"preparing To Install" When I Used Windows Explorer, And It Even Pops Up When I Boot Windows

This is the culprit (I'm on Windows 10, I just pulled that image from google since it's the same exact window):
https://i2.wp.com/techsalsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/windows-installer.jpg


So I really messed up. I was trying to uninstall Solidworks 2016 and 2018, and accidentally ended the uninstallation early. Then I couldn't complete the uninstall, so I tried to manually remove the files. Stupid move, I know. At this point, the window above started popping up almost every time I tried to do anything in Windows Explorer (like create a new folder, or delete something, or sometimes even just opening explorer).

When the window pops up, it stops whatever operation I was doing from happening and lags up the computer until eventually explorer crashes and restarts, at which point I can use Windows again but it will re-appear if I use explorer or whatnot again. The absolute worst part is, when I restart the computer, this window pops up in the log in screen and freezes Windows. After 30 full minutes, another window appears saying "Install server not responding," and if I hit Cancel in that window, it lets me log in. Once logged in, it continues to re-appear when I used explorer. Interestingly enough, if I unplug my ethernet cable before rebooting, I can log in without issue, but then when using explorer the window appears as usual.

Here are some photos of that stuff:

https://i.imgur.com/KeM5Km8.png

After 30 minutes...
https://i.imgur.com/Bj0ZTQH.png

When this window appears, this is the associated warning in the Event Viewer:
Detection of product '{43CE84D6-3110-42FE-8907-85C5FB75D6D8}', feature 'Client64' failed during request for component '{0521BA44-6FF2-4403-AEFD-F4B0B4BED1FB}'

The ID 43CE84D6-3110-42FE-8907-85C5FB75D6D8 is associated with the SolidWorks PDM Client and may have something to do with a context menu extension, but because I messed up uninstalling SolidWorks, nothing related to SolidWorks appears in the Add or Remove programs menu anymore!

This majorgeeks thread from 2007 (https://forums.majorgeeks.com/threads/cant-stop-preparing-to-install-message.113450/) describes almost the exact same issue but with an earlier version of soldworks, so I followed it. I used the old Windows Install Cleanup tool and did see some SolidWorks related entries there, so I removed them all with the tool - but the window kept popping up! I got kind of desperate and then manually removed any registry entry I could find associated with SolidWorks, but the window just won't go away! By this point I have been able to delete any SolidWorks directories from Program Files and Program Files (86), but not from AppData or CommonFiles or anywhere else they may be, and I have no idea why this Window just won't quit.

In the Task Manager when the window appears, it seems to be associated with "SettingSyncHost.exe"
https://i.imgur.com/Qo8jyvE.png

Did I mess this up beyond repair? I just want SolidWorks gone forever along with this godforsaken window. I'd like to avoid a fresh install of Windows 10 if possible but if it's the only option I will do it. Happy to provide any information I can if needed. There are no context menu extensions mentioning SolidWorks, there are no startup entries associated with SolidWorks, yet this window keeps popping up and ruining my day.

 

Try running CCleaner to see if it will detect and delete leftovers from solidworks and then restart your system to see if the pop up stops.

 

If you have a restore point prior to this happening then use it.