ADD or Remove Programs List Blank

[Guest]

While fixing a problem on an XP PRO machine, I noticed that when I try to
bring up the list of programs using ADD or REMOVE from Control Panel, the
page is entirely blank.

Is there a known cause and solution (other than reinstalling the OS) for
this situation?

Thanks

Pat

 

[Alan Edwards]

There are several causes.

Check if you can scroll down as sometimes the page is only blank at
the top. If so, you might have some blank DisplayNames in the
Registry. Check to see if the entries are there in Regedit under the
key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall

You might try this:

Add or Remove - White Space caused by Autocad
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_a.htm#ws

If not, try this (though it was written for Win9x)
At least, you can see if all the keys are there.
All Installed Programs May Not Be Displayed in the Add/Remove Programs
Tool
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=240348

I have fixed several of these recently for others.
The problem will occur in these two situations:

1. The uninstall keyname for an application is greater than 63
characters.
Solution: Rename the keyname.
e.g. this is invalid
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\1234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234]

2. The DisplayName for the key is greater than 63 characters.
Solution: Shorten DisplayName
e.g. this is invalid
"DisplayName"="1234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234"

*** Note that the invalid entry that can cause this is not necessarily
connected with the ones missing so you must check all entries.

If you need a second opinion, export the key to a Registration file
and email it to me.


.....Alan

 

[Doug]

I too would like to know what caused my machine to have the
exact same problem about two month ago. Many solutions were
proposed but NONE of them worked. I have since installed and
re-installed many programs and all subsequent installs have
shown up in the ADD/REMOVE listings.

Mysteries do abound sometimes.

Doug W.
_

 

[S.Sengupta]

Remove the White Space from Add or Remove
line 226 right
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

regards,
S.Sengupta[MS-MVP]

 

[Guest]

Many thanks for the helpful reply.

I think you are correct in suspecting Registry problems.

However, the entire page of installed programs appears and there is no
ability to scroll.

As the machine is used by several people, I will need to get all the data
backed up before I start tinkering with Registry settings in case something
goes very wrong.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the helpful reply. Unfortunately, the whole page displays blank
and there is no way to scroll. However, I think you are correct in believing
it to be a Registry problem.

Remove the White Space from Add or Remove
line 226 right
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

regards,
S.Sengupta[MS-MVP]

While fixing a problem on an XP PRO machine, I noticed that when I try to
bring up the list of programs using ADD or REMOVE from Control Panel, the
page is entirely blank.

Is there a known cause and solution (other than reinstalling the OS) for
this situation?

Thanks

Pat

 

[Kelly]

Hi,

Go to Start/Run/Regedit:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
Check the "DisplayIcon" for the first program listed. Make sure it doesn't
include a -number.

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Taskbar Repair Tool
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

 

[Guest]

This was helpful:
"The DisplayName for the key is greater than 63 characters"

While following your advice, I found two display names well over 63
characters. Both were put there by Network Magic, an app published by Pure
Networks. It came along with my D-LINK router when I installed it.

For uninstall keyname 9E14455B85A3252244EE544DB75B259C99A4D9D9, this was the
DisplayName:
"Windows Driver Package - Pure Networks Address Resolution Protocol (ARP)
Driver (11/09/2006 4.0.6313.0)"

For uninstall keyname B431F66CEFE5DBAB46A243662EEF321D9362FE28, this was the
DisplayName:
"Windows Driver Package - Pure Networks NDIS Relay Protocol Driver
(11/09/2006 4.0.6313.0)"

Thanks!

Jeff in CA

 

[Alan Edwards]

Thanks for the feedback. That is not one I have come across.
You might care to inform the author if possible, so they can amend
their ways. Most that I have contacted have done so.

....Alan
--
Alan Edwards, MS MVP Windows - Internet Explorer
http://dts-l.org/index.htm

This was helpful:
"The DisplayName for the key is greater than 63 characters"

While following your advice, I found two display names well over 63
characters. Both were put there by Network Magic, an app published by Pure
Networks. It came along with my D-LINK router when I installed it.

For uninstall keyname 9E14455B85A3252244EE544DB75B259C99A4D9D9, this was the
DisplayName:
"Windows Driver Package - Pure Networks Address Resolution Protocol (ARP)
Driver (11/09/2006 4.0.6313.0)"

For uninstall keyname B431F66CEFE5DBAB46A243662EEF321D9362FE28, this was the
DisplayName:
"Windows Driver Package - Pure Networks NDIS Relay Protocol Driver
(11/09/2006 4.0.6313.0)"

Thanks!

Jeff in CA

There are several causes.

<snip>

I have fixed several of these recently for others.
The problem will occur in these two situations:

1. The uninstall keyname for an application is greater than 63
characters.
Solution: Rename the keyname.
e.g. this is invalid
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\1234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234]

2. The DisplayName for the key is greater than 63 characters.
Solution: Shorten DisplayName
e.g. this is invalid
"DisplayName"="1234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234"

*** Note that the invalid entry that can cause this is not necessarily
connected with the ones missing so you must check all entries.

If you need a second opinion, export the key to a Registration file
and email it to me.


.....Alan