Add or Remove Programs

[TomH]

I have Windows XP. I was trying to uninstall some software. I went to Control
Panel, and hit the "Add or Remove Program" icon. The page came up blank.
Help!!

 

[Malke]

I have Windows XP. I was trying to uninstall some software. I went to
Control Panel, and hit the "Add or Remove Program" icon. The page came up
blank. Help!!

Couple of things you can try:

Add/Remove Programs does not populate -
Start>Run>regsvr32 appwiz.cpl [enter]

Now test.

If that didn't work:

Per MVP Ramesh, one of the most common causes for Add/Remove Programs being
blank is that a recent install/uninstall routine may have wiped out the
contents of the entire "Uninstall" registry key here:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall

Each sub-key stores the Display Name, UninstallString information for a
program that you installed. Open Regedit.exe and navigate to the above key.
Check if the "Uninstall" key is empty (contains no sub-keys). In that case,
your best best is to rollback the system state using System Restore.

Malke

 

[thecreator]

Hi Tom,

Do you have a Network Drive mapped to the Computer? Is your computer,
wireless?

 

[TomH]

Hi Tom,

Do you have a Network Drive mapped to the Computer? Is your computer,
wireless?

No to both.

 

[TomH]

I have Windows XP. I was trying to uninstall some software. I went to
Control Panel, and hit the "Add or Remove Program" icon. The page came up
blank. Help!!

Couple of things you can try:

Add/Remove Programs does not populate -
Start>Run>regsvr32 appwiz.cpl [enter]

Now test.

If that didn't work:

Per MVP Ramesh, one of the most common causes for Add/Remove Programs being
blank is that a recent install/uninstall routine may have wiped out the
contents of the entire "Uninstall" registry key here:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall

Each sub-key stores the Display Name, UninstallString information for a
program that you installed. Open Regedit.exe and navigate to the above key.
Check if the "Uninstall" key is empty (contains no sub-keys). In that case,
your best best is to rollback the system state using System Restore.

Malke

Thanks, Malke.. I entered everything in Run as per your first suggestion. I
got a "Success" reply. I rebooted, but still the Add and Remove was not
populated.

I did as you said with the regedit. There were sub files in the Uninstall
folder. Do I still need to restore or can I do something else?

 

[Malke]

Thanks, Malke.. I entered everything in Run as per your first suggestion.
I
got a "Success" reply. I rebooted, but still the Add and Remove was not
populated.

I did as you said with the regedit. There were sub files in the Uninstall
folder. Do I still need to restore or can I do something else?

I would try the System Restore as long as this is a very recent change.
System Restore works best when you are only going back a few days, a week
at most.

Malke

 

[TomH]

I would try the System Restore as long as this is a very recent change.
System Restore works best when you are only going back a few days, a week
at most.

Malke

Thanks again for your reply. You do not know how helpful having somebody
like to to go for advice when you are a "dummy" like me. I have one more
question, then I will be on my own. I thought when I restored my computer, it
went back to day one, and I would have to put everything else back on. Is
this correct? Do I just go to System Tools to restore.

HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

 

[Malke]

Thanks again for your reply. You do not know how helpful having somebody
like to to go for advice when you are a "dummy" like me. I have one more
question, then I will be on my own. I thought when I restored my computer,
it went back to day one, and I would have to put everything else back on.
Is
this correct? Do I just go to System Tools to restore.

No, you're confusing XP's System Restore with your computer mftr.'s System
Recovery. With OEM computers (HP, Dell, Sony, etc.) it is usual for them
not to include a physical CD/DVD of the operating system. IMO this is a
rotten cheapo way to be, but that's the way it has been for many years now.
However, the OEM must legally provide you a way to return the computer to
factory condition. If they don't supply physical recovery disks, they have
the recovery files on a partition (which may be hidden) on the hard drive.
The recovery process is normally triggered when you press a certain key as
the computer is starting up (refer to the manual for which one or watch the
startup boot screen). OEM machines like this also have a utility which will
allow you to create physical recovery disks. If you have this sort of
computer, YOU SHOULD ALWAYS DO THIS. That way you'll be able to reinstall
Windows onto a new hard drive.

The Windows XP System Restore doesn't do this at all. MVP Bert Kinney's site
explains everything you'd want to know about XP's System Restore.

MVP Bert Kinney: http://bertk.mvps.org
Here is a list of files and folders System Restore monitors -
http://bertk.mvps.org/html/filesfolders.html

To run XP's System Restore:

Start>Programs>Accessories>System Tools>System Restore
"Restore my computer to an earlier date".

Even though XP's System Restore should not affect your data, please note
that you should be backing up your precious data on a regular basis because
Stuff Always Happens.

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Backing_Up

You're not limited to only "more more question". ;-)

Malke