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Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2005 10:38:01 -0800 (PST)
From: "Peter A. Castro" <doctor AT fruitbat DOT org>
To: Neven Luetic <Neven DOT Luetic AT hanse DOT net>
cc: Cygwin List <cygwin AT cygwin DOT com>
Subject: Re: Problem uninstalling/deleting cygwin
In-Reply-To: <1106670496.10021.18.camel@linuxpc.lune>
Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.4.58.0501261019190.17079@ming.fruitbat.org>
References: <1106670496 DOT 10021 DOT 18 DOT camel AT linuxpc DOT lune>
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On Tue, 25 Jan 2005, Neven Luetic wrote:

> Hello,

Greetings Neven,

> after a (stupid) attempt to install an older version of cygwin over my
> current installation (using the "cygwin time machine" mentioned some
> days ago) I just wanted to throw it away and start anew, but the cygwin
> directory is undeletable.

Hmm... I see my site is causing some confusion.  I'll update the doc
concerning downgrading issues.  In the mean time, the Cygwin FAQ does
describe how to completely remove Cygwin from your machine if that's what
you feel needs to be done.  If you do feel you need a specific, older,
"version" of Cygwin, then I'd recommend wiping and installing a base
image of the older "version", rather than trying to downgrade a current
install.

It might be useful to understand why you did the downgrade in the first
place.  If there is something broken in Cygwin, then getting on the most
current release gives you a more likely condition to get help fixing it.

> This is due to some symbolic links from versions of uninstalled programs
> pointing to nowhere (i.e. /usr/autotool/devel/bin/automake, which is a
> symlink to automake-1.9).
> I am able to change owner and permissions of these files to whatever I
> want, but I can not delete them ("Permission denied").
>
> What should I do, to get a clean new install?

Wipe Cygwin using the instructions in the FAQ.  Again, make sure any
cygwin processes or services are stopped & removed first.

I see from later email that you are having problems removing some files
(specifically symlinks).  I'd check who actually owns those files, using
the Windows Explorer, (right-click on file) Properties->Security tab.
See who owns it.  You might need to take ownership of the file, or login
as the real owner if it was someone else (Administrator?).

-- 
Peter A. Castro <doctor AT fruitbat DOT org> or <Peter DOT Castro AT oracle DOT com>
	"Cats are just autistic Dogs" -- Dr. Tony Attwood

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