MATLAB 2012b previously installed on my computer, but-->

Last month I rolled back my WINDOWS 7 system to a previous restore point prior to installation of MATLAB on the computer. That obviously undid the installation of MATLAB. MATLAB files still exist in the PROGRAMS FILE directory but no longer in the PROGRAMS menu as an option. Unfortunately, my automatic weekly backups has since eliminated my option to UNDO that particular restore point from a month ago.

Is there an executable file in the PROGRAMS FILE directory that I can simply run to reinstall MATLAB or do I have to get my administrator to do the installation over again. I believe he installed the software from a server.

Jeff

[Walter Roberson]

Is the program otherwise running and just not present in the PROGRAMS menu? Is it in the registry?

[Jeff]

NO, I cannot access MATLAB at all. Terhe is anothe posting suggesting that WINDOWS 7 is the culptrit. I suspect he is correct. I HATE WINDOWS, but in some instances you have to deal with it.

Answer 1

[Jan]

The system restore points of Windows 7 are not working reliably. They do not replace a proper backup and the deinstallation of programs do not work exactly. Actually this is a surprise, because the underlying VSS-method (volume shadow copy service) should work perfectly in theory.

I've seen Win7 systems, which could not start-up anymore after activating an earlier restore point. I had equivalent bad experiences with the built-in backup function of Windows7: I've installed a fresh Win7, added the mainboard drivers, took a system backup, installed all programs until I got a misconfigured system (installed MSVC 2008 and the SDK in the wrong order, SDK setup crashed and a hard shutdown was required to get access to the computer again...). Restoring the system from the backup failed, because the restored system did not startup successfully. Therefore on productive systems I rely on copies of the hard disk partitions taken by CloneZilla only.

Seeing that you have a confused setup currently, I'd follow the standard strategy for cleaning up:

• Call the admin,
• Let him or her install Matlab,
• If there are any problems afterwards, uninstall Matlab cleanly now, such that a following installation will start with a clean system.

Matlab does not contain a simple re-installation executable. Even if your admin has created such a function, it might fail on your confused system, such that a manual re-installation will be more efficient finally.

[Jeff]

So this is a WINDOWS failure?

Be candid, I have dealt with WINDOWS failures in the past & I will use my service contract to COHERCE them into resolving the problem. (IT may be easier to reinstall. but MICROSOFT MUST address any problems they cause.)

I have a DUAL boot system & by far WINDOWS is the most ATROCIOUS reliability problem.

Let me know of your opinion, Jeff

[Jan]

Following the normative power of the facts: Microsoft must not address problems they cause. You have to address the problems if you install Windows.

Software, like the parts of an operating system, are deterministic system, which follow simple rules, like human. The complexity of the behavior is caused by the complex interaction with the environment. I do not think that your problem is caused by Windows. But a partially (de-)installed software leaves footprints in the operating system, e.g. the registry, which can confuse the system.