How to perform a Clean Uninstall of AutoCAD toolsets and verticals

Solution:

The following steps are considered for the example of AutoCAD Architecture and core AutoCAD.  Uses the same strategy for other toolsets, considering the product specific folder name differences as follows: 

The following instructions are for removing AutoCAD Architecture (ACA) together with core AutoCAD (Vanilla AutoCAD). They are for the products only, they do not include removing/reinstalling Licensing applications (Unless there is a licensing/login issue, there is no need to change those folders).

Important: In case where several AutoCAD toolsets are installed, the core AutoCAD files/folders are used/shared by all toolsets. Every toolset application depends on core AutoCAD. Clean uninstall of core AutoCAD folder will affect all the toolset applications too. If troubleshooting necessitates doing clean-uninstall, then it is recommended to remove all the toolset applications and reinstall them later, one by one. 

See the end note about toolsets and applications that depend on or place files inside core AutoCAD folders.
 

Clean-Uninstall of toolset (AutoCAD vertical):

1. Uninstall the program through Windows Control Panel.
2. Delete the residual AutoCAD folders from these locations:
   1. C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 20xx
   2. C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\AutoCAD 20xx
   3. C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\ACA 20xx (specific to ACA)
   4. %appdata%\Autodesk\AutoCAD 20xx
   5. %appdata%\Autodesk\ACA 20xx (specific to ACA)
   6. %localappdata%\Autodesk\AutoCAD 20xx
   7. %localappdata%\Autodesk\ACA 20xx (specific to ACA)
3. Delete residual folders that are specifically belong to AutoCAD or AutoCAD Architecture (ACA) under the following paths and leave other content maintained:
   1. C:\Program Files\Common Files\Autodesk Shared\
   2. C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Autodesk Shared\
   3. C:\Program Files (x86)\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins\
4. Object Enablers, Add-ins, optionally installed components that are also supposed to be removed by this process have their folders in:
   1. C:\Program Files\Autodesk\
5. Delete the content of the %temp% folder (skip those files and folders where you are asked for. This file and folders are currently in use).
6. Download and use the Microsoft Program Install and Uninstall Troubleshooter to check and remove any residual Autodesk software on the system.
   1. Run the Troubleshooter > choose Uninstall > select the AutoCAD related product > follow the instructions to uninstall it.
   2. Repeat the above step for each product name until no AutoCAD related product appears in the list.
7. Delete entries from Windows Registry: Open Windows Registry Editor (REGEDIT) and remove the following:
   1. "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Autodesk\AutoCAD\"
   2. "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Autodesk\AutoCAD\"

Default Project Location and Library folders:

While the following locations contain libraries and catalogs and project data, they are not critical for uninstall, unless if there are missing content from these locations, it is possible not to clean-remove them if you intend to reinstall the same product.

AutoCAD Architecture, MEP, Plant 3D > 

• C:\Users\<USER ID>\Documents\Autodesk\ (This contains project defaults and catalog libraries)

AutoCAD Electrical > 

• C:\Users\<USER ID>\Documents\Acade 20xx (This contains project defaults and catalog databases)
• C:\Users\Public\Documents\Autodesk\Acade 20xx (This contains library symbols)

Products and toolsets that require core AutoCAD files and folders:

• Civil 3D product family.
• AutoCAD product family.
  • AutoCAD Architecture
  • AutoCAD MEP
  • AutoCAD Electrical
  • AutoCAD Mechanical
  • AutoCAD Plant 3D
  • AutoCAD Map 3D
• Advanced Steel.