Software removal

[Guest Chiz]

I have had problems with my C500 whereby it won't turn off by the power button.

confucious suggested it could be a dodgy software problem and suggested I delete some.

I have got rid of some but I have some that won't allow me to remove them.

They are all homescreens and most are called.

RSHD.......

When trying to remove it says:

fileaname could not be removed from your phone.

does anyone know why this may be?

I am using the Remove Programs function in Settings.

Thanks

[Guest PPCPassion]

I have had problems with my C500 whereby it won't turn off by the power button.

confucious suggested it could be a dodgy software problem and suggested I delete some.

I have got rid of some but I have some that won't allow me to remove them.

They are all homescreens and most are called.

RSHD.......

When trying to remove it says:

fileaname could not be removed from your phone.

does anyone know why this may be? 

I am using the Remove Programs function in Settings.

Thanks

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You would get this message if you had removed/moved a folder called appmgr to a different location. storage>windows>appmgr or if you had deleted some of the files within this folder. These are temp files with critical info for installing and removing the programs. More or less like installation wizard on the pc.

Whenever you install any program, some info is stored in this folder which is necessary to re-install, update, and to remove the programs. If you have moved this folder to a different location, move it back, restart phone and then try to uninstall the programs. Hope this helps.

[Guest Disco Stu]

They are all homescreens and most are called.

RSHD.......

When trying to remove it says:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Can you be more specific with these.

Where did you get them from ?

[Guest usdiver]

Disco, I don't know if this will help you, but I've had the same issue with a homescreen theme I installed on mine...( it is designed for the xda 2, and though I have the colored background which is really cool I don't know how much memory it's using). Tried to uninstall or remove program but it won't let me. Only option I have to remove it is hard reset... :cry: Have not done it yet though. Waiting til I need my memory back

[Guest Chiz]

You would get this message if you had removed/moved a folder called appmgr to a different location. storage>windows>appmgr  or if you had deleted some of the files within this folder. These are temp files with critical info for installing and removing the programs. More or less like installation wizard on the pc.

Whenever you install any program, some info is stored in this folder which is necessary to re-install, update, and to remove the programs. If you have moved this folder to a different location, move it back, restart phone and then try to uninstall the programs. Hope this helps.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The folder is in that location, but I can't guarantee that I haven't deleted anything from it.

How could I correct this? Reinstall the screens to get the file then uninstall?

Disco Stu - the screens were from here http://www.modaco.com/index.php?dlcategory=25

Man's Best Friend and the Cat one

Edited June 5, 2005 by Chiz

[Guest Disco Stu]

Disco, I don't know if this will help you, but I've had the same issue with a homescreen theme I installed on mine...( it is designed for the xda 2, and though I have the colored background which is really cool I don't know how much memory it's using). Tried to uninstall or remove program but it won't let me. Only option I have to remove it is hard reset...  :cry: Have not done it yet though. Waiting til I need my memory back

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Surely a homescreen designed for the XDA2 is a tsk file and therefore not able to be installed on a Smartphone ?

Pocket PC Phone Edition homescreens are not actually installed, they work the same way as your xml+jpg themes. So I'm confused with that one :?:

[Guest Disco Stu]

The folder is in that location, but I can't guarantee that I haven't deleted anything from it.

How could I correct this? Reinstall the screens to get the file then uninstall?

Disco Stu - the screens were from here http://www.modaco.com/index.php?dlcategory=25

Man's Best Friend and the Cat one

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I've just installed the dog one on my C500, rebooted and uninstalled without any problems.

There should just be a tmp file in the AppMgr \RSHD Mans Best Friend folder, This file contains the uninstall instructions.

The reinstall method usually solves this problem. I would always recommend having only the one hme or cab-type skin installed at any one time.

[Guest Chiz]

I've just installed the dog one on my C500, rebooted and uninstalled without any problems.

There should just be a tmp file in the AppMgr \RSHD Mans Best Friend folder, This file contains the uninstall instructions.

The reinstall method usually solves this problem. I would always recommend having only the one hme or cab-type skin installed at any one time.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Cheers Disco Stu, thanks for the effort.

I will give the reinstall a try.

I just checked the AppMgr folder and there are many homescreen folders in it but non have any files in.

Does this mean I have deleted them or could there be another reason?

I also tried the midnight restore cab you mentioned in another post and that didn't seem to make any changes.

1 at a time in future.

Edited June 5, 2005 by Chiz

[Guest Disco Stu]

There could be 2 reasoms for the lack of tmp files that I can think of.

1. They might be 'hidden' - ActiveSync folder settings need changing

2. You could have used a clean-up utility that removed them.

[Guest gpcarreon (MVP)]

RSHD files are RuttenSoft Homescreen Designer homescreen files. The program is capable of packing homescreen files into *.HME or *.CAB format.

