How to uninstall WSS V3

How to uninstall WSS V3

Method 1: use MSIZAP.EXE to do the uninstall.

Note: Please backup all the registry keys mentioned below before perform
any actions. Also, backup any databases if you still want use them.
Moreover, SharePoint backup/restore only supports in the same Service
Pack/Hotfix level, please go to Add/Remove Programs and note down the
Service Pack/Hotfix installed for WSS 3.0.

1. Download and install Windows Installer CleanUp Utility from KB290301:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301

2. Disable and Stop the following services:
-Windows SharePoint Services Administration
-Windows SharePoint Services Search
-Windows SharePoint Services Timer
-Windows SharePoint Services Tracing
-Windows SharePoint Services VSS Writer

3. Note the following registry keys:
From HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Office Server\12.0
-InstallPath (default is C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office Servers\12)
From HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Shared Tools\Web Server Extensions\12.0
-Location (default is C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Web
Server Extensions\12)

Delete the following registry hives:
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Shared Tools\Web Server Extensions\12.0
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\WSS

4. Delete the following folders:
The value of the InstallPath key
The value of the Location key
%CommonProgramFiles%\Microsoft Shared\SERVER12

5. Start a command line window and locate to C:\Program Files\Windows
Installer Clean Up directory. Perform the following commands:

MSIZAP TW {90120000-1015-0409-0000-0000000FF1CE}
MSIZAP TW {90120000-1014-0000-0000-0000000FF1CE}
MSIZAP TW {90120000-1110-0000-0000-0000000FF1CE}

6. Restart the server.

Method 2: manually remove WSS V3

1. Disable and Stop the following services
-Windows SharePoint Services Administration
-Windows SharePoint Services Search
-Windows SharePoint Services Timer
-Windows SharePoint Services Tracing
-Windows SharePoint Services VSS Writer

2. Note the following registry keys:
From HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Office Server\12.0
-InstallPath (default is C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office Servers\12)
From HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Shared Tools\Web Server Extensions\12.0
-Location (default is C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Web
Server Extensions\12)

3. Delete the following registry hives:
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Shared Tools\Web Server Extensions\12.0
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\WSS

4. Delete the following folders:
The value of the InstallPath key
The value of the Location key
C:\%CommonProgramFiles%\Microsoft Shared\SERVER12

5. Msizap.exe: Windows Installer Zapper
This command-line tool deletes configuration data that Windows Installer
maintains for products that it installs, including the directories, files,
registry subkeys, and registry entries in which Windows Installer stores
configuration data. You can use Msizap to remove remnants of corrupted
Windows Installer installations that prevent you from installing a product
correctly.

MSIZAP requires the product code(s) of the installed program to work.
SharePoint has numerous product codes. The product codes for the different
SharePoint builds can be found in the following location under the
ProductCodes registry key:

WSS v3 x32
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\WSS
WSS v3 x64
HKLM\Software\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\WSS

Use MSIZAP from a command line as follows:

[For WSS v3]
MSIZAP TW {90120000-1015-0409-0000-0000000FF1CE}
MSIZAP TW {90120000-1014-0000-0000-0000000FF1CE}
MSIZAP TW {90120000-1110-0000-0000-0000000FF1CE}

You will then need to restart the server.

At this point SharePoint will still appear in the Add or Remove Programs
list, but any installation will be clean.

6. Restart the server and perform an installation as normal.

7. Before running the configuration wizard, follow the steps below:
- you need to restore the ServerLanguage registry value by creating the
following .reg file (open notepad and paste the following):
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared Tools\Web Server
Extensions\12.0\ServerLanguage]
"1033"=""
- Save this as fixlanguage.reg and upload it to your server. Double click
the file and say yes to the prompts.

8. Download SP1 for Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 from the following link:

Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 Service Pack 1 (SP1)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=4191A531-A2E9-45E4-
B71E-5B0B17108BD2&displaylang=en

On how to deploy Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 SP1, please follow the
instructions in the article below:

Deploy software updates for Windows SharePoint Services 3.0
http://technet2.microsoft.com/windowsserver/WSS/en/library/91649a7e-6b5a-4e5
a-9ee5-51951f4b857f1033.mspx

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