HSM Express corrupted, won't uninstall / won't install newer version?

[Anonymous]

I get an error message every time that say's: There is a problem with this windows installer package. A program run as part of the setup did not finish as expected. Contact your support personnel or package vendor. Tried to redownload, and it still doesn't work? What do I need to do to cleanly remove and reinstall HSMExpress. I have Solidworks 2016/ 2017/ and 2018 on my computer. But SW CAM included with SW2018 is a mess. I hate it...

[jeff.pek · Accepted solution]

A couple things to try:

- Use the Autodesk Uninstall Tool. This has been available to uninstall HSMWorks/HSMxpress since the 2018 version.

- Try the Microsoft fix-it tool: https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/17588/fix-problems-that-block-programs-from-being-installed...

Glad to see you support HSMxpress vs. what's delivered with SWX! 🙂

Hope this helps,

  Jeff

[Anonymous]

How do I get to the autodesk uninstall tool?   Windows programs and features list won't complete the uninstall/ repair / or reinstall.. they all fail. 

I get error msg 1603, fatal error during installation.  Autodesk desktop app, just opens with a blank screen.  It never installed all the way i guess? 

[jeff.pek]

The Uninstall Tool would already be on your system, depending on the version of HSMxpress that you've got. It would be in the Autodesk program group, just called "Uninstall Tool" (with an Autodesk icon).

There are other ways to do this at a lower level. I'd want to see your system registry to advise in detail. If you want to go spelunking, here's some guidance:

1) Open "regedit.exe"

2) Navigate to the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall

3) Go through the sub-keys under here, and look for the one that has the DisplayName property containing "HSMxpress"

4) Copy the whole name of the key you found it under -- some long string of letters and numbers, surrounded by curly braces.

5) Go to a command prompt, and type: "msiexec /x <thekeynamehere>"

That's the same mechanism that the uninstall tool uses under the covers.

Jeff

[Anonymous]

Thank you Jeff, 

the Autodesk uninstall tool did not work,  just hung for 5min and said 0 of 1 uninstalled.   However the windows tool you sent a link to worked...  It was slow, but finially got my 42084 uninstalled.   I rebooted the computer and re-ran the installer for  42793 and it seems to have worked.. The counter at the bottom of the installer never changed,,  stayed on 0 of 5... ?  but it said finished and opening SW2016 it seems to be there..  

I will explore further,, but hoping this version works as good as 42084 did for me.. 

Thank you..  

I'm staying with HSMExpress for now..  I wish you had a cheaper way to get into the full 3D version.. 

Sincerely,, Tryon..

Yes, I'm still trying to cut parts and 2 AM  🙂  Happy Daze... 

[Anonymous]

Hello Jeff,   Had another question. 

After running the windows uninstall tool you recommended,  the HSMXpress 2018 R4.42793 installed ok, and seems to be running ok. 

However I have multiple folders now for HSMExpress in my program files list. (4 to be exact) 

HSMExpress

HSMExpress 2016

HSMExpress 2018

HSMEpresss 2018

The duplicate 2018 appears to be the previous 42084 build I thought was removed. 

Should I try to delete these folders manually or just leave it alone? 

Thank you, Tryon

[jeff.pek]

Hi Tryon -

It *should* be OK to delete the extras. However, I can't imagine how you could really have duplicate subfolders there. Can you show me a screenshot of that folder in Explorer.

As long as SOLIDWORKS is using a particular folder, there's really not any way that the others could be being used, and should be safe to delete. To be sure, it would be best to first move them elsewhere, and then if everything is OK, delete them later.

Jeff

[Anonymous]

I guess while I am here.... what is the easiest way to grab a screen shot and crop it for use here.  I had to print screen and edit in windows paint?   Just figured I would ask.. 

[jeff.pek]

Thanks. Looks like the HSMxpress 2018 folders have been manually copied, renamed, or something. Safe to delete, I would think, using the "move first" approach I recommended.

For screenshots, I think something like Jing -- https://www.techsmith.com/jing-tool.html -- would work well. I use another TechSmith product: SnagIt, which has a few more features.

jeff

[Tianq]

@Anonymous, another recording tool I would recommend is ShareX from https://getsharex.com/. Here are videos to show how it works. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-F8z9lQpvWc and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noPq5noKqRI

In addition, if you still meet the problem to uninstall / install newer version of HSM Express, would you mind sending the install log file "Autodesk HSMXpress 2018 Install.log" under %temp% folder?

Thanks,

Dave