How to ensure a clean uninstall and update of SolidWorks

If you're installing a new version or service pack of SolidWorks software, there are choices and decisions that need to be made. This tech tip will help explain these topics and help you and your organization make a more informed decision on steps to be taken when updating or upgrading SolidWorks.

An upgrade is when a new version is installed on the computer; for example, going from SolidWorks 2007 to SolidWorks 2008. An update is going from one service pack of the same release to another; for example, moving from SolidWorks 2008 SP1.0 to SolidWorks 2008 SP3.0.

Before starting the upgrade or update

The following items should be reviewed:

• All system options have been defined and saved using the Copy Settings Wizard. Save these settings on a network drive.
  
• All other SolidWorks settings (i.e., keyboard shortcuts, menu customizations, and toolbar layouts) have been saved by the individual users. This should be intuitively named (e.g., SWSetting-User.sldreg) so each user can esirly restore their setting.
  
• Backup all documents templates, Toolbox databases, and more. Note: Any item that has been customized (i.e., templates, macros, and more) should not be stored in the SolidWorks installation directory. Put these documents and files on the network and reference the location with Tool\Options\File Locations and select the location for these document types
  
• Obtain administrative or power user rights to the computer
  
• Obtain the software. For initial release, the SolidWorks website has SP0 available for web download. After the CDs ship only updates (service packs) are available. The updates can be obtained from the SolidWorks Customer Portal.
  
  For more information, visit https://customerportal.solidworks.com.
  You will need a valid subscription service contact, and Customer Portal login.
  
• For Windows® XP users, you may also want to create a Windows restore point.

You will need to make the following decisions before starting the upgrade or update process:

• Whether to uninstall and then re-install. For new versions of SolidWorks while the old version can be updated, a better practice is to uninstall, clean-up after the install, and then re-apply and configure SolidWorks. For service packs, there is no need to go to this extent. Just update the release to the current service pack.
  
• New installation or update? Use Updates for Services Packs , and a New Install for a new version of the application.
  
• Multiple versions of SolidWorks can be run at the same time on one computer. Unless the old version is needed, it is best to only have the current version on the computer.
  
• Do not run multiple services packs on the same computer. This is a bad practice.
  
• Create names for the SolidWorks installation directories that are based on the version and service pack for SolidWorks. For example, SolidWorks 2007 SP1.0 would have an installation directory name of SolidWorks2007 for each version. To run multiple service packs on the same machine, create installation directories with the service pack appended to the directory name, like SolidWorks2007-1-0.
  
• Set a common files location based on version and also decide whether to share the data with others on a network drive. The SolidWorks Toolbox and Hole Wizard database is by default stored in the C:\Program Files\Common Files\SolidWorks Data directory. To run multiple versions on the same computer, make sure this directory has been named to the desired version of SolidWorks (i.e., SolidWorks Data06).
  
  To update this directory, copy the data to the new version (i.e., SolidWorks Data07) and point to the directory during the update. SolidWorks will update the database during the update.

Cleaning up afterwards

When uninstalling SolidWorks software there are a number of items that are left on your computer for backup and convenience reasons. The ones we will address are:

• SolidWorks installation directory. This directory has some files that may have been customized by the user. The best solution is to always change the location and reference to these files using Tools\Options\Files locations.
  
  The reason this directory is left after an uninstall is a safe guard for users that left items in the SolidWorks installation folder don't find their templates or other customized documents gone after the uninstall. The issue is that SolidWorks will not allow an installation into an existing directory. You might end up with C:\Program Files\SolidWorks, C:\Program Files\SolidWorks (2).
  
• The Windows Registry keys that are remaining after SolidWorks has been uninstalled. These settings remain as a convenience to the user. If they exist, the next version of SolidWorks will read these values.

Following the steps outlined above before starting will ensure files that are needed later still remain. Afterward, you can remove the installation directory and Windows registry HKCU SolidWorks keys.

The following is a batch file that can be used to uninstall SolidWorks silently, clean the installation directory and Windows registry keys. The advantage of doing these tasks with a batch file is that it is easier and safer (no keyboard fat finger issues). A couple of notes on this batch file:

• Copy this information to notepad and save as SysClean.bat
  
• The CD is required for updates unless the original install was from an administrative image or the CD was copied to the network. For more information, see the installation guides at http://www.solidworks.com/pages/services/ServicePacks.html
  
• Make sure all files, the Windows Registy, templates, and other SolidWorks settings and configuration files are backed up prior to running this batch file or removing any of these values.

REM This will silently uninstall SolidWorks, remove the SolidWorks directory, and clean

REM the Windows registry. Review, edit, remove or comment out (REM) entries as needed.

REM NOTE: Run the Copy Settings WIzard and back up all SolidWorks configuration files

REM before running this batch file.

REM ==========================================================

REM Uninstall SolidWorks.

REM NOTE: The location needs to point to the orignal CD or admin image.

REM The following example is from an admin image. This could be SWDist

REM (Web Download) or a CD drive letter.

msiexec -x \\<computer name>\swimage\English_i386_SolidWorks.msi

REM ==========================================================

REM Remove the SolidWorks directory

REM NOTE: This should point to the SolidWorks install directory.

REM All customized documents (formats, etc.) should not be kept

REM in this directory. Place them on the network and use

REM Toos\Options\File Locations to point to the customized documents.

rmdir /s /q c:\program files\SolidWorks

REM ==========================================================

REM Remove the SolidWorks Current_User Windows Registry key.

REM NOTE: If mulitple versions of SolidWorks are installed on the same machine, edit

REM the reg file to add the desired SolidWorks version name.

call Wipe-SW-CM.reg

REM ==========================================================

REM Remove the SolidWorks LOCAL_MACHINE Windows Registry key.

REM NOTE: If mulitple versions of SolidWorks are installed on the same machine,

REM edit the reg file to add the desired SolidWorks version name.

REM IMPORTANT: DO NOT WIPE OUT THIS KEY IF ANY MULTIPLE VERSIONS OF SOLIDWORKS

REM ARE INSTALLED ON THE COMPUTER. THIS IS COMMENTED OUT BY DEFAULT.

REM call Wipe-SW-LM.reg

The following two files — Wipe-SW-CU.reg and Wipe-SW-LM.reg — are Windows registry keys that will remove the SolidWorks HKEY\CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE and HKEY\LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE settings.

NOTE: Copy the information below this line to Notepad and save as
Wipe-SW-CU.reg.

REGEDIT4

[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SolidWorks\SolidWorks]

[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Bluebeam Software]

[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\DesignSource]

[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ Software\GSSL]

[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ Software\Moldflow]

[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ Software\SolidWorks BackOffice]

[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SRAC]

NOTE : Copy the information below this line to Notepad and save as Wipe-SW-LM.reg. Add any other old versions of SolidWorks to this list. This is optional and not as important as the HKEY\CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE keys.

REGEDIT4

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\SolidWorks\SolidWorks 2005]

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\SolidWorks\SolidWorks 2006]

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\SolidWorks\SolidWorks 2007]

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\SolidWorks\SolidWorks 2008]

Conclusion

To insure a clean, consistant update, these processes help to minimize issues and in the long run save time and effort. SolidWorks always looks to find ways to streamline and automate this process. It's important to have a good plan and an understanding of how best to keep your installation robust for new releases and service packs; this will make your experience with SolidWorks and your interaction with your users better and more productive.

Copyright © 2008 SolidWorks Corporation. All rights reserved.
Do not distribute or reproduce without the written consent of SolidWorks Corporation