Are you looking to completely uninstall SolidWorks from your computer? SolidWorks is a powerful software used for designing and modeling in the engineering and manufacturing industries.
However, there may come a time when you need to remove it from your system for various reasons. In this article, we will guide you through the process of completely uninstalling SolidWorks.
Why Uninstall SolidWorks?
Before we dive into the uninstallation process, let’s quickly go over some common reasons why you might want to remove SolidWorks:
- Switching to a different CAD software: You may have decided to switch to a different computer-aided design (CAD) software that better suits your needs.
- Freeing up disk space: SolidWorks can take up a significant amount of disk space, especially if you have multiple versions installed. Uninstalling it can help free up valuable storage on your computer.
- Troubleshooting issues: If you are experiencing technical issues with SolidWorks, a clean uninstall and reinstall might help resolve those problems.
The Uninstallation Process
To completely uninstall SolidWorks from your computer, follow these steps:
Step 1: Backup Your Data
Prior to uninstalling any software, it’s always a good idea to backup any important data or files associated with that program. This way, you can easily restore them if needed in the future. Make sure to save any drawings, models, or other project files created using SolidWorks.
Step 2: Uninstall via Control Panel
To begin the uninstallation process, navigate to the Control Panel on your Windows computer. Here’s how:
- Click on the Start menu and type “Control Panel” in the search bar.
- Select the Control Panel application from the search results to open it.
- In the Control Panel, locate and click on “Uninstall a program” under the “Programs” category. This will open a list of all installed programs on your computer.
- Scroll through the list and find “SolidWorks“.
Right-click on it and select “Uninstall“.
- Follow the on-screen instructions provided by the SolidWorks uninstaller to complete the removal process. Make sure to select any additional components or add-ons you want to remove along with SolidWorks.
- Once the uninstallation is complete, restart your computer to finalize the process.
Step 3: Remove Remaining Files and Folders
The uninstallation process via Control Panel may leave behind some residual files and folders associated with SolidWorks. To ensure a clean uninstall, follow these steps:
- Navigate to your computer’s main hard drive (usually labeled as “C:“) or wherever you have installed SolidWorks.
- Delete any remaining SolidWorks folders or directories. These may include folders such as “SolidWorks Corp.“, “SolidWorks Data“, or similar names.
- If you encounter any permission issues while deleting these folders, right-click on them, select “Properties“, go to the “Security” tab, and make sure you have the necessary permissions to delete them.
Step 4: Clean Up Registry Entries
Uninstalling SolidWorks from your computer does not automatically remove all the associated registry entries. To clean up these entries, follow these instructions:
- Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
- Type “regedit” and press Enter. This will open the Windows Registry Editor.
- In the Registry Editor, navigate to “HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SolidWorks Corp.“. Right-click on it and select “Delete“. Confirm the deletion if prompted.
- Navigate to “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\SolidWorks Corp.
Repeat the same process of right-clicking and deleting this key.
- If you find any other SolidWorks-related keys or entries in different locations of the registry, delete them as well. However, exercise caution while modifying or deleting registry entries as they are critical system settings. It’s recommended to create a backup of your registry before making any changes.
Step 5: Restart Your Computer
After completing all the above steps, it’s important to restart your computer. This will ensure that any remaining traces of SolidWorks are completely removed from your system.
In Conclusion
Uninstalling SolidWorks may seem like a daunting task at first, but by following these step-by-step instructions, you can ensure a thorough removal of the software from your computer. Remember to back up your data, uninstall via Control Panel, delete remaining files and folders manually, clean up registry entries, and restart your computer. By doing so, you will have successfully completed the process of completely uninstalling SolidWorks.