"Cannot remove previous version" error message when you install Microsoft Works or Microsoft Picture It! (313928)

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, use the following methods in the order that they appear.

Remove the earlier version of Picture It!

To remove the earlier version of Picture It!, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
   
   Note In Microsoft Windows XP, click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click Add/Remove Programs.
3. Click the Picture It! program that you want to remove, and then click Add/Remove.
   
   Note In Microsoft Windows 2000 and Windows XP, select the Picture It! program to be removed, and then click Remove.
4. Follow the steps that appear on the screen to complete the removal process.

Run the Microsoft Windows Installer CleanUp Utility

1. Download, install, and then run the Windows Installer CleanUp utility to remove the Windows Installer registry settings associated with your products installation.
   
   For additional information about how to download, install, and use the Windows Installer CleanUp utility, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   290301 Description of the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility

2. To use the Windows CleanUp utility, follow these steps:
   1. Click Start, point to Programs, and then click Windows Installer Clean Up.
   2. Select the program that you want to remove, and then click Remove.
   3. Click OK, and then click Exit.
   Note Because the Windows Installer CleanUp utility removes Windows Installer related registry settings and not the program files, make sure that you install your program in the same folder it was originally installed in to prevent duplication of files on your hard disk.

If the program in question is not listed in the Windows Installer CleanUp utility, continue to the next section. If the Windows Installer Cleanup utility successfully removed the earlier version of this program, go to the "Reinstall Picture It!" section.

Remove the product and remove the registry key

Note Follow these steps if the Windows Installer Cleanup utility does not list the product that you want to remove.

Warning If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
2. Locate the following registry key:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall

3. Under the Uninstall key, you see product ID numbers that are similar to the following:

   {E78FC917-C21B-11D2-99FE-00105A98B681}

   To find the product ID for your version of Picture It!, click each product ID number listed. In the right frame, you see the product name under the Data column across from DisplayName.
   
   After you have found the correct corresponding product ID number, make sure that it is selected, and then press DELETE.
   
   Note For Microsoft Windows XP click the product ID number in the left pane, and then double-click DisplayName to see the associated product.
   
   Close the dialog box, and then continue to use the same steps until you locate the product that you must remove.
4. Click Yes to remove the key.
5. Quit Registry Editor.

Reinstall Picture It!

Follow these steps to reinstall the Picture It! program:

1. Insert the Picture It! CD-ROM in your computer's CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive. Press and hold down the SHIFT key to prevent the disc from starting automatically.
   
   Note If you are installing Picture It! with Microsoft Works Suite 2002, you have to insert CD3.
2. Click Start, click Run, and then type d:\pip\pi6.msi. In this example, d is the letter of your CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive.
3. Follow the instructions for the installation process.

If the earlier steps do not work, remove the remnants of the offending programs, and then follow these steps:

1. Double-click My Computer, and then double-click drive C.
2. Open the Program Files folder.
3. Locate the folder for Microsoft Picture It! that you want to remove.
4. Select the folder that you want to remove, and then press DELETE.
5. Run a repair installation of Windows XP: For additional information before you follow the steps later in this article, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   315341 How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP

   Note If you perform an in-place upgrade of Windows XP, all existing restore points are removed and a new system checkpoint restore point is created after the in-place upgrade is completed. Do not perform an in-place upgrade if you may have to use System Restore to restore your computer to a previous state.

   1. Start your computer.
   2. Insert the Windows XP CD-ROM in your computer's CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive.
   3. On the Welcome to Microsoft Windows XP page that appears, click Install Windows XP.
   4. On the Welcome to Windows Setup page, click Upgrade (Recommended) in the Installation Type box (if it is not already selected), and then click Next.
   5. On the License Agreement page, click I accept this agreement, and then click Next.
   6. On the Your Product Key page, type the 25-character product key in the appropriate Product key boxes, and then click Next.
   7. On the Get Updated Setup Files page, select the option that you want, and then click Next.
   8. Follow the instructions on the remaining pages of the Windows XP Setup Wizard to reinstall Windows XP.