Really remove Netmeeting

I wanted to remove NetMeeting from my Windows XP machine. So I found this command that should do the trick:
%systemroot%\system32\rundll32.exe setupapi,InstallHinfSection NetMtg.Remove 132 msnetmtg.inf

BUT whenever I ran that command all the Netmeetings files were deleted but suddenly reappeared after a few seconds. Damn annoying! It's due to the Windows File Protection feature.

So to really remove Netmeeting from your system do this:
1. Compare the Netmeeting directory with the %systemroot%\ServicePackFiles\i386\ directory and delete the duplicate files in the %systemroot%\ServicePackFiles\i386\ directory.
2. Do this same with the %systemroot%\system32\dllcache\ directory.
3. Now there should't be any backup Netmeeting files for the Windows File Protection feature to restore from.
4. Now do Start -> Run -> %systemroot%\system32\rundll32.exe setupapi,InstallHinfSection NetMtg.Remove 132 msnetmtg.inf and Netmeeting is gone.
5. When the Windows File Protection alert pops up press Cancel and then Ok to avoid the Netmeeting files being copied from the Windows XP CD.

Remember it's always a good idea to run a registry cleanup after an uninstall. I love the jv16 PowerTools.

I still haven't found a way to remove the empty microsoft frontpage, MSN Gaming Zone and xerox directories.


September 03, 2003 09:18 AM | Posted in Microsoft

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28 Comments

thanks for the informative tip. I forgot about the \servicepackfiles\i386 directory. It works for win2000 as well.

Comment by ned at October 29, 2003 09:01 PM | Permalink

I tried this, but it didn't work for me. Whenever I delete the files c:\program files\NetMeeting they reappear. I've cleaned out the servicepackfiles\i386 directory, but they still come back.

Comment by gary at November 18, 2003 11:48 PM | Permalink

Are you sure you deleted the files from both:
%systemroot%\system32\dllcache\
and
%systemroot%\ServicePackFiles\i386\

??

Site icon Comment by Henrik Gemal at November 19, 2003 09:50 AM | Permalink

There is no %systemroot%\system32\dllcache\
folder. I'm using W2k SP4.

Comment by Gary at November 20, 2003 12:38 AM | Permalink

Isn't there a DLLCACHE folder somewhere?

Site icon Comment by Henrik Gemal at November 21, 2003 12:57 PM | Permalink

Sorry, been away. No there is no DLLCACHE folder anywhere on any drive.
I rebuilt my computer to W2k SP2, so I started from scratch and there still was no DLLCACHE folder.

Comment by Gary at December 9, 2003 12:14 AM | Permalink

Search for a file which is inside the NetMeeting directory. Search on the entire harddrive. Perhaps it's located somewhere else.

Site icon Comment by Henrik Gemal at December 9, 2003 09:33 AM | Permalink

I have removed netmeeting (win2000) but now I want reinstall it. But never I found a n installer! Anyone help?

Comment by Sindala at January 20, 2004 10:36 PM | Permalink

Gary: Do you have both "Show hidden files" turned on and "Hide protected OS files" turned off? The \System32\dllcache folder is both of these.

Sindala: You can't, really. MS says you can install netmeeting v2.
Although if you install a new service pack or do a repair install that may put the files back.

I've managed to get rid of a bunch of these annoying things with some real heavy artillery... I mount my windows xp drive in linux with the experimental ntfs read/write driver and delete them from there. Windows File Protection can't save you now! hahaha! Anyone who wants to do neat things like this could just get one of the "live-on-cd" linux distributions (www.knoppix.com). You don't even need to install linux permenantly.

Comment by pd_10 at February 19, 2004 09:10 PM | Permalink

pooooheeey.
and i know so little about computers. but i followed all that enjoyed it too. I did a search
for all these duplicate files and found a couple in service pack 3, somewhere or other. i
have windows 2k and recently dowloaded service pk 4.
i had dllcache and i386, in C:\WINNT\system32\dllcache and
C:\WINNT\ServicePackFiles\i386.
god. i deleted all the files from the netmeeting folder...but i just cant delete the folder.
maybe it is technically uninstalled...i dunno...
i think, service pack 3 did something weird to my sound driver, which is why i cant use
netmeeting, whiich is why i want to uninstall it...god i hate windows.

Comment by ila at February 28, 2004 12:38 AM | Permalink

Erm... it's gone ok i think but the windows protection thing said it had replced what was missing with older versioins when i looked in the folder it was empty but i can't delete C:\Program Files\NetMeeting because it says Access denied the file is being used by...blah blah blah you've undoubtedly seen it...how do i find out what program is using the file and either close it or stop it using this now empty file?

Site icon Comment by Herowyn at February 29, 2004 12:19 PM | Permalink

I managed to delete the msn gaming zone files, although the empty folder is still there. Go into the dllcache folder and delete the cache, then open up the task manager and start closing down random files that you don't know exactly what they mean. Key on Windows file restore site: it RUNS IN THE BACKGROUND. If you find the right one, and shut it down, you can delete the files and then reboot.

Comment by Wildcat at March 8, 2004 10:21 PM | Permalink

Thank you. It worked! NetMeeting files are gone. The folder is still there
but at least all its files are gone.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!

Comment by Sheila at May 21, 2004 04:01 PM | Permalink

Thank you for the remove netmeeting hints - worked fine- any solution for gaming zone yet?

