Uninstalling Older Python Versions

Before performing any installations/uninstallations, make sure you make a backup copy of your own programs in case anything important is accidentally deleted.

If you currently have an older Python version installed, we strongly recommend that you first uninstall it before installing Python 2.5 to avoid any ambiguity in calls to the Python interpreter python.exe. Installing Python 2.5 may seem to work even without uninstalling previous versions, but system calls to Python will point to python.exe in the 2.5 directory while, for example, certain files such as an old iPython script may still be invoking the previous Python version, which may behave differently or possibly crash.

1. Go to Control Panel and select Add or Remove Programs
2. Assuming you have an older version X.Y installed, scroll through the list of programs, and for each Python X.Y package that has been installed, select it in the list and click Remove.

   Note that most packages will be listed as Python X.Y package_name-package_version, such as Python 2.5 numpy-1.0.4, but a few packages such as wxPython, listed as wxPython 2.8.7.1 (unicode) for Python 2.5, may not follow that convention, necessitating that you search the entire program list for packages.

3. The directory C:\PythonXY\ will still exist, so it is recommended that that directory be deleted to avoid confusion (make sure any code you have in there is backed up before deleting the directory!!!)
4. Remove any shortcuts to Python X.Y or IPython that may still be under the Start menu.