Can Macro Express be uninstalled without requiring a reboot?

Macro Express creates an interface with Windows using ‘Hooks’. When Macro Express is running, any window that allows user input will use mexhook.dll. As long as Windows is running the mexhook.dll will be in use, even after Macro Express is no longer running. If this file is in use, it cannot be deleted without rebooting.

This is a particular nuisance when using Macro Express on a network. A network administrator may not want users to have to interrupt their work to reboot their computer. But a network administrator may have tools available to uninstall most of Macro Express without running Macro Express’s uninstaller. This list shows what things need to be done.

1. Make sure Macro Express is not running.
   
   
2. Delete the files in the folder where Macro Express is installed. By default this is c:\Program Files\Macro Express3 for Macro Express 3 and c:\Program Files\Macro Express Pro for Macro Express Pro.
   
   
3. Delete the following keys from the registry for Macro Express 3:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Insight Software Solutions\Macro Express3
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Insight Software Solutions\Macro Express 3
   
   and the following registry keys for Macro Express Pro:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Insight Software Solutions\Macro Express 4
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Insight Software Solutions\Macro Express 4
   
   
4. Delete the keys from the uninstall area of the registry. For Windows XP this is:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
   
   Look for items that say Macro Express, Macro Express 3 or Macro Express Pro
   
   
5. Delete the startup shortcuts. On Windows XP these are found in either
   C:\Documents and Settings\<user name>\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
   or
   C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
   
   

It is likely that the file mexhook.dll in the folder where the Macro Express program files are installed will not be deleted. It can be deleted after a subsequent reboot or simply left on the user’s computer.