garbage entries in Add/Remove Programs list

[news.microsoft.com]

I'm running XP Pro SP2. When I start up the Add/Remove Programs applet, it
shows a number of programs, then has a huge amount of empty space between
two entries (we're talking dozens of page down keystrokes to find the next
one), then some more entries, and another huge gap. I have no idea how to
clean up this problem. I'm reasonably familiar with the Uninstall registry
key, and I don't see anything that looks out of the ordinary. I've also run
RegClean.exe, though that really only deals with missing/removed COM
components.

Short of blowing my system away and starting from scratch (really not much
of an option, since I've got so many programs installed), what can I do to
fix this problem and clean my system?

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Visit http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm , scroll down to
Item No. 226 (right column) and click on "Remove the White Space from
Add or Remove".

[Courtesy of Kelly Theriot, MS-MVP]

Note: Do not use RegClean with Windows XP!

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Microsoft Newsgroups

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.mspx

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| I'm running XP Pro SP2. When I start up the Add/Remove Programs applet, it
| shows a number of programs, then has a huge amount of empty space between
| two entries (we're talking dozens of page down keystrokes to find the next
| one), then some more entries, and another huge gap. I have no idea how to
| clean up this problem. I'm reasonably familiar with the Uninstall registry
| key, and I don't see anything that looks out of the ordinary. I've also run
| RegClean.exe, though that really only deals with missing/removed COM
| components.
|
| Short of blowing my system away and starting from scratch (really not much
| of an option, since I've got so many programs installed), what can I do to
| fix this problem and clean my system?

 

[news.microsoft.com]

I scanned through all DisplayIcon entries underneath Uninstall, and found
that the Yahoo! toolbar had one. I've completely removed (uninstalled) it.
There were one or two others, and for those I just deleted the DisplayIcon
entry (because it can just use the default). The problem still remains.

Note: I looked at the two fixes listed for 226, and they are for AutoCad
and AutoDesk apps I don't have.

Any other ideas?

P.S. OK, I won't use RegClean with XP. Why not? I had previously been
told it was completely safe, even for XP.

 

[Mickey Ferguson]

I scanned through all DisplayIcon entries underneath Uninstall, and found
that the Yahoo! toolbar had one. I've completely removed (uninstalled) it.
There were one or two others, and for those I just deleted the DisplayIcon
entry (because it can just use the default). The problem still remains.

Note: I looked at the two fixes listed for 226, and they are for AutoCad
and AutoDesk apps I don't have.

Any other ideas?

P.S. OK, I won't use RegClean with XP. Why not? I had previously been
told it was completely safe, even for XP.