MATLAB Installation Guide for PC

Removing a MATLAB Installation

Every MATLAB installation includes a program, called the uninstaller (uninstall.exe), that you can use to remove a MATLAB installation from your system. This section describes how to:

• Start the uninstaller
• Use it to remove software from your computer

This section also includes information about removing a MATLAB installation that uses dongles.

Note    Make sure to shut down MATLAB before trying to uninstall it.

Starting the Uninstaller

There are several ways to start the MATLAB uninstaller.

• Click on the Start button, select the Programs option, and select the MATLAB Release 12 entry. Click the R12 Uninstaller option on the MATLAB menu.



• Click on the Start button, select the Settings option and click Control Panel. In the Control Panel, double-click the Add/Remove Programs option. Select the MATLAB Family of Products R12 from the list of products.

When you start the uninstaller, it displays the Uninstall Product List dialog box. See Running the Uninstaller for more information.

Running the Uninstaller

In the Uninstall Product List dialog box, select the products you want to remove by clicking the check box next to their names. If you remove MATLAB, you automatically remove all other MathWorks products.

Note    After you run the uninstaller, the MATLAB installation directory remains on your system, empty except for the \uninstall subdirectory and the \work subdirectory. To completely remove a MATLAB installation, you must delete these directories. You may want to move any M-files you created in the \work directory to another directory before deleting it.

When you run the uninstaller, it may display a dialog box, asking if you want to remove the mwsamp.ocx file. This file is an ActiveX control that is registered as a shared file during the MATLAB installation. You may remove this file.

Removing Installations That Use Dongles

In some installations, MATLAB requires a dongle. A dongle is a hardware-based security device that attaches to the serial or parallel printer port of a desktop computer. It uses embedded codes and passwords to control access to software applications.

If your system uses dongles, the uninstaller asks if you want to delete the dongle drivers. If other applications you run on your system use dongles, do not delete these drivers. For more information, see Troubleshooting an Installation That Uses Dongles.

Where to Go from Here

Installing Additional Products