Uninstalling or Reinstalling the Datto Windows Agent

Topic

This article explains how to uninstall and reinstall of the Datto Windows Agent

Do NOT use Revo Uninstaller to remove the Datto Windows Agent. Unrecoverable host system damage may occur

Environment

Datto Windows Agent

Description

Uninstall

The uninstall procedure you need to follow depends on what version of DWA you are uninstalling.

Version 2.0 or newer

Newer versions of DWA have a simplified uninstall process. If you are using Version 2.0 or newer of the Datto Windows Agent, you should just use the Windows Add/Remove Programs feature to remove the software.

Procedure to uninstall older versions of DWA

Older legacy versions (prior to 2.0) include an uninstall tool for removing the agent software. Datto recommends using this utility, instead of the Windows Add/Remove Programs feature, to ensure that the agent software uninstalls completely.

IMPORTANT This process requires several reboots of the production machine.

Launch the Windows Programs and Features control panel. Highlight Datto Windows Agent, and then click Uninstall/Change.

Figure 1: Selecting the Datto Windows Agent uninstaller

The uninstaller will launch. Click Uninstall to continue to the uninstallation.

Figure 2: Datto Windows Agent Uninstall

The uninstall tool will scan for the location of the agent software and then run.

This process may take one to two minutes to complete, depending on the performance of the host server or workstation. Once finished, you�ll see the following.

Figure 3: Uninstallation Complete

Click Next to proceed to the final step, rebooting the server or workstation. A reboot is necessary to complete uninstallation of the agent. Click Restart to reboot now, or click Close to reboot later.

Figure 4: The uninstall utility prompting for a reboot

Reinstalling DWA

Once you complete the removal of the Datto Windows Agent, follow the steps in the Getting Started with the Datto Windows Agent article to install a fresh copy of the software. Once you've completed the reinstallation, use the Force a Differential Merge feature on your Datto appliance to queue a re-association of the backup increments for the protected system.

NOTE If you do not schedule the protected system's next backup to be a differential merge, the first snapshot it captures following reinstallation of the Datto Windows Agent will be a full backup.