Phantom Web Parts in Sharepoint 3.0/2007

What can you do if you have uninstalled a web part, but it remains in your list of "All Web Parts"? Unable to delete a web part?

A failed installation or ungraceful removal of a web part from Sharepoint can result in a web part continuing to be available in the "All Web Parts" list, and yet not truly be installed or functioning. This could even prevent the proper re-installation of said web part until the cause of the tie-up is found.

First, check and make sure the web part has truly been uninstalled. Run stsadm.exe -o enumwppacks at the command line on your Sharepoint server for a list of currently installed web part .cab packages. (if you don't already have it handy, stsadm.exe can be found in the %windir%\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\web server extensions\12\BIN directory).

For example, if you are having this problem with the KWizCom.ListMarquee web part (which was the case for me), you should see a .cab file like "listmarquee_deploy.cab" listed for your site. If you do, you should be able to use this command to remove it: stsadm.exe -o deletewppack -name -url .

If the .cab file related to the troublesome web part is not listed, then make your way into the virtual directory for your Sharepoint web, and look at the wpcatalog directory (\VirtualDirectories\\wpcatalog). If you see a .dwp file associated with the web part here, delete it. Now, make sure you're displaying hidden files and folders, and enter the wpcatalog\_vti_cnf directory. It is likely that you will find a .dwp file here for the lingering web part (in my example this would be, "KWizCom.ListMarquee_1.0.0.0__30fb4ddbec95ff8f_ListMarquee.dwp"). Go ahead and delete this file.

Hopefully this will clear up the sticky web part entry and either permit re-installation or allow everyone to go their separate ways.