LabVIEW not uninstalling cleanly: can I delete manually?

[AndyF]

Hello.

After installing LabVIEW 2019 I've decided to uninstall all previous versions that I don't need anymore ('14,'15,'16,'17) using the VI package manager.

After rebooting I noticed that my hard drive usage did not decrease by what I expected (10-20GB). 

I've discovered that in c:\Program Files (x86)\..... the relevant 201X LabVIEW folders were still populated with GB of files.

LabVIEW seems to have uninstalled correctly however.

Thanks

Andrew

Can I delete these folders?

Why aren't these folders cleaned up correctly?

[Yamaeda]

Did you install other addons/packages to those versions? Those probably needs to be uninstalled separately.

/Y

[cbutcher]

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@AndyF wrote:

Hello.

After installing LabVIEW 2019 I've decided to uninstall all previous versions that I don't need anymore ('14,'15,'16,'17) using the VI package manager.

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Did you mean the NI Package Manager, or the VI Package Manager?

VI Package Manager (VIPM) manages the installation of addons, essentially, whilst (from I think 2016 onwards, maybe 2017?) NIPM handles installation and uninstallation of LabVIEW.

If you open NIPM, you might find you'll have better luck (if you previously uninstalled packages using VIPM instead).

[altenbach]

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@AndyF wrote:

I've discovered that in c:\Program Files (x86)\..... the relevant 201X LabVIEW folders were still populated with GB of files.

As others have said, most of your descriptions are confusing or unclear (NIPM vs VIPM, etc.).

As a first step, actually look at the folders and see what the bulk of the files are. That might give you some clues what's still installed.  (A good tool is treesize free). Did you just have plain LabVIEW or tons of drivers, modules and toolkits?

Also note that significant disk space is taken up in "c:/Program Data\National Instruments" (packagers, update service installers, product cache). Installers using the pre NIPM  also occupy "C:/National instruments downloads" or similar.

[Bob_Schor]

There have been several posts here on the Forums (I wrote one) about removal of LabVIEW.  With LabVIEW 2019 (and probably 2018, maybe even 2017), the NI Package Manager (NIPM) is required to remove LabVIEW.

The only safe way to remove LabVIEW is to use Control Panels's "Program and Features" to remove "National Instruments Software".  You want to select "Remove All" -- do not attempt a Repair (it is a much slower procedure, and I find it to be rarely successful).  Reboot, then do another removal until there are no more "National Instruments Software" entry.

During this procedure, do not remove NI Package Manager!  This is the LabVIEW routine that actually manages the removal, and if you "remove the remover", you might as well reformat the C: drive, reinstall Windows, and start all over.

Once the National Instruments Software seems to be uninstalled, you need to uninstall NI Package Manager.  Select it (it better be there!) and agree to the warning.  

Other things you might similarly uninstall include VI Package Manager (if it is installed).

So once the Software has been removed, as you note, there can be a lot of files left over.  I've usually removed them (and it seems to be perfectly safe to do so).  You want to look in the following places (assuming 32-bit LabVIEW on 64-bit Windows 10):

• Program Files\National Instruments
• Program Files x86\National Instruments
• Program Files x86\JKI           [Location for VI Package Manager]
• Program Data\National Instruments       [This is hidden, and could be left alone]
• Program Data\JKI               [Also hidden]

Note that the hidden National Instruments folder inside Program Data (on one of my PCs) can be larger than the National Instruments folder in Program Files\x86.

Bob Schor

P.S. -- the Good News is that the most recent version of NIPM (19.6) is much improved, and will probably install modern LabVIEW more "pleasantly".

[AndyF]

Thanks all, I'll try all the suggestions and feedback later.

I did mean NI package manager, apologies, I was talking to someone about both of them at the time of writing and got them mixed up whilst typing.

Sorry for the red herring.

I did run it from the Programs and Features.

I have only about 1 toolkit installed per LabVIEW installation, so I don't think it's those that are left behind. I didn't have much time too look at exactly was in the folders.

Regards

Andrew