I have written to MS without receiving a simple, non-MIS/IT description of how to remove this horribly intrusive add-on, that installed itself DESPITE clicking on DO NOT INSTALL.
So (and without getting into the politics of who is behind this), all I want is the easy way to remove this program.
I have gone into Add/Remove Programs and YES, clicked on Show Updates, but there is NOTHING clearly identified as Windows Desktop Search.
ALSO, and most important, I DO NOT want to disable or screwup other programs/software.
HELP. What is the point of having multiple users with passwords if ANYONE can access the entire history of EVERYONE
SIMPLE instructions to REMOVE Windows Desktop Search
jimmy1949
Michael-T
If you only installed WDS (not as part of the toolbar suite) use the update.exe information at the top of the uninstalling information.
The MSI Information is for those users who installed MSN Toolbar, which includes WDS.
Damien
T.Beal,
I'm sorry to hear that you don't find WDS a useful tool. I can assure you that WDS will not be installed unless you explicity run the installer or your IT organization provisioned it to your system. I'm not sure what you mean when you say you clicked "DO NOT INSTALL" - what caused you to get a message related to WDS with that option Was it your IT organization
If you installed the "MSN Toolbar Suite" it will include WDS. You can deactivate just WDS if you still want to use the rest of the Toolbar, or install the Toolbar standalone version.
If you have installed that bundle, it will show up in Add/Remove Programs as "MSN Search Toolbar".
I'm not sure what you're asking about here. If this is in reference to WDS, it will only index items that are accessible to the current user. Each user has their own index with only their files and mails. WDS does not index IE history at all at this time.
David 111
Batman - -
,
where is the instructions to remove this software that does not work..
am in the same position as the communities young lady-man above (writing a letter and speaking of help) . need to get rid of this WDS thing and contract with the google investigation site to install their stuff on my like computer. have the idea 
that google is greater to be the master inspector on my comper. Now, that is above your reply not mine. ok 
post via patman resolution on termination of WDS.
dandar,
robin
horseshoe
Hi,
Before we start working on this I have several questions:
Thanks,
Bill Connors
Program Manager, Windows Desktop Search - Communities
Stuart Welwood
Looks like you need to put spaces, like this:
C:\Documents and Settings\Owner>msiexec.exe /x {7d1dcbba-f6f5-42b4-b90b-f0b-f04ace
4dfd6c} /qn
Meny
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.
'/x' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.
4dfd6c}/qn
Wei Xiang
I would advise against using a tool that deletes uninstallers... You're going to have a hard time removing either product if you delete the uninstall program.
You can try deleting the directory from "program files" directly, and deleting the associated registry keys ("Windows Desktop Search" and "RSSearch" under "Software\Microsoft" in both HKCU and HKLM). Then run a registry cleaner to get rid of the invalid COM registrations.
If you have trouble deleting the program folder because files are in use, try renaming the file(s) and then rebooting.
Donis Marshall
Rather than beating around the bush can Microsoft please just give some SIMPLE instructions how to REMOVE Windows Desktop Search
It doesn't appear as an option in add or remove programs on the Control Panel nor can it be removed by using System Restore to restore to an earlier check point. Windows Desktop Search just kills performance & I just want (like a lot of people) to get shot of it.
Why was it released without an uninstall option (or at the very least a big health warning that once you install it & see how bad it affects performance that you will have to rebuild your system from scratch to get rid of it)
Raj0001
The following instructions are taken from the Windows Desktop Search Admin Guide which can be found in the Announcements section on the forum's top level page. Please let me know if this works for you.
Thanks,
Bill Connors
Program Manager, Windows Desktop Search - Communities
Uninstalling Windows Desktop Search
When uninstalling Windows Desktop Search on individual systems, it is recommended that the product be removed using the Add/Remove Programs functionality provided in Windows Control Panel. When uninstalling from Add/Remove Programs, be sure the check the Show Updates option and uninstall the newest product or product updates first.
While using Add/Remove programs to uninstall WDS 2.6.0 or later you may receive a message dialog stating “Setup has detected the following programs on your computer:” followed by a list of updates. This dialog also states that “If Windows Desktop Search is removed; these programs may not run properly. Do you wish to continue ”. This is a due to the fact that WDS is installed using an update.exe package and is listed with other Windows updates. Some products updates are dependant on previous updates and if one is removed, it may cause issues. This is not the case with WDS and removing WDS will not disable or impact any other programs or updates listed.
When uninstalling Windows Desktop Search through a script or third party product, if the Add/Remove Programs feature is not an option, it is suggested that the uninstall package (Spuinst.exe) be used, for the most recent versions. Although Windows Desktop Search does create a system restore point as part of the installation it is not the recommended method of removing the product from users systems.
