removing stereo, 2001 impala

hi is alex.. i have cuestion:
i have impala 2001, i want to remove the original stero, but in this unit came the programation, lock, change oil reset, low pressure tire reset , etc,,, if i remove this , how clear the window message and the programation how will it work .
i will put the cd stero any mark.. or need special harness to do this   

    if you have any information let me know thanks

my brother has the same car same year, he said that it would cost like $400 plus a new radio for the dealer to do it. he said he was at best buy talking to the electronic guys and they told him they wouldn't touch the thing because a while back some guy came in and they told him that it could mess up all his check engine lights and his programmign and everything and he was like i dont care just take it out and hook another one up, long story short this guy ends up suing best buy and winning cuz his car ended up messing up like big time, i don't remember why or what my brother said but i think he said something like they had to buy him a whole new engine or something like that. So I wouldn't mess with it, but then again i dont have the electronic knowledge that alot of these ppl have on here.