Uninstalling for license compliance

[KevinBurrows]

I have a customer whose I.T. department is trying to maintain their Autodesk license compliance.  However, they know that many Autodesk products install common components that are not automatically uninstalled when you uninstall the main product.  For example, when you install AutoCAD, the installer also installs a Base Image Library, a Medium Image Library, and a FARO LS component.  If you go into Programs and Features, select AutoCAD, then choose uninstall, the Image Libraries do not get uninstalled.

They know that newer versions can use the Autodesk Uninstall Tool to remove all components, but they are concerned that there may be older versions (2004, 2008) installed on client machines.  They would like to create a script or uninstall tool that will remove that old software from the client machines, but they do not know what all components the different versions of their Autodesk software have installed.

Do they need to be concerned about the extra/common components that are left behind?  If those components are left behind, would those workstations be flagged for a license compliance violation if the company were later audited?

Thanks,

Kevin Burrows

ECAD, Inc.

[Otto]

Hello KevinBurrows

It looks like you need help uninstalling - or have issues that may be addressed by uninstalling - an Autodesk product. Community members with similar questions found the following article(s) useful: The following article(s) should help you resolve the problem:

Uninstalling a Product

Once your product is uninstalled, please try downloading your Autodesk Software using the Virtual Agent (Please be sure to disable your firewall and anti-virus before downloading)

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[KevinBurrows]

Sorry, HelpBot.  I don't think that you're programmed to understand the nuances of software license compliance.  Maybe you can ask your friend LawyerBot?  

Also, if any humans that want to respond, please do.

-Kevin

[Mark.Lancaster · Accepted solution]

@KevinBurrows

Extra installed stuff like the library is just needed for the application.  If the core or the main application is removed then you are good to go and you will not run into any licensing compliance issue.  However if you were looking at assets installed on machine using the provided CAD manager tool, it may falsely report that AutoCAD or a main Autodesk application is installed on the machine.  But you can perform a clean uninstall per these instructions.