Clean Installation of SolidWorks

Following steps ensure a clean installation of SolidWorks:

Antivirus and anti-spyware applications as well as pop-up blocker should be disabled during the installation of SolidWorks

Back up SolidWorks templates and library files, i.e. routing, toolbox, design library.

The location of the Toolbox folder is specified in Tools, Options System Options, Hole Wizard / Toolbox. Other custom folders are specified in Tools, Options System Options, File Locations (i.e. Document Templates, BOM Templates, Design Library etc.)

In Control panel, Add or Remove Programs, select SolidWorks entry and click Remove. In the Products to Remove list, select all products. If eDrawings, DWG Editor, SolidWorks Explorer, Cosmos, or PDMWorks Workgroup Server are found in the list of Add or Remove Programs, remove them too.

Rename SolidWorks installation folder in C:\Program Files. For x64 operating systems, also rename SolidWorks installation folder in C:\Program Files (x86).

Delete folders C:\Program Files\Common Files\SolidWorks Shared and C:\Program Files\Common Files\SolidWorks Installation Manager.

Rename (if found) the folder C:\Program Files\Common Files\SolidWorks Data (i.e SolidWorks Data_Old)

Access Registry Editor by typing in: regedit in Start Run command and clicking OK.

Backup Registry by clicking File Export and saving the file in a safe place

Delete following registry keys:

[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SolidWorks] [-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Bluebeam Software] [-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\DesignSource] [-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ Software\GSSL] [-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ Software\SolidWorks BackOffice] [-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SRAC] [-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\SolidWorks] [-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SOFTWARE\eDrawings] [-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SOFTWARE\DesignSource] [-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SOFTWARE\ SolidWorks Corporation] [-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SOFTWARE\Srac]

Additionally, on x64 operating systems delete:

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ Wow6432Node\SolidWorks] [-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SOFTWARE\ Wow6432Node\eDrawings] [-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SOFTWARE\ Wow6432Node\DesignSource] [-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SOFTWARE\ Wow6432Node\SolidWorks Corporation] [-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SOFTWARE\ Wow6432Node\Srac]

Exit the Registry Editor

Install SolidWorks

Verify that the graphics card/driver combination is certified and recommended for SolidWorks 2008; update the driver if needed (http://www.solidworks.com/pages/services/VideoCardTesting.html)