2011 DS2 Driver Installation used ALL my restore points?!!

[Jed_Davidow]

I just installed my 2011 DS2 developer's kit on a new laptop, and something went wrong with the installation.

Fine.  Let's uninstall.

Can't.  The entry is there, but I get the "Already uninstalled" error message when I try and uninstall.

Re-installing from the disc doesn't work.  Crashes.

OK.  Let's go to system restore.  I automatically create a restore point when I boot, so this should be no problem, right?

Dude.  All 30+ of my restore points are from today, DURING THE DRIVERS INSTALLATION.

Thanks, guys.  I now need to do a surgical removal of the NI stuff or reformat my machine.  This is like a while day wasted.  You guys didn't look into this?  5% of my drive filled with useless restore points.

This time, I will create a restore point and then turn off the SR while I install LV.

[alcava.cr]

About the restore points...sounds like you had activated the automatic system restore point. Check here for instruction on how to change the settings. Now, it will be ideal to create a restore point before the installation but we have to work on the "Already uninstalled" error message first. Try the following:

- http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/allkb/AC6ED75D3D93375686256E8E00245F0D

- http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2438651

[Jed_Davidow]

Thanks for your info...

• I already tried that KB article; uninstalling the standard way is broken.
• MS Fixit MIGHT work, but only uninstalls one item per time you run it (you cannot select mutiple products at once).  As I installed the entire Dev Suite, I don't have the time and patience to try this.  Especially if I get through 90% of them and then it won't work on the last few.
• Yes, I has the system restore on.  When you turn it off, it destroys all the existing SR points anyway.  So it may save you time on the install, but that doesn't help you recover.
• It seems the only way to do this right is to IMAGE the drive prior to NI installations.  This is what I will be doing from now on.

[Jed_Davidow]

Just to be clear- this was a new windows installation too.  So I just reformatted and started over.  No need to try and help me through it.