December 6, 2002 at 7:34 pm
Our test server had MDAC 2.5 installed and we installed MDAC 2.7 over it. How can we uninstall MDAC 2.7?
TIA,
Bill
December 6, 2002 at 10:24 pm
Microsoft's answer:
http://www.microsoft.com/data/mdac21info/MDACinstQ.htm
Basically, they have one of two recommendations if you don't want to stay at the ugpraded versions:
1) Restore the system from backup or image
2) Rebuild the system.
Lovely, right? They also say to contact PSS first. The problem is, of course, that some of the files are of a critical nature and thus rollback isn't very doable.
K. Brian Kelley
http://www.truthsolutions.com/
Author: Start to Finish Guide to SQL Server Performance Monitoring
http://www.netimpress.com/shop/product.asp?ProductID=NI-SQL1
K. Brian Kelley
@kbriankelley
December 9, 2002 at 9:23 am
At the MDAC download page there is a tool called component checker.
Make sure to download the latest version as the install contains scripts for each version of MDAC and if you use an earlier release of ComCheck it won't have MDAC 2.7.
This is the condensed removal version but look up 'remove' in the ComCheck help file for the detailed explanation which tells you how to exclude specific files and other tidbits.
1. Run Comcheck.exe with the /D /NR switch from the command line. (Install defaults to c:\comcheck\comcheck.exe.)
2. Select "Scan your machine. Do not perform an analysis."
3. When the scan is complete go to 'File'-'Reconfigure MDAC components'.
4. Click 'Yes' to confirm that you want to do this.
5. ComCheck will uninstall the current version. At that point just reinstall MDAC 2.5. I tested this while writing up these directions and I did get an error on the re-install of 2.5 when it tried to register a .dll file but when you run comcheck and specify that it do an analysis it will tell you what MDAC level you are on. It also tells you what registry entries and files are incorrect which gives you the info you need to manually correct the problems.
http://www.microsoft.com/data/download.htm#CCinfo Click on the 'Component Checker Tool' to download.
I wish I'd known about this a few years ago. I ended up reloading my OS several times because I couldn't figure out how to remove it.
"I met Larry Niven at ConClave 27...AND I fixed his computer. How cool is that?"
(Memoirs of a geek)
December 9, 2002 at 9:33 am
quote:
Our test server had MDAC 2.5 installed and we installed MDAC 2.7 over it. How can we uninstall MDAC 2.7?
This is an example of a microsoft "whiff" when it comes to OS software. For whatever reasons, MDAC inserts tendrils into many wide ranging components of NT. MDAC isn't really a product so much as it's a collection of DLLs all at a certain release level. As such, there isn't a clean removal process that can be followed.
December 9, 2002 at 5:29 pm
Follow Brian's advice and either rebuild the server or restore from a system backup or ghost image. I had another developer try to remove by hand and got nothing but errors after reinstalling. However as you state this is a test server BrenBarts is at least worth the try as you can always do Brians afterwards if trouble.
December 9, 2002 at 9:04 pm
Sorry, should have added that I would never try this on a production server.
My background was as a DBA at a software development shop and all but one of our servers was for development.
The other thing about MDAC is because it is such a broad collection of clutter that even if you get errors on some things it would fix the part that I needed.
"I met Larry Niven at ConClave 27...AND I fixed his computer. How cool is that?"
(Memoirs of a geek)
December 9, 2002 at 10:37 pm
Personally I desipise how MDAC is built, but what can you do? It really shouldn't be this hard. Nor should being able to go back in Internet Explorer versions.
K. Brian Kelley
http://www.truthsolutions.com/
Author: Start to Finish Guide to SQL Server Performance Monitoring
http://www.netimpress.com/shop/product.asp?ProductID=NI-SQL1
K. Brian Kelley
@kbriankelley
December 10, 2002 at 3:47 am
Yes I do not like the way MS has of pushing some products forward without bein able to go back. Especially with MDAC since several changes mean you may run into compatibility issues that require a rollback. This is a do or die thing so your only real bet is to make sure right before you stop all traffic and make a backup of the system.
December 10, 2002 at 10:07 am
FWIW,
I have also used BrenBart suggestion of using comcheck to do an uninstall of MDAC. This only works on the 2.6 and 2.7 releases as 2.5 can not be removed.
Good Luck
Viewing 9 posts - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)
You must be logged in to reply to this topic. Login to reply