Program and Features in Controal Panel Error

[bethseagle]

The last few days every time I have tried to use the add/remove feature to
uninstall of change a program it says there has been an error and the program
might have already been uninstalled. Do I want to delete the entry? I can't
find a way to repair it. I have Vista Home Premimun and the program it is
saying might not be there is any program on installed. The applet is not
working. How do you repair it?

 

[Mike Hall - MVP]

Try re-installing the program which appears to be missing, and then run
'uninstall' again, or go to 'Program Files' and look in what is left of the
program folder for an 'uninstall' icon.

Some older programs will not always uninstall properly even though they look
like they will or appear to have all of the elements in place to uninstall.

 

[bethseagle]

It is any program. Not just one.

Try re-installing the program which appears to be missing, and then run
'uninstall' again, or go to 'Program Files' and look in what is left of the
program folder for an 'uninstall' icon.

Some older programs will not always uninstall properly even though they look
like they will or appear to have all of the elements in place to uninstall.

 

[uvbogden]

Install/Uninstall problems occur commonly in Vista. Removal of broken
installs and incomplete uninstalls is essential for normal install processes
to occur. You can remove this install/uninstall debris manually with help
from Windows Install CleanUp Utility or you can use Smarty Uninstaller.

The best way to remove all the remnants of a partially uninstalled program
or a broken install is to use Smarty Uninstaller. This program will scan
your system and list all the programs on your computer, including "broken"
parts of programs. It will then run the program's uninstaller (if present),
and then rescan to list any pieces left on your system. Clicking Cleanup
will then remove all traces of your program and installation of the new or
update program can then proceed normally.

A link to Smarty Uninstaller and other information about install/uninstall
problems can be found at the following tutorial. For information on removing
an empty listing from your Programs and Features, see the second tutorial.
If you're still having problems, consider Repair Vista Options, see third
tutorial.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/87249-unable-install-latest-version-program-vista.html

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/86721-programs-features-remove-uninstall-entry.html

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/101393-repair-vista-options-preferred-sequence.html