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How to uninstall WinFax Basic Edition

Situation:
This document explains how to uninstall WinFax Basic Edition version 9.0 or 10.0.

Solution:
Before you uninstall WinFax, make a backup of your WinFax data.

How to back up existing data

  1. Close the Winfax Message Manager and Controller.
  2. If you are running Windows NT/2000/XP, stop the WinFaxPRO service:
    1. Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete once.
    2. Click Task Manager.
    3. Click the Processes tab.
    4. Select the WinFaxPRO service and then click End process.
  3. Open Windows Explorer.
  4. Locate the \Data folder. For a standard installation, the folder is at: C:\Program Files\Symantec\WinFax\Data
  5. Copy the \Data folder to a different location on the hard drive or to backup media such as a CD-RW. Make sure that the new location is not within the Symantec folder.
  6. If you have any custom cover pages, repeat these steps for the \Cover folder.


How to uninstall WinFax
This section lists three methods for uninstalling WinFax. Use the first method listed. If that does not work, use the second method listed, "How to uninstall WinFax using the Uninshel.exe file" section to uninstall WinFax. Use the last method, "How to uninstall WinFax Basic Edition manually," only as a last resort.

Note: Occasionally, if a file, folder, or registry entry is in use when you attempt to remove it or change it, Windows does not allow the change. If this problem occurs, restart the computer into Safe mode to perform the removal or deletion. See the document How to start the computer in Safe mode.

How to uninstall WinFax using the Add/Remove Programs applet
  1. Close all open programs.
  2. Close the WinFax Message Manager and Controller.
  3. If you are running Windows NT/2000/XP, stop the WinFaxPRO service:
    1. Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete one time.
    2. Click Task Manager.
    3. Click the Processes tab.
    4. Select the WinFaxPRO service and then click End process.
  4. Do one of the following:
    • Windows 95/98/NT
      1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
      2. Double-click Add/Remove Programs.
    • Windows Me
      1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
      2. If you do not see the Add/Remove Programs icon, click "...view all Control Panel options."
      3. Double-click Add/Remove Programs.
    • Windows 2000
      By default, Windows 2000 is set up the same as Windows 98. In that case, follow the Windows 98 instructions. Otherwise, click Start, point to Settings, point to Control Panel, and then click Add/Remove Programs.
    • Windows XP
      1. Click Start and then click Control Panel.
      2. Double-click Add or Remove Programs.
  5. Click WinFax Basic Edition. You may need to use the scroll bar to see this. If WinFax is not in the list, close this window and go to the How to uninstall WinFax using the Uninshel.exe file section.
  6. Click Add/Remove, Change/Remove, or Remove (this varies with the operating system).
  7. Follow the prompts.
  8. Restart the computer.

If the previous procedure does not work, go to the next section:

How to uninstall WinFax using the Uninshel.exe file
If the Add\Remove Programs option in the Windows Control Panel fails or you do not see WinFax Basic Edition in the Control Panel list, follow these steps:
  1. Close all open programs.
  2. Close the WinFax Message Manager and Controller.
  3. If you are running Windows NT/2000/XP, stop the WinFaxPRO service:
    1. Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete one time.
    2. Click Task Manager.
    3. Click the Processes tab.
    4. Select the WinFaxPRO service and then click End process.
  4. Follow the instructions for your operating system:
    • Windows 95/98/NT/2000
      1. Click Start, point to Find or Search, and click Files or Folders.
      2. Make sure that "Look in" is set to the drive on which WinFax is installed and that "Include subfolders" is checked.
      3. In the "Named" or "Search for..." box, type: uninshel.exe
      4. Click Find Now or Search Now. The results are displayed.
      5. Double-click the uninshel.exe file to begin the uninstall program, and follow the prompts.
      6. If this does not work, go to the How to uninstall WinFax Basic Edition manually section.
    • Windows XP
      1. Click Start.
      2. Click Search.
      3. Make sure that "Look in" is set to the drive to which WinFax is installed.
      4. Click the "Advanced Options" arrow.
      5. Make sure that "Search system folders", "Search hidden files and folders", and "Search subfolders" are all checked.
      6. Click All files and folders.
      7. In the "All or part of the file name box" type--or copy and paste--the following: uninshel.exe
      8. Click Search. The results are displayed.
      9. Double-click the uninshel.exe file to begin the uninstall program, and follow the prompts.
      10. Restart the computer when finished.
      11. If this does not work, go to the How to uninstall WinFax Basic Edition manually section.


