This document is based on the assumption that the StorageCraft® ShadowProtect® SPX application folder still exists. If there is trouble either installing or uninstalling the ShadowProtect SPX application, or questions regarding this process, please open a support ticket with us so we can assist with the process. Doing this will help improve the product and reduce the need for manual uninstalls in the future.
This article covers:
- Unregistering the StorageCraft ShadowCopy Provider.
- Unregistering the ShadowProtect Service Agent.
- Unregistering the StorageCraft Image Mount Tools.
- Unregistering the ShadowProtect Snapshot Driver. (PnP & Non-PnP Variants)
- Removing the “Add/Remove Programs” entry, Installation Folders, and Start menu shortcuts.
All commands given must be run in a command prompt with Administrative privileges, in the StorageCraft SPX installation directory, normally C:\Program Files\StorageCraft\SPX for both 32- and 64-bit systems, in order to run correctly. All commands are for both 32- and 64-bit systems unless otherwise noted in each individual step. When removing registry keys, it is strongly recommended to create an export of the registry first in case corruption occurs.
Unregistering the StorageCraft ShadowCopy Provider
- Command: net stop vsnapvss (Press Enter)
- Command: vsnapvss.exe /unregister (Press Enter)
Unregistering the ShadowProtect Service Agent
- Command: sc delete SPXService (Press Enter)
Unregistering the ShadowProtect Mount Tools and shell extension
- Command: regsvr32 /u sbimgmnt.dll (Press Enter)
- Open Regedit and navigate to HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\sbmount
- Add a new DWORD value named “DeleteFlag” with a value of “1” in the key.
- Edit the “Start” value and change the key to a value of “4”. This flags the mount tools and drivers to be uninstalled completely when the system is rebooted.
- Open Regedit and navigate to and delete these keys to remove the options from the Context Menu.
- HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ .SPF
- HKEY_CLASSES-ROOT\ .SPI
Unregistering the ShadowProtect Snapshot Driver
This section is Operating System-specific. Pay attention to the OS version that is installed. Disable ALL backup jobs before performing this step.
ShadowProtect PnP Snapshot Driver: (Windows Vista / 7 / Server 2008 and newer)
- Command: stcinst.exe -u (Press Enter)
- Reboot immediately to allow the driver removal process to occur. Do not continue until this has been performed as further system issues will occur if you fail to do so. Once the system has been rebooted the driver will be fully disabled.
ShadowProtect Non-PnP Snapshot Driver (Win XP / Server 2003)
- Open Regedit and navigate to HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\stcvsm
- Add a REG_DWORD value named “DeleteFlag” with the value “1” in the key.
- Edit the “Start” value and change the key to a value of “4”. This flags the snapshot driver to be uninstalled completely when the system is rebooted.
- Open Regedit and delete HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\eventlog\System\stcvsm
- Reboot immediately to allow the driver removal process to occur. Do not continue until this has been performed as further system issues will occur if you fail to do so. Once the system has been rebooted the driver will be fully disabled.
Remove from Add/Remove Programs/Start Menu/Programs Files Folder
The following registry keys are System-specific. The GUIDs at the end of each key will not match up on each system. To find them, you'll need to go to the second-to-last section of the registry path, then look at individual keys until you find the one referencing ShadowProtect SPX in the ProductName entry. For example: HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{XXXXXXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXXXXXXXXX}
Open Regedit then navigate to and delete these registry keys:
- 32-bit OS
- HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{XXXXXXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXXXXXXXXX}
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{XXXXXXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXXXXXXXXX}
- HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-1920131852-137700234-468043178-500\Software\StorageCraft\StorageCraft ShadowProtect SPX
- 64-bit OS
- HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-2715244844-2637625312-942288425-500\Software\StorageCraft\StorageCraft ShadowProtect SPX
- HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{XXXXXXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXXXXXXXXX}
- HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Installer\Products\XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
- HKLM\SOFTWARE\Classes\Installer\Products\XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
- HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\Products\XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
- Command: taskkill /im mountnotify.exe
Delete the following folders:
Windows Vista / 7 / Server 2008 and newer
- %Program Files\StorageCraft\spx
- %ProgramData\StorageCraft\spx
NOTE: Removing this folder will also delete the backup jobs as they are stored in the database here. If you are planning on immediately re-installing SPX or would like to save the backup job configuration, we recommend leaving this folder intact.
For Windows XP / Server 2003:
- %Program Files\StorageCraft\spx
- %Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\StorageCraft
Open the Add/Remove Programs or Programs and Features control panel.
- If the ShadowProtect application still appears in the list select it and choose Uninstall/Modify.
- In most cases you’ll see a pop up window stating that the application has been removed and and asking if you want to remove it from the list.
- Select Yes.
- Open the Start Menu and select the All Programs option.
- Scroll down and right-click on the StorageCraft folder.
- Select Delete to remove the StorageCraft folder from the Start Menu.
- Alternatively, right click each of the ShadowProtect SPX Components in the Start menu folder individually and delete them.
At this point ShadowProtect SPX has been completely removed from the system.
