22
Fri, Nov
1 New Articles

TechTip: Removing WDSC Version 5.1.2 from Your Workstation

Development Tools
Typography
  • Smaller Small Medium Big Bigger
  • Default Helvetica Segoe Georgia Times

Usually, iSeries software is pretty straightforward: RSTLICPGM puts the new product on your machine, while DLTLICPGM removes it. The products tend to come in nice, self-contained libraries, and rarely do they leave "crumbs" behind.

This is completely different from the world of Windows programs and especially the evil "system registry." The system registry is a set of semi-permanent values that a product can set at installation time and that you can reasonably assume will stay there. The registry has its very own structure, with folders and subfolders and eventually keys. The names of the folders are pretty standard, usually involving the company that makes the product as well as the product name and sometimes the version. The names of the keys can be quite arbitrary, as can the values.

Many products are good enough to have uninstallers that remove all the appropriate keys. But sometimes those programs fail or are incomplete for one reason or another, so you have to clean the registry manually. (However, remember that products make assumptions regarding the contents of the registry; this is why one is usually warned against making manual changes.) Some products also leave crumbs in the form of files and directories that need to be deleted, and sometimes those crumbs can affect the operation of a new version. Because of this, it is occasionally necessary to manually clean your system when moving from one version of a product to another. WDSC is no exception; under certain conditions, you can uninstall Version 5.1.2 of WDSC from your workstation, yet the WDSC 6.0 installation still fails. If this happens, you may want to try this procedure to manually clean your workstation:

1. First, be sure to use the Add/Remove Programs tool in the Control Panel to remove the product. This is the standard uninstaller and will remove most if not all of the product.

2. Remove leftover system files. These will be located in your Windows system directory, which is either C:WINNT (for Windows 2000) or C:WINDOWS (for Windows XP or Windows Server 2003). IBM's list includes two files: IBMVAHLP.cfg and vpd.properties.

3. Remove leftover directories:

  • C:WDSC
  • C:IBMDEBUG
  • C:Program FilesIBMKCL
  • C:Program FilesIBMWebSphere StudioApplication DeveloperV5.1.2
  • C:Program FilesIBMWebSphere StudioSite DeveloperV5.1.2

4. Finally, remove registry keys. Beware: Modifying or removing the wrong key can severely damage your system! If you're not absolutely comfortable with this, get someone to help you. You can also back up your registry so that if you make a mistake you can attempt to restore the old version. Once you've prepared yourself for the task, the keys IBM recommends you remove are these:

  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREIBMADTS Client Server for AS/400Install
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREIBMIBM Distributed Debugger
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREIBMWebSphere Studio2.1
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREIBMWebSphere StudioRational
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersion
    Uninstall631a5ad8d2f1a8463d882348eeee9f17
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersion
    Uninstall51a03a8a2cdc08bec95e0eaf9a351acf (Key for WDSc v5.1.2)

Please note that some of the files and folders above are for the Standard Edition of WDSC; some are for the Advanced Edition. If a file does not appear, don't worry about it. Also, if you are installing on a 64-bit Windows system, you might find that the last three directories in step 3 are in a folder named C:Program Files (x86). I think the x86 is used to separate 32-bit programs from 64-bit programs.

Joe Pluta is the founder and chief architect of Pluta Brothers Design, Inc. He has been working in the field since the late 1970s and has made a career of extending the IBM midrange, starting back in the days of the IBM System/3. Joe has used WebSphere extensively, especially as the base for PSC/400, the only product that can move your legacy systems to the Web using simple green-screen commands. Joe is also the author of E-Deployment: The Fastest Path to the Web, Eclipse: Step by Step, and WDSC: Step by Step. You can reach him at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Joe Pluta

Joe Pluta is the founder and chief architect of Pluta Brothers Design, Inc. He has been extending the IBM midrange since the days of the IBM System/3. Joe uses WebSphere extensively, especially as the base for PSC/400, the only product that can move your legacy systems to the Web using simple green-screen commands. He has written several books, including Developing Web 2.0 Applications with EGL for IBM i, E-Deployment: The Fastest Path to the Web, Eclipse: Step by Step, and WDSC: Step by Step. Joe performs onsite mentoring and speaks at user groups around the country. You can reach him at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..


MC Press books written by Joe Pluta available now on the MC Press Bookstore.

Developing Web 2.0 Applications with EGL for IBM i Developing Web 2.0 Applications with EGL for IBM i
Joe Pluta introduces you to EGL Rich UI and IBM’s Rational Developer for the IBM i platform.
List Price $39.95

Now On Sale

WDSC: Step by Step WDSC: Step by Step
Discover incredibly powerful WDSC with this easy-to-understand yet thorough introduction.
List Price $74.95

Now On Sale

Eclipse: Step by Step Eclipse: Step by Step
Quickly get up to speed and productivity using Eclipse.
List Price $59.00

Now On Sale

BLOG COMMENTS POWERED BY DISQUS

LATEST COMMENTS

Support MC Press Online

$

Book Reviews

Resource Center

  • SB Profound WC 5536 Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application. You can find Part 1 here. In Part 2 of our free Node.js Webinar Series, Brian May teaches you the different tooling options available for writing code, debugging, and using Git for version control. Brian will briefly discuss the different tools available, and demonstrate his preferred setup for Node development on IBM i or any platform. Attend this webinar to learn:

