Add/Remove Program problems

[Guest]

I have found the solution for the problem with white spaces and strange
shapes in the Add/Remove Program dialog box and it has nothing to do with
installing SP2. It is because some program we installed did not properly
install its uninstall information in the Add/Remove Program. However, finding
which program did it takes some detective work in the Registry.

Here is how I solved my problem and it should work for anyone else as well.

Launch 'regedit' and navigate to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall. At
the same time open Add/Remove Program in the Control Panel. Right click the
task bar and select 'Tile Windows Vertically' so you can see both open
windows at the same time.

In Control Panel, scroll down to the first entry right before the white
spaces or strange shapes begin. In my case, the white spaces began in the
M's.

Go back to the Registry and click the first entry in the 'Uninstall'
section. Using the down arrow on your keyboard, go down the entries in the
Registry one line at a time and compare the each entry to the Add/Remove
Program dialog box to ensure every entry in the Registry have a corresponding
entry there. In the Registry use the 'DisplayName" key to find the same entry
in Add/Remove.

If you find an entry in the Registry and there is not a corresponding entry
in Add/Remove, chances are that is where your problem lie. In my case, I had
a large gap of white space and strange shapes between the entries in
Add/remove Programs between the entries starting with the letters 'M." My
problem program was "Microsoft Encarta." It was listed in the 'Uninstall'
section of the Registry, but was not listed in Add/Remove Programs. I right
clicked the 'DisplayName' key for Microsoft Encarta in the Registry and
selected 'Delete.' And, 'Presto,' the white space and all the strange shapes
and colors were gone from my Add/Remove Program dialog box. Close and reopen
the Add/Remove Program dialog box to see the results. You do not have to
re-boot.

Try it. It should work for you as well. Remember, when you find the program
causing the problem, delete only the 'DisplayName' key in the Registry, not
the entire entry. If you do, you will not be able to delete the program,
should you want to later on. Good luck.
--
Michael
Owner

Carson Computer Systems
A+, Network+ Certification

 

[David Senior [MVP - Most Valuable Provocateur]]

Michael,

Had you used Norton Utilities, it would have resolved this within a fraction the time taken by you. However, I congratulate you for resolving this without using any programs which is far better than installing yet another application which you are likely to use once every 6 months or so.

Best regards,

I have found the solution for the problem with white spaces and strange
shapes in the Add/Remove Program dialog box and it has nothing to do with
installing SP2. It is because some program we installed did not properly
install its uninstall information in the Add/Remove Program. However, finding
which program did it takes some detective work in the Registry.

Here is how I solved my problem and it should work for anyone else as well.

Launch 'regedit' and navigate to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall. At
the same time open Add/Remove Program in the Control Panel. Right click the
task bar and select 'Tile Windows Vertically' so you can see both open
windows at the same time.

In Control Panel, scroll down to the first entry right before the white
spaces or strange shapes begin. In my case, the white spaces began in the
M's.

Go back to the Registry and click the first entry in the 'Uninstall'
section. Using the down arrow on your keyboard, go down the entries in the
Registry one line at a time and compare the each entry to the Add/Remove
Program dialog box to ensure every entry in the Registry have a corresponding
entry there. In the Registry use the 'DisplayName" key to find the same entry
in Add/Remove.

If you find an entry in the Registry and there is not a corresponding entry
in Add/Remove, chances are that is where your problem lie. In my case, I had
a large gap of white space and strange shapes between the entries in
Add/remove Programs between the entries starting with the letters 'M." My
problem program was "Microsoft Encarta." It was listed in the 'Uninstall'
section of the Registry, but was not listed in Add/Remove Programs. I right
clicked the 'DisplayName' key for Microsoft Encarta in the Registry and
selected 'Delete.' And, 'Presto,' the white space and all the strange shapes
and colors were gone from my Add/Remove Program dialog box. Close and reopen
the Add/Remove Program dialog box to see the results. You do not have to
re-boot.

Try it. It should work for you as well. Remember, when you find the program
causing the problem, delete only the 'DisplayName' key in the Registry, not
the entire entry. If you do, you will not be able to delete the program,
should you want to later on. Good luck.
--
Michael
Owner

Carson Computer Systems
A+, Network+ Certification

--
I use non Microsoft products wherever possible which requires no activation.

I use Netscape 7.2 as my default browser which has everything I need for my work.

I believe in good Financial Management!! I do not believe in enriching rich jerks!

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Michael,

Had you used Norton Utilities, it would have resolved this within a fraction the time taken by you. However, I congratulate you for resolving this without using any programs which is far better than installing yet another application which you are likely to use once every 6 months or so.

