Removing Reality from my System (uninstall & repair)

This FAQ includes information for Windows and UNIX platforms and Client components… Updated Dec 7th, 2014
 

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For Windows System Platforms

If you just want to update to the latest Reality Release of the Demo refer to the FAQ…
… Updating the Windows Reality Demo from release to release

Warning! The following will totally remove Reality, any mistakes deleting files or using regedit could require Windows to be reloaded so please make sure you have a backup.

Important Note:
There is a new utility command, remove_reality, that is installed since V15.1+SP#57, June 2014, with the update V15.1.0.0043, refer to Latest Updates page for the latest SP. While this command typically removes Reality the details below can be used to check this.

Providing you only have Reality loaded from NPS after completing the below you should also use [find] in the Windows regedit command to search for and remove all hive entries containing the words Reality, Northgate and pdshist. e.g. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SharedDLLs entries C:\Windows\system32\pdshist.dll and C:\Windows\system32\PdsSetup.dll.

You can also refer to specific steps in order to repair a corrupt installation. Reality should be removed either using the All Programs, Reality uninstall options or using the Windows Add/Remove Programs or Programs and Features within Control Panel. Each component should be removed in the following order:
  Manuals – must be done from Add/Remove Programs or Programs and Features.
  RealWeb Demo
  Reality Demo
  Reality – must be done using Uninstall or Modify Default Reality from All Programs, Reality

If you encounter any problems removing Reality or the Demos follow the steps below:

This will remove all of the Reality components loaded onto your system…
… please follow each step very carefully.

Note: Folders like Windows\NorthgateIS and ProgramData\NorthgateIS are considered hidden or system files. In order to see these you may have to make them visible in Explorer, using Tools, Folder Options, View and select show hidden files and folders and unhide protected files.Note: For 64bit Windows. 

1. Delete all Reality directories:
   Make sure there are none of your database directories, config or data files that you need.
   installed_drive:\ Realman, RealWebDemo, RealityDemo
   Also, from V15.1, remove C:\Realman if present.
    
2. Remove Registry Entry – HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\NorthgateIS
   For 64bit Windows the location will be HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\NorthgateIS
   From a DOS command prompt run regedit  – delete all sub-entries tagged as Reality and this entry if only NIS Reality software has been loaded.
    
3. If you have interrupted a installation remove the following temporary registry keys:
   From a DOS command prompt run regedit and remove:
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER, "Software\Northgate\Reality", "FirstTime"
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER, "Software\Northgate\Reality", "First Time Demo"
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER, "Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Runonce", "Reality Set

   You can also remove all other Northgate Reality items as detailed below:
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER, "Software\Northgate\Reality", all keys
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, "SOFTWARE\AdminRightsCheck_djklas-8sa809"
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, "SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment", "REALROOT"
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, "SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services", remove Reality services e.g. Reality V15.0
    

4. Remove Windows file from drive:\Windows\NorthgateIS\history.
   The whole NorthgateIS directory can be deleted provided no other NIS applications have been loaded here.
    
5. Remove Windows file from drive:\Windows\pdshist.exe
    
6. From V15.0 & V14.2(after update #78 has been applied), remove directory drive:\ProgramData\NorthgateIS
    
7. For Windows 7 and above remove: drive:\Users\userID_of_Reality_installer\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Windows\NorthgateIS\history
   Reality items have been moved here from the Registry. Check that no other NIS applications have been loaded here, i.e. refer to subdirectory items.

   Also remove drive:\Windows\SysWOW64 files pdshist.dll & PdsSetup.dll

8. Make sure you're referred to the details above about using remove_reality and searching in regedit.
    
9. You must reboot the System…  
    

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For UNIX System Platforms

Refer to the UNIX Installation Guide, which can used to remove the directories, files and links loaded during the Reality setup install scripts. Follow the instructions for Reality headed "remove an earlier release" and "remove the previous version of UNIX-Connect…".

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For Reality Client Components

Refer to the various Windows and UNIX installation notes in the separate Reality Client Components Installation Guide, refer to the Latest Documentation.

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