Overview

Various program anomalies can be solved by conducting a procedure called a clean installation. This involves uninstalling all versions of a program and removing any files that are left behind prior to reinstalling. Following are instructions for doing this for specific Structural products.

RAM Structural System

Before doing these steps, please make copies of any custom tables that have been added to the program. These typically reside in one of the following locations:

C:\Program Files\Bentley\Engineering\RAM Structural System\Tables
C:\Program Files\Ram\RAM Structural System\Tables
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Bentley\Engineering\RAM Structural System\Tables (Windows XP only)
C:\ProgramData\Bentley\Engineering\RAM Structural System\Tables (Windows Vista/7 only)

Ensure that none of your models are saved within the RAM Structural System folder. Finally, if you have made extensive modifications to your user defaults, please make a copy of your RamIS.ini file. This can be located in one of two places depending upon your operating system:

Windows XP - C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Bentley\Engineering\RAM Structural System
Windows Vista/7 - C:\ProgramData\Bentley\Engineering\RAM Structural System

The defaults can be copied into the new configuration file later on, if needed.

Select Control Panel from the Windows Start menu, and open either Add or Remove Programs (Windows XP) or Programs and Features (Windows Vista/7). Uninstall all listings for RAM Structural System, starting with the most recent. Then, remove any RAM Structural System folders residing in the following locations (if they exist):

C:\Program Files\Bentley\Engineering
C:\Program Files\Ram
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Bentley\Engineering (Windows XP only)
C:\ProgramData\Bentley\Engineering (Windows Vista/7 only)

Now navigate to C:\Windows and remove any files beginning with RAMIS (if they exist). Finally, reinstall RAM Structural System. After installation, copy any custom tables to the Tables folder. The default location for the Tables directory in RAM Structural System 14.03.xx.xx and later is in one of two places, depending on the operating system:

Windows XP - C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Bentley\Engineering\RAM Structural System\Tables
Windows Vista/7 - C:\ProgramData\Bentley\Engineering\RAM Structural System\Tables

If the RamIS.ini file was saved to preserve user defaults, please open this file and copy everything but the [Directories] section (usually ends with a line beginning with "working=".) Locate the new RamIS.ini file which will be saved in one of two locations depending on your operating system:

Windows XP - C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Bentley\Engineering\RAM Structural System
Windows Vista/7 - C:\ProgramData\Bentley\Engineering\RAM Structural System

Open the new RamIS.ini file, select everything but the [Directories] section, and then paste the settings copied earlier into the new file. Save changes, and close the file.

RAM Elements

Before doing these steps, please back up any custom sections, materials, connections, bolts, and welds as well as any user-created models. The custom sections, materials, connections, bolts, and welds are stored in the Database folder located in one of two locations below. Back up any user-created models that may be saved in the Data folder in one of the two locations below.

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Bentley\Engineering\RAM Elements (Windows XP)
C:\ProgramData\Bentley\Engineering\RAM Elements (Windows Vista/7)

Important: The Database folder in C:\Program Files\Bentley\Engineering\RAM Elements contains standard elements that come with the program. It does not contain any user-created custom sections, materials, connections, bolts or welds.

Select Control Panel from the Windows Start menu, and open either Add or Remove Programs (Windows XP) or Programs and Features (Windows Vista/7). Uninstall all listings for RAM Elements, starting with the most recent. If any listings for RAM Advanse are present, remove these as well. Then, remove any RAM Elements or RAM Advanse folders residing in the following locations (if they exist):

C:\Program Files\Bentley\Engineering
C:\Program Files\Ram
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Bentley (Windows XP only)
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Bentley\Engineering (Windows XP only)
C:\ProgramData\Bentley (Windows Vista/7 only)
C:\ProgramData\Bentley\Engineering (Windows Vista/7 only)
%USERPROFILE%\Application Data\Bentley\Engineering (Windows XP only)
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Bentley\Engineering (Windows Vista/7 only)


Finally, reinstall RAM Elements. Restore any custom sections, materials, connections, bolts, and welds by moving the Database folder back to the RAM Elements folder located in one of the two locations below. User-created models that were previously backed up can be restored to the Data folder in one of the two locations below as well, although they can be opened from anywhere.

