paste them in My Documents/Documents

Now you will need to uninstall Palm Desktop. First go to Control Panel and in XP go to Add and Remove documents, in Vista Programs and Features. Then look for Palm Desktop and uninstall it. Then go to C:\Program files\Palm or C:\Program files\PalmOne and delete this folder. If you have Vista you will need to go to here:

C:\Program files\Palm
C:\Users\[Vista Login Name]\appdata\local\virtualstore\Program Files\Palm or PalmOne
C:\Users\[Vista Login Name]\appdata\Palm or PalmOne
*Note you may need to view hidden folders to get to appdata. To do that go into your Control Panel and open folder options. Go to view tab and uncheck hide hidden files.


One this is done you will need to delete some registry keys from your registry.

Word of warning, going here and deleting the wrong thing can cause your PC from starting up, crashing and deletion of programs and data. If you feel you are unsure of your self see if you have a friend that can help you or a PC technician that you can pay to help you. This will show them everything they need to delete. To help against this we need to do a backup.

Go to start and run type "regedit" without quotes

Highlight MY COMPUTER, go to File --> export. Should pop up with a Save As box. Current location is fine should be in My Documents. In the file name on the bottom type "backup[todaysdate]" i.e. backup07072008. Next, the hard part.

Easiest way to make sure your doing the right one highlight the key i.e. Palm Quick Install, and press delete on your keyboard. It will ask you are you sure. Say yes. Do the same thing for all keys below.

If you make a mistake, stop what you are doing. And call a PC technician. BUT do not turn off your computer.


The Registry keys are as follows (Note: some of these Registry keys will not be here but if they are, delete them)

* HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\U.S. Robotics\Palm Quick Install
* HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\U.S. Robotics\PalmOne File Transfer
* HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\U.S. Robotics\Pilot Desktop
* HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Palm
* HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Palm, Inc.
* HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PalmDesktopAutorun
* HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PalmOne
* HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PalmSource
* HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\PalmSource


Next reboot your computer

Then reinstall your palm desktop from the CD and do a hotsync. If it asks you for a username and you synced your device before, put in 'test" if you did not sync before create a hotsync name.

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Cheers!