To uninstall Windows Desktop Search, use the Uninstaller package from the following locations for the following versions:
Version Location
2.6.0.2083 %systemroot%\$NtUninstallKB907371-V2$\spuninst
2.6.0.2057 %systemroot%\$NtUninstallKB907371$\spuninst
2.6.5.Beta %systemroot%\$NtUninstallKB911993\spuninst
Uninstall Options:
1. Interactive – Spuninst.exe is run without any command-line arguments. Uninstaller prompts for restart at the end.
%systemroot%\$NtUninstallKB907371-V2$\spuninst\spuninst.exe
2. Quiet – Spuninst.exe is run using the ‘/q’ or ‘/quiet’ command-line argument. Uninstaller forcefully restarts the system without informing the user after un-installation is complete
%systemroot%\$NtUninstallKB907371-V2$\spuninst\spuninst.exe /q
Or
systemroot%\$NtUninstallKB907371-V2$\spuninst\spuninst.exe /quiet
3. Passive – Spuninst.exe is run using the ‘/passive’ command-line argument. Uninstaller prompts for restart displaying the wait time in seconds for automatic restart.
%systemroot%\$NtUninstallKB907371-V2$\spuninst\spuninst.exe /passive
Other command-line options are available in /help message. Please run the “spuninst.exe /help” command-line to see the other available options.
Uninstalling versions 2.5.0.1082 and 2.5.0.1119
Note: Version 2.6.X will not install properly on a system currently running version 02.05.0.1082 or earlier. You must first uninstall the older version then install the newer version.
Use the Msiexec.exe program to uninstall. Below are two suggested methods for uninstalling these packages.
Using the Product Code
To locate the Product code in the registry, click Start then Run and type “Regedit” in the Open drop down box and press enter. Next browse to the following location:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MSN Apps\MSN Toolbar Suite
The Product Code will be listed in the value of the PC key. For example version 2.5.0.1082 PC registry value is 7d1dcbba-f6f5-42b4-b90b-f04ace4dfd6c.
Execute the following command line, listing the product code with in brackets. For Version 2.5.0.1082 the command line would be as noted below. Please note the brackets “{}” are required for this method to be successful.
Note: The /x switch causes Msiexec to uninstall the product and the /qn switch will ensure that there is no display while uninstalling. Please see msiexec.exe help (type msiexec / From a command prompt) for more information regarding command line options for Msiexec.exe.
Msiexec.exe /x {7d1dcbba-f6f5-42b4-b90b-f04ace4dfd6c} /qn
Using the MSN Search Toolbar Windows Installer (.msi)
The MSN Search Toolbar Windows Installer (.msi) is located in the following location:
%windrive%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\MSN Search Toolbar\<Version Number>\en-us
In the path listed above “<Version Number>” is the version of the product being uninstalled, for example 02.05.0000.1082.
Use the following command line to uninstall the product.
msiexec.exe /x "<Windrive>:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\MSN Search Toolbar\<Version Number>\en-us\MsnSearchToolbar.msi" /qn
First method is preferred because the only required variable is the product code that is taken from the registry. For the second method, we need to give the <windrive> and the <version number> of the product installed in the command-line.
ashwin_k_s
Thank you, this appears to have done the trick (I had version 2.6.5.Beta).
The %systemroot% directory was the windows directory on the C Drive
When I executed "spuninst.exe" it warned me that it might cause PCGuard (the Firewall, AntiVirus, AntiSpyware package supplied by my ISP) not to work so I went off line uninstalled PCGuard, ran spuninst & then re-installed PCGuard without any problems before connecting up to the internet again.
slee
Bill,
I installed WDS. I don't like it. I want to uninstall it. I clicked the appropriate line in add remove programs. The tool is still here. I tried to find in on my startup. It's service now does not start but the tool is still on my computer. I want it gone, do you know how
I am not talking about MSN toolbars or anything for ie. I am talking about windows desktop search.
Plus do you happen to know someone or an email form the ie7 people. I am having major issues uninstalling it because its uninstall folder is missing completely. (yes with show updates checked)
didik
Windows Desktop Search includes an uninstaller. It was never released without that option. WDS should never have a noticeable effect on system performance. If you'd like help determining what is affecting your system performance I'd be happy to help.
To uninstall the standalone WDS package, go to Add/Remove Programs and select "Windows Desktop Search" from the list, then click "remove."
If you installed the "MSN Search Toolbar with WDS" - it will show up as "MSN Search Toolbar" in the Add/Remove Programs control panel.
Srikanth.US
I have the exact same issue regarding WDS Enterprise and IE7Beta2Preview (first version). I use CCLEANER and it deletes uninstallers I believe because I don't have either of the two uninstallers and Bill's instructions are not specific for WDS Enterprise withOUT toolbar.
HELP!!