some leftovers must be still on your HD and DM thinks that the latest version is .97.
You may look into windows registry and see if there any relevant entries relating to .97 in DM branch(es).

Last resort would be uninstalling DM too, clean up and install again followed by OS installation

Personally, I think that you can clean up .97 a little bit and be at the same memory level as .81

With all this "upgrading" I doubt that there are any real differences between Altell, Verizon or US Cellular, so you should be able to get exactly the same stuff with with .97 as with .81