5 Removing Oracle Software

This chapter describes how to completely remove all software from an Oracle home directory.

5.1 Removing Oracle Software

The following steps describe how to use Oracle Universal Installer to remove Oracle software from an Oracle home:

Note:

Always use Oracle Universal Installer to remove Oracle software. Do not delete any Oracle home directories without first using Oracle Universal Installer to remove the software.

If necessary, log in as the oracle user:
```
$ su - oracle
```
Set the ORACLE_HOME environment variable to specify the path of the Oracle home directory that you want to remove:
- Bourne, Bash, or Korn shell:
```
$ ORACLE_HOME=/u01/app/oracle/product/10.2.0/client_1 
$ export ORACLE_HOME
```
- C shell:
```
$ setenv ORACLE_HOME /u01/app/oracle/product/10.2.0/client_1
```
Start Oracle Universal Installer as follows:
```
$ $ORACLE_HOME/oui/bin/runInstaller
```
In the Welcome window, click Deinstall Products.

The Inventory screen appears, listing all of the Oracle homes on the system.
In the Inventory screen, select the Oracle home and the products that you want to remove, then click Remove.

Oracle Universal Installer displays a confirmation window asking you to confirm that you want to deinstall the products and their dependent components.
Click Yes.

Oracle Universal Installer displays a progress indicator as it removes the software.
Click Close on the Inventory screen.
When the products have been deleted, click Cancel to exit from Oracle Universal Installer, and then click Yes.