Can't remove games in Windows 2000

  • Thread starter Thread starter Anita Gillaspey
  • Start date Start date
A

Anita Gillaspey

I tried to remove the games from Windows 2000 by editing
the sysoc.inf file and the using Add/Remove programs and
selecting games. Then I re-booted the PC. But the exe
files for the games just keep coming back. The links to
the games are gone from the Program menu, but sol.exe,
freecell.exe, pinball.exe and winmine.exe still exist on
the PC. So, if an end uses is computer savy, he could
still do a search for the file and double click it to run
the game.

I've also tried to manually delete the game exe files from
both c:\winnt\system32 and c:\winnt\system32\dllcache and
then I emptied the recycle bin. But the game exe files
still re-appear in just a few seconds.

I am very frustrated. We are a large company and playing
games is against company policy. How do we get rid of the
game exe files for good?
 
I did that too, but the games still come back. I finally
removed the compressed files from c:\I386. This does stop
them from coming back, but then Windows 2000 gives an
error message that says Windows some of your system files
have been replaced by older versions, please put in your
CD so these files can be restored. Why in the world would
Microsoft make games a system file? Is there a process I
can go through that would make Windows 2000 think that
games are not system files?
 
I, too, am trying to remove cames - particularly freecell -
Not being all that adept, I can't find system32\dllcache.
This is a Windows 2000 professional series.
Can you walk me through this?

Fred
 
Hi Fred,

Here's a step by step walkthrough you may use ;-)

Windows Games are considered system files so they are hidden
from the Add-Remove programs list by default. The following is
a step by step guide I made to help you overcome this obstacle:

First, we are going to unhide all files and file extensions:
1. Choose Start / Programs / Accessories / Windows Explorer.
2. In Windows Explorer, choose Tools / Folder Options.
3. Click the View tab in the Folder Options dialog box.
4. Double-click Hidden Files and Folders, and then select Show Hidden Files and Folders.
5. Deselect Hide File Extensions for Known File Types, and then click OK.

Now we are going to edit the Sysoc.inf file to unhide all games:

1. Choose Start / Run / Copy+Paste the next line into the RUN box and press [ENTER]:
notepad %SystemRoot%\Inf\Sysoc.inf

2. Scroll down until you find the line that reads: Games=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,games.inf,HIDE,7
and delete the HIDE from the line so it now reads: Games=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,games.inf,,7

3. Below the is the line that reads: AccessUtil=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,accessor.inf,HIDE,7
delete the word HIDE from the line so it now reads: AccessUtil=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,accessor.inf,,7

4. Scroll down a little to the line that reads: Pinball=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,pinball.inf,HIDE,7
and delete the word HIDE from the line so it now reads: Pinball=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,pinball.inf,,7

5. Click File / Exit and choose YES to save the changes you made to the file.

6. Click Start / Settings / Control Panel / Add-Remove Programs.

7. Select and Remove any of the games you want from the list.

--
Cheers,
Jimmy S.

Additional Support Resources: My Zone.com Helpsite: http://nibblesnbits.tk
Microsoft Online Tech Support: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=376
Game FAQ's: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=FH;[LN];gms
My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty; nor do I confer any rights.
_________________________________________________________

| I, too, am trying to remove cames - particularly freecell -
| Not being all that adept, I can't find system32\dllcache.
| This is a Windows 2000 professional series.
| Can you walk me through this?
|
| Fred
| >-----Original Message-----
| >Remove the EXE files from the system32\dllcache.
| >
| >| >> I tried to remove the games from Windows 2000 by editing
| >> the sysoc.inf file and the using Add/Remove programs and
| >> selecting games. Then I re-booted the PC. But the exe
| >> files for the games just keep coming back. The links to
| >> the games are gone from the Program menu, but sol.exe,
| >> freecell.exe, pinball.exe and winmine.exe still exist on
| >> the PC. So, if an end uses is computer savy, he could
| >> still do a search for the file and double click it to
| run
| >> the game.
| >>
| >> I've also tried to manually delete the game exe files
| from
| >> both c:\winnt\system32 and c:\winnt\system32\dllcache
| and
| >> then I emptied the recycle bin. But the game exe files
| >> still re-appear in just a few seconds.
| >>
| >> I am very frustrated. We are a large company and playing
| >> games is against company policy. How do we get rid of
| the
| >> game exe files for good?
| >
| >
| >.
| >
 
Windows 2000 Games Unload Blues

The programs must be registered. In order to delete the files, they must first be un-registered. I use Altiris and need to automate this process. The instructions above require a re-boot. These are very problematic to Altiris automation. Also, the instructions above caused IIS to load/change. What a headache!

I will post again when I have a script to paste in.
 
Back
Top