How to uninstall WinFax Basic Edition manually
Use the manual procedure only if you have first followed the instructions in the previous sections.

Close WinFax
  1. Close all open programs.
  2. Close the WinFax Message Manager and Controller.
  3. If you are running Windows NT/2000/XP, stop the WinFaxPRO service:
    1. Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete once.
    2. Click Task Manager.
    3. Click the Processes tab.
    4. Select the WinFaxPRO service and then click End process.

Delete program and data files
  1. Using Windows Explorer, delete the \WinFax folder. By default, this folder is at: C:\Program Files\Symantec\WinFax
  2. Follow the instructions for your operating system:
    • Windows 95/98/NT/2000
      1. Click Start, point to Find or Search, and click Files or Folders.
      2. Make sure that "Look in" is set to the drive on which WinFax is installed and that "Include subfolders" is checked.
      3. In the "Named" or "Search for..." box, type: wfx*.*
      4. Click Find Now or Search Now. The results are displayed.
    • Windows XP
      1. Click Start.
      2. Click Search.
      3. Make sure that "Look in" is set to the drive on which WinFax is installed.
      4. Click the "Advanced Options" arrow.
      5. Make sure that "Search system folders", "Search hidden files and folders", and "Search subfolders" are all checked.
      6. Click All files and folders.
      7. In the "All or part of the file name box" type--or copy and paste--the following:  wfx*.*
      8. Click Search. The results are displayed.
  3. Click Edit, and click Select All. Press Delete and then click Yes to confirm.
  4. Repeat the search and file deletion, this time using the following search criteria: winfax*.*
Delete the WinFax printer
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and click Printers.
  2. Select the WinFax printer or printers, and press Delete.
  3. Close the Printer window.

Delete WinFax sections from the Win.ini file (Windows 95/98/Me only).
  1. Click Start, and click Run.
  2. Type win.ini and press Enter. The Win.ini file opens in the text editor.
  3. Find the [WinFax] section.
  4. Remove the entire [WinFax] section, including the [WinFax] section header.
  5. Under the [PrinterPorts] section, remove WINFAX.
  6. Under the [Devices] section, remove WINFAX.
  7. Save the Win.ini file, and close the text editor.

Here is a sample [WinFax] section in the Win.ini file:

[WinFax]
UserName=Chris
CompanyName=Symantec
Version=9.0
ExePath=C:\PROGRA~1\SYMANTEC\WINFAX\
Fax Path=C:\PROGRA~1\SYMANTEC\WINFAX\DATA\
Cover Path=C:\PROGRA~1\SYMANTEC\WINFAX\COVER\

Delete registry keys

CAUTION: Symantec strongly recommends that you back up the registry before you make any changes to it. Incorrect changes to the registry can result in permanent data loss or corrupted files. Modify only the keys that are specified. Read the document How to make a backup of the Windows registry for instructions.
  1. Click Start, and click Run. The Run dialog box appears.
  2. Type regedit and then click OK. The Registry Editor opens.
  3. In the left pane, navigate to and select the key:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Delrina
  4. Press Delete.
  5. Repeat for the following key:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Delrina
  6. Select the "My Computer" entry at the top of the Registry Editor.
  7. Click the Edit menu, and click Find.
  8. Type winfax in the Find What field.
  9. Uncheck Values and Data.
  10. Click Find Next. This will search through the registry for any keys containing the word winfax.
  11. Delete the resulting entry.
  12. After this is deleted, press F3 to continue the search.
  13. You will see a message, "Finished Searching the Registry," when the search is completed.
  14. Close the Registry Editor, and restart Windows.

 

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Document ID: 2000121415250104
Last Modified: 03/01/2006
Date Created: 12/14/2000
Operating System(s): Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, Windows ME, Windows XP
Product(s): General, WinFax PRO 10.0, WinFax PRO 9.0


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