Cannot uninstall, tried everything.

[xTrYsTaNx]

I recently purchased Civ4 and installed it. I patched it with version 1.64 and since then it will not let me play the game. I need to uninstall before I can re install. However I cannot as I have the -5009 error. I searched through the threads about it on the forum and I deleted all Civilization files on the registry as well as Firaxis files. After this, Civ4 vanished from the Add/remove programmes list, yet still when I run the game it comes up with play.

I cannot find any other alternatives to the methods I found and was wondering whether anyone could help me,

xTrYsTaNx

 

[ori]

Delete "...\Program Files\InstallShield Installation Information\{CFBCE791-2D53-4FCE-B3FB-D6E01F4112E8}"

Welcome to CFC

 

[xTrYsTaNx]

I don't have that file. I'm running Vista 32 bit, by the way. Thanks though

 

[ori]

are you sure?
installshield installation information is a hidden folder - have you set vista to show hidden files?

 

[xTrYsTaNx]

Yes, Vista shows hidden files, I have the InstallShield folder, just not the {CFBCE791-2D53-4FCE-B3FB-D6E01F4112E8}" within, I have other files, just not that one.

 

[ori]

ok - this is just civ4 that you are trying to uninstall and reinstall?

 

[xTrYsTaNx]

Yes, just Civ4 no other games or Civ4 expansions.

 

[ori]

go to my computer then to your disc drive - right click and choose open in explorer then go to setup.exe right click and choose runs as administrator - what happens?

 

[xTrYsTaNx]

It lets me re install, but after installation I have the same problem. Even without updating patches.

 

[ori]

what is the problem?

 

[xTrYsTaNx]

It won't let me play the game, I press play and it crashes.

 

[ori]

is there an error message when it crashes?

 

[xTrYsTaNx]

Please insert correct CD-ROM, select okay and restart the application. At this point I take out the CD, put it back in, Auto run starts up again and then same error message.

 

[ori]

do you run the game with admin rights?
is it patched to 1.74?
Edit: Patch it to 1.61 first then to 1.74 - both times right click on the patch installer and choose run as admin. You can get the patches from the downloads database here

 

[xTrYsTaNx]

The patches won't work because the computer doesn't realise whether it is installed or uninstalled, it is somewhere between. Which it doesn't like very much.

 

[ori]

are you familiar with registry editing?

Note: I might not reply prior to tomorrow

 

[xTrYsTaNx]

If that is the regedit then I'm okay, not claiming to be an expert, but I can tell my way from a file that you really shouldn't delete and one that needs to be deleted

 

[ori]

start regedit
search for all instances of Civilization and Firaxis (the latter only if you have no other Firaxis games installed )
then search for:
CFBCE791-2D53-4FCE-B3FB-D6E01F4112E8
there are 2 keys with this string

delete all these keys. Restart the computer and it should let you reinstall. Then patch to 1.61 first, then to 1.74.