Comment by Jose at January 5, 2005 11:50 AM | Permalink

Can any one please please tell me in detail as how to remove MSN gaming zone from my XP machine.it really is irretating me a lot :(
Please tell me step by step procedure

Comment by Bernie at March 16, 2005 10:17 PM | Permalink

I tried to remove Netmeeting, after I did...windows file protection popped up and said Files that are needed for Windows to run properly have been replaced by unrecognized versions. and that Windows must restore the original files, help!

Comment by Mandy at July 7, 2005 01:01 PM | Permalink

Not everyone uses Netmeeting, so for those who have no intension of ever using it here are the instructions for removing it.

1/ Click the Start button

2/ On the Start menu click Run

3/ In the Run dialog box type: RunDll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection C:\WINDOWS\inf\msnetmtg.inf,NetMtg.Remove (It is better to copy and paste this command into the Run dialogue box)

4/ Press the OK button

5/ Netmeeting should now be removed from your system

Comment by abc at August 10, 2005 01:01 PM | Permalink

Hi,
I´ve been wanting to uninstall NetMeeting for ever now. SO I´m glad I found all this info, it worked and thanks. I´m left with the empty folder but it´s still alot better. I fyou have ideas how to get rid of that folder let me know.
Tahnks a lot.

Comment by Wojtek at October 5, 2005 05:34 PM | Permalink

There's a simple way to delete Netmeeting. I just log to XP in Safe Mode with Command Prompt and delete all the files inside the folder. After that, I remove the folder with the "rd" command.

So, to ensure the folder won't be placed there again when I log to XP the next time, I create a zero sized file called "NetMeeting." in the Program files folder. That way, there is no way a new folder is to be created there with that same name.

If you use FAT on your partition, you can boot up from a Windows 98 boot disk and do the same. Even better, this way you can delete ANY file at all.

Comment by Rafael Cascaes at October 6, 2005 05:08 PM | Permalink

Maybe I should put a step by step procedure here to make it simpler...

1. Restart your computer and press F8 before the Windows XP boot up screen appears
2. Select Safe mode with command prompt
3. Upon start, go to root folder:
cd \
4. Access the folder:
cd "program files"
cd "NetMeeting"
5. Delete all the files in the folder:
del.
cd..
6. Delete the folder itself:
rd "NetMeeting"
7. Create the zero-sized file:
edit "NetMeeting."
don't forget the dot there!
8. Just save the file and exit Edit
9. Restart your computer and you're done.

You can do it to other unwanted folders. I usually do it to "microsoft frontpage", "msn gaming zone" and "Movie Maker". Just remember that you have to empty every single subfolder before using the "rd" command.

Ah, if you try to use this procedure to delete the "Outlook Express" folder, it will say that it is not empty, even after you use "del." in it. To overcome that, type "explorer". It will bring up your normal desktop, so access the folder through Windows Explorer, there you will be able to effectively delete it. Just don't forget to create the zero-sized based file called "Outlook Express." after.

Comment by Rafael Cascaes at October 6, 2005 05:31 PM | Permalink

Thanks pd_10 I have been quite late here anyway I've got my answer at last your tip helped me to find out my dllcache folder. Thanks a lot... dude

Comment by Arnab at December 28, 2005 08:17 PM | Permalink

I found the DLLCACHE folder, but where is %systemroot%?? fucking netmeeting is interfering with one of my other programs and i need it gone already

Comment by Sandman at January 1, 2006 09:24 PM | Permalink

To find the systemroot folder just do:
CD %SYSTEMROOT%
in a Command Prompt

Comment by Henrik Gemal [TypeKey Profile Page] at January 2, 2006 07:44 AM | Permalink

To find %systemroot%\system32\dllcache\ i had to search for it in my computers search location to actually find the folder but once i looked in my files to locate it, i couldnt find it so i had to type in the link to access the files. see if that helps. and %systemroot% just ment C:\ for me

Comment by Jake at January 17, 2006 09:05 PM | Permalink

Worked great - thanks so much! Pesky Microsoft...

Comment by Elizabeth at May 30, 2006 02:20 AM | Permalink

There's a small program called UnLocker Assistant that will pop up right after Microsoft's Access Denied box and tell you which programs are tied to the folder you're trying to get rid of. Just hit UnLock ALL, then when you right click on the folder and delete it, it stays deleted until you have to reboot again. Just thought I'd mention it.

Comment by Lee Gillette at July 9, 2006 09:12 PM | Permalink

You guys looking so hard for %systemroot%, you're playing a joke on yourselves. %systemroot% is the proper way of saying, "whatever is the root directory partition of my current WINDOWS system, whether that is C:, D:, M: or Z:. Get it? So that's why you couldn't find it, and it is also why you mentioned coming up with C:. Of course it is usually C: where your current WINDOWS is installed!

Comment by Carson at October 22, 2006 09:35 AM | Permalink

I'm from yemen

waaaaw, God loves me to find this article
cuz my doctor in college 2nd year in programming dept
wants for us
How to Uninstall netmeeting?
always i take what i want from the page and gone
but, Now it must for me to thank you thank you very very very mush

Mr-Hacker

Comment by Abdullah Al-Najjar at April 28, 2009 05:40 PM | Permalink

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