  • SB Profound WP 5539More than ever, there is a demand for IT to deliver innovation. Your IBM i has been an essential part of your business operations for years. However, your organization may struggle to maintain the current system and implement new projects. The thousands of customers we've worked with and surveyed state that expectations regarding the digital footprint and vision of the company are not aligned with the current IT environment.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT Generic IBM announced the E1080 servers using the latest Power10 processor in September 2021. The most powerful processor from IBM to date, Power10 is designed to handle the demands of doing business in today’s high-tech atmosphere, including running cloud applications, supporting big data, and managing AI workloads. But what does Power10 mean for your data center? In this recorded webinar, IBMers Dan Sundt and Dylan Boday join IBM Power Champion Tom Huntington for a discussion on why Power10 technology is the right strategic investment if you run IBM i, AIX, or Linux. In this action-packed hour, Tom will share trends from the IBM i and AIX user communities while Dan and Dylan dive into the tech specs for key hardware, including:

  • Magic MarkTRY the one package that solves all your document design and printing challenges on all your platforms. Produce bar code labels, electronic forms, ad hoc reports, and RFID tags – without programming! MarkMagic is the only document design and print solution that combines report writing, WYSIWYG label and forms design, and conditional printing in one integrated product. Make sure your data survives when catastrophe hits. Request your trial now!  Request Now.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericForms of ransomware has been around for over 30 years, and with more and more organizations suffering attacks each year, it continues to endure. What has made ransomware such a durable threat and what is the best way to combat it? In order to prevent ransomware, organizations must first understand how it works.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericIT security is a top priority for businesses around the world, but most IBM i pros don’t know where to begin—and most cybersecurity experts don’t know IBM i. In this session, Robin Tatam explores the business impact of lax IBM i security, the top vulnerabilities putting IBM i at risk, and the steps you can take to protect your organization. If you’re looking to avoid unexpected downtime or corrupted data, you don’t want to miss this session.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericCan you trust all of your users all of the time? A typical end user receives 16 malicious emails each month, but only 17 percent of these phishing campaigns are reported to IT. Once an attack is underway, most organizations won’t discover the breach until six months later. A staggering amount of damage can occur in that time. Despite these risks, 93 percent of organizations are leaving their IBM i systems vulnerable to cybercrime. In this on-demand webinar, IBM i security experts Robin Tatam and Sandi Moore will reveal:

  • FORTRA Disaster protection is vital to every business. Yet, it often consists of patched together procedures that are prone to error. From automatic backups to data encryption to media management, Robot automates the routine (yet often complex) tasks of iSeries backup and recovery, saving you time and money and making the process safer and more reliable. Automate your backups with the Robot Backup and Recovery Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAManaging messages on your IBM i can be more than a full-time job if you have to do it manually. Messages need a response and resources must be monitored—often over multiple systems and across platforms. How can you be sure you won’t miss important system events? Automate your message center with the Robot Message Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAThe thought of printing, distributing, and storing iSeries reports manually may reduce you to tears. Paper and labor costs associated with report generation can spiral out of control. Mountains of paper threaten to swamp your files. Robot automates report bursting, distribution, bundling, and archiving, and offers secure, selective online report viewing. Manage your reports with the Robot Report Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAFor over 30 years, Robot has been a leader in systems management for IBM i. With batch job creation and scheduling at its core, the Robot Job Scheduling Solution reduces the opportunity for human error and helps you maintain service levels, automating even the biggest, most complex runbooks. Manage your job schedule with the Robot Job Scheduling Solution. Key features include:

  • LANSA Business users want new applications now. Market and regulatory pressures require faster application updates and delivery into production. Your IBM i developers may be approaching retirement, and you see no sure way to fill their positions with experienced developers. In addition, you may be caught between maintaining your existing applications and the uncertainty of moving to something new.

  • LANSAWhen it comes to creating your business applications, there are hundreds of coding platforms and programming languages to choose from. These options range from very complex traditional programming languages to Low-Code platforms where sometimes no traditional coding experience is needed. Download our whitepaper, The Power of Writing Code in a Low-Code Solution, and:

  • LANSASupply Chain is becoming increasingly complex and unpredictable. From raw materials for manufacturing to food supply chains, the journey from source to production to delivery to consumers is marred with inefficiencies, manual processes, shortages, recalls, counterfeits, and scandals. In this webinar, we discuss how:

  • The MC Resource Centers bring you the widest selection of white papers, trial software, and on-demand webcasts for you to choose from. >> Review the list of White Papers, Trial Software or On-Demand Webcast at the MC Press Resource Center. >> Add the items to yru Cart and complet he checkout process and submit

  • Profound Logic Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application.

  • SB Profound WC 5536Join us for this hour-long webcast that will explore:

  • Fortra IT managers hoping to find new IBM i talent are discovering that the pool of experienced RPG programmers and operators or administrators with intimate knowledge of the operating system and the applications that run on it is small. This begs the question: How will you manage the platform that supports such a big part of your business? This guide offers strategies and software suggestions to help you plan IT staffing and resources and smooth the transition after your AS/400 talent retires. Read on to learn: