Staecows Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 Hi, I have read a number of posts relating to uninstall issues with GTA IV and SecuRom but haven't found a solution to this problem: I got the "failed to release SecuRom license" error while trying to uninstall. So, unable to uninstall, I downloaded SecuRom's manual revoke license tool. I entered my serial code and the license associated to my copy was revoked. So then I figured that the uninstall should now get past "failed to release...." error. However, all the files/folders/etc related to GTA IV have disappeared so there is no way of uninstalling the game (as far as I can see) but the game is still there somewhere and taking up 15Gb of disc space! Has anyone else come across this problem? Or did I do something a bit idiotic without realising it? Either way, if any of you have a solution that would be really great. Thanks in advance! Staecows PS - I have contacted SecuRom about this - they said to contact Rockstar... I contacted Rockstar and they have yet to reply (over a week) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkey82 Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 Look here http://www.gtaforums.com/index.php?showtopic=402487 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zBobG Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 What method are you using to tell that there is used space on your harddrive? If you really can't find a "Grand Theft Auto IV" folder then the files and folders may actually have been uninstalled (and deleted) but they may now be in your Recycle Bin. Empty the Recycle Bin and then look again at free space on your harddrive. You might want to open the Recycle Bin first and see if the folders and files are there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staecows Posted April 9, 2009 Author Share Posted April 9, 2009 Thanks mkey82 - I checked out that thread and was new to me. I used the Windows Installer Cleanup but there was nothing displayed relating to Rockstar/GTAIV for some reason... So I'm still a bit stumped Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staecows Posted April 9, 2009 Author Share Posted April 9, 2009 zBobG: Yeah, the files aren't just sitting in the Recycle Bin and I'm just looking at the install drive in My Computer to check disc space Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zBobG Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 This is the Installshield folder created when my GTA4 was installed: C:\Program Files\InstallShield Installation Information\{579BA58C-F33D-4970-9953-B94B43768AC3} This is where the uninstall info is, I expect that it will be the same folder for any GTA4 install. This is the Registry key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{579BA58C-F33D-4970-9953-B94B43768AC3}] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staecows Posted April 9, 2009 Author Share Posted April 9, 2009 zBobG: Thanks dude! Would you believe that despite the revocation of the license having caused this problem for me in the first place I still get the "failed to release..." error... It's already released....argh! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkey82 Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 That's securom for ya. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staecows Posted April 9, 2009 Author Share Posted April 9, 2009 HA! yeah... so what do you think? am I looking at a reformat here or is there anything else i can try before it gets to that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkey82 Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 What do you actually want to achieve? If you want the install files removed, just delete the install folder. If you want to be sure everything is gone, reformat. If you don't have any issues, the first option is viable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staecows Posted April 9, 2009 Author Share Posted April 9, 2009 The problem is there are no folders to delete - they disappeared but with no increase in Disc Space... I've never had anything like this happen before. What I want to achieve is the freeing up of the 15Gb... it's so strange! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkey82 Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 (edited) The problem is there are no folders to delete - they disappeared but with no increase in Disc Space... I've never had anything like this happen before. What I want to achieve is the freeing up of the 15Gb... it's so strange! Wait, so there's no "c:\program files\rockstar games\grand theft auto iv" dir, but the disk space is still occupied? Are you sure you didn't move the installation somewhere else? Maybe you could try searching for gtaiv.exe just to be sure. EDIT: Go to your drive root, try selecting all the files on your drive, right click and chose properties. Now look if there is any difference between the reported disk usage and what the properties windows tells you. This is of course assuming you have your hidden files and folders visible. Like this Edited April 9, 2009 by mkey82 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staecows Posted April 9, 2009 Author Share Posted April 9, 2009 Hey, Yep, that's the problem (no IV dir) - weird isn't it? I did a search to make sure and gtaiv.exe wasn't found. I also did the suggested comparison between manually selecting the files and the disc space reading on the drive itself. There was negligible difference (couple of hundred MB)... the strangeness continues I'm afraid! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staecows Posted April 9, 2009 Author Share Posted April 9, 2009 Is it possible to make this more odd/confusing? I'll try: I just used Moleskinsoft Directory Size to go through my install drive and see how the disc space usage is spread out. I found nothing relating to GTA IV and all the file sizes added up and matched the disc usage stat for the install drive (so vanishing directories or not, it all adds up). But I don't have 15GB of addtitional space coinciding with the "uninstall". I had less than 1GB before attempting the uninstall so I would definitely notice the additional free space if I got it.... So, here's where it gets very weird: 1.) GTA IV was installed and I was within 1GB of max capacity. 2.) Revoking the license (without uninstalling) led to the directories disappearing without freeing disc space.... 3.) All the files on my install drive (non of which seem to be related to GTA) add up to a combined size that is within 1-2GB of max capacity....? BUT THEY SHOULDN'T - I'm not including GTA-related files to calculate that I'm within 1-2GB of max capacity... that would mean that the 15Gb of GTA IV was located only in 1-2GB.... impossible! THEREFORE: the GTA files are on my install drive somewhere but they are incognito! but it's not even that confusingly simple because: 4.) If the directories had disappeared without actually freeing up the used space then, indeed, I SHOULD still be within 1GB of max capacity - which I am... BUT all the files I can see (i.e. non-GTA files) add up to a size that leaves me with only 1GB and nothing seems untoward - they are all files I recognise... there doesn't seem to be a phantom 15GB... This is the most confusing game/uninstall/PC problem I have encountered to date... Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Staecows Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graven Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 I´d try installing game (with same path) and see what happens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staecows Posted April 9, 2009 Author Share Posted April 9, 2009 that sounds like reasonable thing to try, I'll definitely try that, thanks. It'll be the weekend before I can try that though so I'll post the results then! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkey82 Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 I also did the suggested comparison between manually selecting the files and the disc space reading on the drive itself. There was negligible difference (couple of hundred MB)... Then the files are present somewhere. This must be a filesystem error. The only time I have encountered something like this it was on a machine where the guy used some sort of protection/encryption software that literally hid one part of the partition via some ntfs hack or whatever. Me thinks you'll have to reformat the partition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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