Can't remove programs !

S

Stuart Grant

I want to remove Norton Anti-Virus from my laptop but when I select Control
Panel/Add or Remove Programs, I get the usual message "Please wait while the
list is being populated" and after a few moments the list appears - but it
only includes programs from A to E. I can scroll much further down but
after the first E entry, it is all blank.

Anybody know what to do ?

Stuart Grant
 
R

R. McCarty

There is an entry that exceeds the character limit for an Uninstaller to be
shown in Add/Remove programs. This can also be a symptom of some
kinds of Malware ( SmitFraud ). If you are Registry savvy, you can edit
the Registry and navigate to:
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
If you scroll down past the GUIDs ( Globally Unique Identifiers ) you'll
see the alphabetized listing. You can compare the list entry shown in the
Control Panel applet with the Registry list to locate the errant entry.
*Be Sure to export the entire list before making any changes from the
FILE menu.
 
G

Guest

Seems to be some files missing or not working in XP.
Better check out if you can remove that Norton Anti Virus through start menu
and clicking all programs and then Norton and then search for 'Uninstall
Norton Antivirus'.
The other way is to insert the CD or run the installation whether it may
have options on removal.
After removal,if still items missing on Control Panel Add Remove,or still
can't remove the Norton,better repair Windows.(Caution:Sometimes repairing
may cause to erase Data in My Documents folder so better back up before
proceeding)
If not,reinstall or format Windows and then install(Caution: Formatting will
remove all data in Windows Installed Path,better back up before you proceed)
 
S

Stuart Grant

Appreciate your advice. I am not sure if I am "registry savvy", but I am
pretty familiar with regedit and have edited the registry a few times
without getting into trouble.

I navigated down to HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
and scrolled down to the alphabetical list. Problem is that I do not know
how to identify the errant entry. The list in the registry is much sparser
than in the Control Panel applet. There are many more in the Control Panel
than in the registry. The last entry which appears in the Control Panel is
Easy CD & DVD Editor 6, which is not in the registry list. In the registry
list the first "E" entry is Encarta Research Organizer 2000 Z.

Sorry if I am a bit dim, but could you please advise further.

Stuart
 
S

Stuart Grant

Tried removing NAV via Start Menu but uninstalling does not appear as an
option. I don't have a CD as it came preinstalled by Dell. I do have a
Windows XP recovery disc from Dell but am reluctant to reinstall unless all
else fails. Will try to repair.

Thanks for your help.

Stuart
 
U

Uncle Grumpy

ibu said:
Seems to be some files missing or not working in XP.
Better check out if you can remove that Norton Anti Virus through start menu
and clicking all programs and then Norton and then search for 'Uninstall
Norton Antivirus'.
The other way is to insert the CD or run the installation whether it may
have options on removal.
After removal,if still items missing on Control Panel Add Remove,or still
can't remove the Norton,better repair Windows.(Caution:Sometimes repairing
may cause to erase Data in My Documents folder so better back up before
proceeding)
If not,reinstall or format Windows and then install(Caution: Formatting will
remove all data in Windows Installed Path,better back up before you proceed)
Click to expand...

OP should completely disregard this garbage.

The answer is somewhere here:
http://tinyurl.com/2ca2ld
 
S

Stuart Grant

I'm sorry to take a week to reply. The Knowledge Base article is long and
complicated but I started working my way through it but then the laptop
started giving all sorts of problems, which may or may not be connected with
the problem. It is now going to have to go in for repair.

Thanks for your help anyway.

Stuart
 

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