Removing Oracle Database Software

If you want to remove an Oracle software installation, you can use the Deinstallation tool to completely uninstall the software from your computer.

The Deinstallation Tool (deinstall) is available in Oracle home directories after installation as $ORACLE_HOME/deinstall/deinstall. The Deinstallation Tool is also available for download as a separate archive file from the Oracle Technology Network (OTN) site (http://www.oracle.com/technology/software/products/database/index.html).

To remove an Oracle home from your computer:

1. Execute the Deinstallation tool. The command you enter depends on whether you are executing the tool from an installed Oracle home or executing the tool after downloading it from OTN. Do one of the following:

   If you are executing the tool from an installed Oracle home, the following is an example of the commands you would enter:

   $ cd /u01/app/oracle
   $ product/11.2.0/dbhome_1/deinstall/deinstall
   

   If you are executing the tool after downloading and unzipping the archive file from OTN, enter the following command (replacing Oracle_home with the full path name for your Oracle home):

   $ deinstall -home Oracle_home
   

   Note: Do not shut down the Oracle database or stop any database processes prior to running the Deinstallation tool.

2. Enter the specified information at the prompts, or just press Enter to accept the default values.

3. When prompted, follow the directions to run the root script. You must be the root user to do so.