Removing windows programs after install

  • Thread starter Thread starter BertieBigBollox
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BertieBigBollox

How do I remove the standard windows programs after installation of
Windows 2000 professional?

If you go to add/remove programs not many are listed....

I've heard of a file that can be edited in windows\inf that will add
more entries to the add/remove list but not all.

For instance, I want to remove thing such as games, hyperterminal, COM+
etc.
 
Find the sysoc.inf file in the %windir%\inf folder. Create a backup
copy. Edit the file and delete HIDE on the lines indicated below. Just
remove HIDE leave the 2 commas in place and do not add spaces.

for example: Games=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,games.inf,HIDE,7
will become: Games=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,games.inf,,7

Remove HIDE on these lines:

Games=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,games.inf,HIDE,7
AccessUtil=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,accessor.inf,HIDE,7
CommApps=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,communic.inf,HIDE,7
media_clips=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,mmopt.inf,HIDE,7
MultiM=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,multimed.inf,HIDE,7
AccessOpt=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,optional.inf,HIDE,7
Pinball=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,pinball.inf,HIDE,7
MSWordPad=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,wordpad.inf,HIDE,7

Now in the Add/Remove Programs > Add/Remove Windows Components the games
should be available to uninstall.

You can remove other non listed components with Rundll32.exe and the
InstallHinfSection entry-point function. For example, you can remove
NetMeeting by running this in the Start Menu Run Dialogue box:

rundll32.exe setupapi,InstallHinfSection NetMtg.Remove 132 msnetmtg.inf

Sometimes the full path to rundll32 is needed so this might be a better
execution line:

%SystemRoot%\System32\rundll32.exe setupapi,InstallHinfSection
NetMtg.Remove 132 msnetmtg.inf

Guess what this one does:

rundll32.exe setupapi,InstallHinfSection Uninstall 132
c:\windows\inf\wmp.inf

By searching the internet for Rundll32.exe setupapi,InstallHinfSection
combined with keywords and studying the .inf files you can find
information for removal of many items.

!!!WARNING!!!

Just because the information is available and just because you can
remove certain components with the InstallHinfSection entry-point
function it doesn't mean that it is a good idea to do so, nor that it is
a procedure supported by Microsoft! Removal of some components might
result in unpredictable results or a complete disaster requiring a
re-installation of the operating system!

John
 
Joshua said:
when in add/remove programs look to your left and click on add/remove Windows
componets
Click to expand...

Yes. This is what I've been doing, but they're not all listed.
 
Yes. This is what I've been doing, but they're not all listed.
Click to expand...

Just to be clear, Joshua's not talking about the big, main listing of
"Currently Installed Programs". It's the "Windows Components" selection
in the grey pane on the extreme left.

(Just thought there might be some confusion between the two lists -
sorry if that's not the case).
 
Usually these items don't show up because of the HIDE statement in the
sysoc.inf file.

John
 
John said:
Usually these items don't show up because of the HIDE statement in the
sysoc.inf file.
Click to expand...

Yes, but if you take all the HIDEs out of the sysoc.inf file, I think
there are still some things that dont show up.
 
John John wrote:




Yes, but if you take all the HIDEs out of the sysoc.inf file, I think
there are still some things that dont show up.
Click to expand...

There are LOTS of things that won't show up. The sysoc changes only
apply to the items in the file.

John
 
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