How to remove Cygwin and GRASS GIS

This part still worked correctly the last time I tried it. 3/30/2005

How to remove Cygwin and GRASS GIS. Since there is no uninstall feature for either, this must be done manually (and carefully). If you have made a previous effort to install and it didn't work, this should be done each time before making another attempt to install.

• Restart your computer.

• Backup anything you may added to the c:\cygwin\ directory which will not be replaced by the re-installation of GRASS or of the distribution Spearfish data. Unless you have created something original, derived from the distribution data, this will be unnecessary.

• Delete the c:/cygwin subdirectory (where Cygwin was installed).
  • Start, My Computer, Local Disk C:
    
  • Right-click on cygwin.
    
  • Click "delete"
  • Use WinExplorer to verify that Cygwin directory and all its files are deleted. I have ended up with a few that *cannot* be deleted and by using every gee-whiz trick I knew I finally managed to rename the directories and move them to a hidden directory.

• Delete wherever the installed GRASS files are stored (if not in the /cygwin subdirectory). You do not have to delete the uninstalled downloads you'd have saved in some place like c:\downloads\cygwin\install-04, but it probably is a good ideas, if you were unable to get a successful install with them.

• Remove registry entries. I use RegHance from LavaSoft
  Any time you change the registry, do so with great care.. The RegHance program allows you confirm (y/n) any change you about to make.
  • Under HKEY_CURRENT_USER, Software, delete "Cygnus Solutions"
    
  • Under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, Software, delete "Cygnus Solutions"
    

• Use Start, Run, cmd, chkdsk /F. This will run chkdsk, check and repair any file system problems on the next bootup. GRASS does not depart gracefully on a botched install, so this is a reasonable precaution.

• Restart your computer.

• How do I uninstall all of Cygwin? from Cygwin FAQ.
• Re: Set up and remove registry. Post to Cygwin mailing list.

Comments or suggestions?