Can't Uninstall Workstation Programs After Server Crash

[Guest JBradshaw]

We have a small office with 5 users. Single-server environment running SBS.

 

One of the principals of the company left, taking the server with him. It

was rather abrupt, but the users are now getting by without a file server or

domain controller.

 

However, we are experiencing some problems when they try to install or

uninstall software on their worksations. During the uninstall of, for

instance, Adobe, they are told that the setup program can not locate

\\oldservername.

 

I have tried running the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility, but even it

won't install, saying it can't find \\oldservername.

 

The users are still logging in to the domain using cached credentials, but

they are administrators on the local machine.

 

How can I get these setup programs to stop looking for the freaking

server!?!

 

Thanks

[Guest Meinolf Weber]

Re: Can't Uninstall Workstation Programs After Server Crash

 

Hello JBradshaw,

 

Was the software installed with group policies?

 

Best regards

 

Meinolf Weber

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> We have a small office with 5 users. Single-server environment

> running SBS.

>

> One of the principals of the company left, taking the server with him.

> It was rather abrupt, but the users are now getting by without a file

> server or domain controller.

>

> However, we are experiencing some problems when they try to install or

> uninstall software on their worksations. During the uninstall of, for

> instance, Adobe, they are told that the setup program can not locate

> \\oldservername.

>

> I have tried running the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility, but even

> it won't install, saying it can't find \\oldservername.

>

> The users are still logging in to the domain using cached credentials,

> but they are administrators on the local machine.

>

> How can I get these setup programs to stop looking for the freaking

> server!?!

>

> Thanks

>

[Guest Anthony [MVP]]

Re: Can't Uninstall Workstation Programs After Server Crash

 

This is a truly painful problem. The problem is in two parts:

- the install or uninstall requires the media

- the original location is missing.

If you have the media you should be able to substitute a new location. I

can't suggest a reliable method for doing this, but if you search the

registry for \\oldserver it should be fairly obvious.

If you don't have the media at all the problem is that the installation

requires it. It would be the same if it was installed from CD. Then your

only option is to forcibly uninstall (e.g. with Windows Installer CleanUp)

or with registry removal, and then install from fresh media.

Hope that helps,

Anthony

http://www.airdesk.com

 

 

"JBradshaw" <jbradsha@dphilneas.nnn> wrote in message

news:HL6dnbskNv-JplTVnZ2dnUVZ_gadnZ2d@posted.internetamerica...

> We have a small office with 5 users. Single-server environment running

> SBS.

>

> One of the principals of the company left, taking the server with him. It

> was rather abrupt, but the users are now getting by without a file server

> or domain controller.

>

> However, we are experiencing some problems when they try to install or

> uninstall software on their worksations. During the uninstall of, for

> instance, Adobe, they are told that the setup program can not locate

> \\oldservername.

>

> I have tried running the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility, but even it

> won't install, saying it can't find \\oldservername.

>

> The users are still logging in to the domain using cached credentials, but

> they are administrators on the local machine.

>

> How can I get these setup programs to stop looking for the freaking

> server!?!

>

> Thanks

>