Try this:

1. Download attached ZIP file then extract contents.

2. Dog.zip contains a folder 'RSHD Men's best friend'. The folder contains '1440.tmp' inside.

3. Copy the entire FOLDER (including content) to \Storage\windows\AppMgr directory

4. Try to re-install the homescreen file. Use 'Men's best friend.hme'.

The HME file is expected to install this time. After a successful installation, load another homescreen layout using Settings > Home screen > Homescreen layout. Unload any 'Man's best friend' related file (choose 'Default' as background image).

Since you have already 're-installed' the file, you now have the option to UNINSTALL it using Settings > Remove Programs. If your list is blank, try removing the HS using ActiveSync (Tools > Remove Programs).

Do the same trick with 'Cats'.

Lesson here:

1. Do not uninstall a homescreen when it is loaded as your homescreen layout.

2. Do not delete contents of \Storage\windows\AppMgr. The *.tmp files are important during re-install-uninstall process. Thus if you remove them, you can no longer unistall or re-install its corresponding software (HS, app, game etc).

Why is that so? (lesson 2)

This is how I understand things.

When a program is installed onto the phone (Cab file installation, hme) , it creates a key on a protected part of the registry (HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Security\AppInstall). The key contains a dword and string data. The dword value for uninstall role. The string values 'InstallDir' and 'Uninstall' contains information regarding install directory and uninstall codes stored in *.TMP files. You can verify contents of the tmp files on your PC using Notepad.

<wap-provisioningdoc><characteristic type="Registry" cfgnodetype="characteristic"/><characteristic type="Home" cfgnodetype="characteristic"><characteristic type="HKCU\ControlPanel\Home" cfgnodetype="characteristic"><parm name="Scheme" cfgnodetype="parm" translation="install" datatype="string" value="\Storage\Application Data\Home\sfkof.home.xml"/><parm name="BgImage" cfgnodetype="parm" translation="install" datatype="string" value=""/></characteristic></characteristic><characteristic type="Registry" cfgnodetype="characteristic"><characteristic type="HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Splash Screen" cfgnodetype="characteristic"/></characteristic><internal-transaction type="Install"/><internal-transaction type="FileOperation"/><characteristic type="Install"><parm name="InstallPhase" value="uninstall"/><parm name="SetupPath" value="\Storage\Windows\AppMgr\RSHD Men's best friend"/><parm name="AppName" value="RSHD Men's best friend"/><parm name="NumDirs" value="2"/><parm name="NumFiles" value="3"/><parm name="NumRegKeys" value="0"/><parm name="NumRegVals" value="0"/><parm name="NumShortcuts" value="0"/></characteristic><characteristic type="FileOperation"><characteristic type="\Storage\Application Data\Home\Men's best friend.home.xml" translation="install"><characteristic type="Delete"/></characteristic><characteristic type="\Storage\Application Data\Home\Men's best friend.jpg" translation="install"><characteristic type="Delete"/></characteristic><characteristic type="\Storage\Application Data\Home\Men's best friend\Men's best friend_missedcalls.jpg" translation="install"><characteristic type="Delete"/></characteristic><characteristic type="\Storage\Application Data\Home" translation="install"><characteristic type="Men's best friend" translation="install"><characteristic type="RemoveDir"/></characteristic></characteristic></characteristic></wap-provisioningdoc>

You cannot delete keys in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Security\AppInstall but you are able to delete folders in \Storage\windows\AppMgr. Both the registry and the folder entries should be present for a successful uninstall-reinstall routine. As I mentioned a while ago, deleting the folder (and contents) results to problems. Notice the code 'RemoveDir' above? How will the phone remove something when it is not on the phone in the first place (in case you have deleted the file). ;)

This holds true to all softwares I have encountered in my 2 years MS-Smartphone experience. :D

Dog.zip

Cats.zip

[Guest Chiz]

:shock: Thanks pzee, a very comprehensive answer.

I will give your suggestions a go and post the results.

Thanks for the help.

Edited June 6, 2005 by Chiz

[Guest Chiz]

pzee

I tried your idea with the Dog HS and it did not work. I could still not see the temp file but it may have been something I have done with the viewing settings.

Anyway I had lots of HS on my phone at the same time. I know now that is bad but I didn't know before. Rather than maybe going through the process for each I went for the hard reset.

Thanks for your indicators as to why it may have happend.

Thanks for your help

Chiz

[Guest gpcarreon (MVP)]

No problem.

Oh Im sorry if my suggestions didn't work ;)

[Guest Chiz]

No problem.

Oh Im sorry if my suggestions didn't work :D

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I am sure your suggestion probably would work, but I probably didn't execute it properly ;)

[Guest minkokiss]

to pzee

I have a Samsung i600 and I have the same problem with my homescreens. I uninstalled one by reinstalling it and then uninstalling it but a RSHD homescreen would not uninstall. I found the folders you mentioned and I tried to delete the one for the RSHD but it won't let me. I am using Total Commander to do it.

PLEASE HELP