Best regards,

I have found the solution for the problem with white spaces and strange
shapes in the Add/Remove Program dialog box and it has nothing to do with
installing SP2. It is because some program we installed did not properly
install its uninstall information in the Add/Remove Program. However, finding
which program did it takes some detective work in the Registry.

Here is how I solved my problem and it should work for anyone else as well.

Launch 'regedit' and navigate to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall. At
the same time open Add/Remove Program in the Control Panel. Right click the
task bar and select 'Tile Windows Vertically' so you can see both open
windows at the same time.

In Control Panel, scroll down to the first entry right before the white
spaces or strange shapes begin. In my case, the white spaces began in the
M's.

Go back to the Registry and click the first entry in the 'Uninstall'
section. Using the down arrow on your keyboard, go down the entries in the
Registry one line at a time and compare the each entry to the Add/Remove
Program dialog box to ensure every entry in the Registry have a corresponding
entry there. In the Registry use the 'DisplayName" key to find the same entry
in Add/Remove.

If you find an entry in the Registry and there is not a corresponding entry
in Add/Remove, chances are that is where your problem lie. In my case, I had
a large gap of white space and strange shapes between the entries in
Add/remove Programs between the entries starting with the letters 'M." My
problem program was "Microsoft Encarta." It was listed in the 'Uninstall'
section of the Registry, but was not listed in Add/Remove Programs. I right
clicked the 'DisplayName' key for Microsoft Encarta in the Registry and
selected 'Delete.' And, 'Presto,' the white space and all the strange shapes
and colors were gone from my Add/Remove Program dialog box. Close and reopen
the Add/Remove Program dialog box to see the results. You do not have to
re-boot.

Try it. It should work for you as well. Remember, when you find the program
causing the problem, delete only the 'DisplayName' key in the Registry, not
the entire entry. If you do, you will not be able to delete the program,
should you want to later on. Good luck.
--
Michael
Owner

Carson Computer Systems
A+, Network+ Certification

--
I use non Microsoft products wherever possible which requires no activation.

I use Netscape 7.2 as my default browser which has everything I need for my work.

I believe in good Financial Management!! I do not believe in enriching rich jerks!

 

[David Senior [MVP - Most Valuable Provocateur]]

Michael,

Had you used Norton Utilities, it would have resolved this within a fraction the time taken by you. However, I congratulate you for resolving this without using any programs which is far better than installing yet another application which you are likely to use once every 6 months or so.

Best regards,

I have found the solution for the problem with white spaces and strange
shapes in the Add/Remove Program dialog box and it has nothing to do with
installing SP2. It is because some program we installed did not properly
install its uninstall information in the Add/Remove Program. However, finding
which program did it takes some detective work in the Registry.

Here is how I solved my problem and it should work for anyone else as well.

Launch 'regedit' and navigate to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall. At
the same time open Add/Remove Program in the Control Panel. Right click the
task bar and select 'Tile Windows Vertically' so you can see both open
windows at the same time.

In Control Panel, scroll down to the first entry right before the white
spaces or strange shapes begin. In my case, the white spaces began in the
M's.

Go back to the Registry and click the first entry in the 'Uninstall'
section. Using the down arrow on your keyboard, go down the entries in the
Registry one line at a time and compare the each entry to the Add/Remove
Program dialog box to ensure every entry in the Registry have a corresponding
entry there. In the Registry use the 'DisplayName" key to find the same entry
in Add/Remove.

If you find an entry in the Registry and there is not a corresponding entry
in Add/Remove, chances are that is where your problem lie. In my case, I had
a large gap of white space and strange shapes between the entries in
Add/remove Programs between the entries starting with the letters 'M." My
problem program was "Microsoft Encarta." It was listed in the 'Uninstall'
section of the Registry, but was not listed in Add/Remove Programs. I right
clicked the 'DisplayName' key for Microsoft Encarta in the Registry and
selected 'Delete.' And, 'Presto,' the white space and all the strange shapes
and colors were gone from my Add/Remove Program dialog box. Close and reopen
the Add/Remove Program dialog box to see the results. You do not have to
re-boot.

Try it. It should work for you as well. Remember, when you find the program
causing the problem, delete only the 'DisplayName' key in the Registry, not
the entire entry. If you do, you will not be able to delete the program,
should you want to later on. Good luck.
--
Michael
Owner

Carson Computer Systems
A+, Network+ Certification

--
I use non Microsoft products wherever possible which requires no activation.

I use Netscape 7.2 as my default browser which has everything I need for my work.

I believe in good Financial Management!! I do not believe in enriching rich jerks!