Removing SharePoint 2007

July 7th, 2008

I spent most of the day trying to un-install SharePoint completely from the only half decent development machine available to me.

The problem was that I installed MOSS over a working WSS site that had originally been installed over a working SharePoint 2003 portal site (This has been the only decent development machine available to me for a long time!!) This caused all sorts of horrible things to happen:

  • I couldn’t uninstall MOSS/SharePoint 2007 services from add remove programs (It pretty much ignored me).
  • In an attempt to resolve the above issue I reinstalled IIS, thinking that it would work if I cleared out all the sites and application pools. BIG MISTAKE.
  • In an attempt to fix the above, I ran the MOSS configuration wizard again which fell flat on its face.
  • Attempts to remove the server farm configuration from the command line tools failed. Probably due to the above three points.
  • Attempting to run the installer again failed, probably due to most of the above points.

Anyway, to cut a very long and boring story short. I found this (oh look somebody else using wordpressy-press-press thingy) on the web: Uninstalling MOSS 2007 manually

Basically, shutting down every SharePoint 2007 service left over. Removing a handful of registry keys, and deleting most of the left over directories, should be enough to allow you to run the installer again and start afresh. Blindingly obvious really when I think about it.

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