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Bentley\Engineering\RAM Elements (Windows XP)
C:\ProgramData\Bentley\Engineering\RAM Elements (Windows Vista/7)

RAM Connection

Before doing these steps, please back up any custom sections, materials, connections, bolts, and welds as well as any user-created models. The custom sections, materials, connections, bolts, and welds are stored in the Database folder located in one of two locations below. Back up any user-created models that may be saved in the Data folder in one of the two locations below.

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Bentley\Engineering\RAM Connection (Windows XP)
C:\ProgramData\Bentley\Engineering\RAM Connection (Windows Vista/7)

Important: The Database folder in C:\Program Files\Bentley\Engineering\RAM Connection contains standard elements that come with the program. It does not contain any user-created custom sections, materials, connections, bolts or welds.

Select Control Panel from the Windows Start menu, and open either Add or Remove Programs (Windows XP) or Programs and Features (Windows Vista/7). Uninstall all listings for RAM Connection, starting with the most recent. Then, remove any RAM Connection folders residing in the following locations (if they exist):

C:\Program Files\Bentley\Engineering
C:\Program Files\Ram
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Bentley (Windows XP only)
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Bentley\Engineering (Windows XP only)
C:\ProgramData\Bentley (Windows Vista/7 only)
C:\ProgramData\Bentley\Engineering (Windows Vista/7 only)
%USERPROFILE%\Application Data\Bentley\Engineering (Windows XP only)
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Bentley\Engineering (Windows Vista/7 only)


Finally, reinstall RAM Connection. Restore any custom sections, materials, connections, bolts, and welds by moving the Database folder back to the RAM Connection folder located in one of the two locations below. User-created models that were previously backed up can be restored to the Data folder in one of the two locations below as well, although they can be opened from anywhere.

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Bentley\Engineering\RAM Connection (Windows XP)
C:\ProgramData\Bentley\Engineering\RAM Connection (Windows Vista/7)

RAM Concept

Before doing these steps, ensure that none of your models are saved in the program folder.

Select Control Panel from the Windows Start menu, and open either Add or Remove Programs (Windows XP) or Programs and Features (Windows Vista/7). Uninstall all listings for RAM Concept, starting with the most recent. Then, remove any RAM Concept folders residing in the following locations (if they exist):

C:\Program Files\Bentley\Engineering
C:\Program Files\Ram
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Bentley\Engineering (Windows XP only)
C:\ProgramData\Bentley\Engineering (Windows Vista/7 only)

Finally, reinstall RAM Concept.

STAAD.Pro

Before doing these steps, ensure that none of your models are saved in the program folder.

Select Control Panel from the Windows Start menu, and open either Add or Remove Programs (Windows XP) or Programs and Features (Windows Vista/7). Uninstall all listings for STAAD.Pro, starting with the most recent. Do the same for STAAD.foundation 5.3 or earlier. Leave STAAD Foundation Advanced if present. Then, remove any of the following folders (if they exist):

C:\SPro2007
C:\SProV8i
C:\STAAD.foundation 5.3


Additionally remove any STAAD.Pro folders in the following locations (if they exist):

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Bentley\Engineering (Windows XP only)
C:\ProgramData\Bentley\Engineering (Windows Vista/7 only)

Finally, reinstall STAAD.Pro (which in later versions also includes STAAD.foundation 5.3).

Important: When reinstalling STAAD.Pro on a computer running Windows Vista or later, please right-click on the installer, and select Run As Administrator from the contextual menu. This will ensure that all components are installed properly. Failing to perform this step results in missing Start menu shortcuts.

See Also

Structural Product TechNotes and FAQs

Comments or Corrections?

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