Removing Unwanted Demo Software

  • Thread starter Thread starter tkingen
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tkingen

tkingen

Djembes Rock
Out of curiosity I downloaded some demo wave editors - Sound Forge, Goldwave, and Wavelab.
After deciding to test the Wavelab further, I uninstalled Sound Forge and deleted the Goldwave files (it had no uninstall feature.)
Now, even though those programs are not there, the names still show up in Sonar under the Tools menu. After doing a Windows system Search, the names do not show up...yet, there they are in the Sonar Tools menu.
Help?

Terry
 
Never never never just delete files to uninstall a program.

Most programs "register" themselves -- that is, they store a bunch of information in the Windows registry database about themselves-- configuration info, that sort of thing.

Programs that don't come with an uninstaller explicitly can be removed from the Control Panel, under Add/Remove Programs.

Trouble is, now that you manually removed some of the application, the uninstaller might not work properly.

It's through its existence in the registry with a certain type of configuration info that Sonar "sees" Wavelab as a candidate for its tool list.
 
Are you running XP?

XP has a neat utility where it creates 'restore points'. What you can do is take a system restore before you install the program, that way if it stuffs up the system or if you want to remove all trace of it, you just go back to the restore point, however use this utility very carefully as it you install any programs in between the restore point you go back to and current, it will also delete them!

Porter
 
Listen to AlChuck... :) It's true what he said. You should never just delete the files and folder to uninstall it. But if you're into registry editing, there's a way for you to remove them from Cakewalk's Tools Menu list.

...how to do that, Jaymz ?

Okay... first of all, I wouldn't recommend this way if you're not familiar with registry editing, since it can damage your system's configuration. But if you are sure you can handle it, it's just very easy to do.

...I'll take that chance, Jaymz! What should I do ?

First, Cakewalk put some keys and strings in the registry to identify what should be listed in Tools Menu. There's also additional strings on each key to identify behaviour of each item in the list. So here we go...

Click Start menu --> Run --> type "regedit" (without "" )
There you go... the registry file of your system is opened... don't mess with it that hurry...
Now, find the key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Cakewalk Music Software\Tools Menu

Hmmm... can you find it ? Great... Now, you must see some keys related to those items listed in Cakewalk's Tools Menu... For example, something like:

"(Default)"="(Value not set)" (1)*
"ExePath"="C:\\DAW\\COOLPRO2\\COOLPRO2.EXE"[color=sandy brown](2)*[/color]
"MenuText"="Cool Edit &Pro2"(3)*
"StatusBarText"="Edit the selected audio event using Cool Edit Pro 2"(4)*
"Type"="WaveEditor"(5)*

(1)* Ignore this... do NOT alter it. Leave it alone...
[color=sandy brown](2)*[/color] This is the path leads to specified directory of mentioned application.
(3)* This is how the shortcut will be shown in Tools Menu
(4)* This is what will be shown if you move your mouse on the shortcut. It describes the shortcut.
(5)* Type of the application. Make sure there's no space betwen Wave and Editor words. For applications other than wave editor, you can use Generic instead. (... this also explains how do I open Ms Notepad from within Cakewalk :D )

Remove ONLY specified Key name from HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Cakewalk Music Software\Tools Menu to remove the shortcut to application from Cakewalk's Tools menu. That's it...

Remember, it can be used on your own risk. BACK UP YOUR REGISTRY BEFORE DOING SO !!! Altough I didn't see any big problem with this keys, you should be very carefull...

Hope it helps...

...Sure !!! Yeah, Thanks Jaymz :) Is there I can do for now ?

Yes, make sure you order the Homerecording.Comp CD's Vol. II
Go to www.homerecording.com/compcd

Good luck...
;)
Jaymz
 
Thanks guys, for your help. I was going to tackle Jaymz's regedit method, but moskus's CWTool link did the trick just fine.
I appreciate the help!

Terry
 
James or moskus, wouldn't a re-install of Sonar also reinitialize the tools after it searchs for compatibles, and not finding the ghosts just not list them?
 
So far I know, if the information is kept on the registry, then it will be appeared again after reinstall. The installation process won't erase particular information from registry. But I could be wrong about it anyway :)

;)
Jaymz


hey... you know what ? It's 5th track on the blue CD played on the player while I'm typing !!! Cool Toki !!! :cool:
 
Thats spooky man :)

It may leave it in the registry and I dont know if XP cleans itself in the registry of unavailible script objects or not, Ill have to look. But with a re-install mine scanned the hardrive and if the executable file didnt exist for the plugin it wouldnt list it in Sonar.
 
Toki987 said:
...and if the executable file didnt exist for the plugin it wouldnt list it in Sonar.
Click to expand...

Plugins and Tools menu list are different matter here, I suppose :)

;)
Jaymz
 
I meant tools. However I tried it. removed a "tool" program, reinstalled Sonar and you were correct. Apparently the registry is providing the info. So it is the "long and winding road" into the registry to fix it.

Now Im`wondering if a complete uninstall of Sonar, then reinstall might do it... but I`m not going to :)
 
reinstall the demo programs and then uninstall them correctly...
 
what about plugins??

i've got some plugin synths that i don't use or don't work and the same basic prob...can this be fixed with the same software?

thanx

wyd
 
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