How to completely remove Python from a Windows machine?

Question

I installed both Python 2.7 and Python 2.6.5. I don't know what went wrong, but nothing related to Python seems to work any more. e.g. "setup.py install" for certain packages don't recognize the "install" parameter and other odd phenomena...

I would like to completely remove Python from my system.
I tried running the 2.7 and 2.6 msi files and choosing remove Python and then running only 2.6 and reinstalling it. Still stuff don't work.

How do I completely remove Python - from everything? (!)

I would not like to reinstall my entire machine just because of the Python install...

Answer 1

Almost all of the python files should live in their respective folders (C:\Python26 and C:\Python27). Some installers (ActiveState) will also associate .py* files and add the python path to %PATH% with an install if you tick the "use this as the default installation" box.

Answer 2

try using windows uninstaller

Answer 3

You will also have to look in your system path. Python puts itself there and does not remove itself: http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000549.htm

Your problems probably started because your python path is pointing to the wrong one.

Answer 4

Run ASSOC and FTYPE to see what your py files are associated to.

C:> assoc .py
.py=Python.File

C:> ftype Python.File
Python.File="C:\Python26.w64\python.exe" "%1" %*

C:> assoc .pyw
.pyw=Python.NoConFile

C:> ftype Python.NoConFile
Python.NoConFile="C:\Python26.w64\pythonw.exe" "%1" %*

(I have both 32- and 64-bit installs of Python, hence my local directory name.)