Add remove programs empty after XP install

[Guest]

We just upgraded an ME based PC to XP Professional. We selected "new"
installation versus an upgrade since I understood that the new installation
removed ALL of the possible corrupt/bad ME files versus an upgrade that may
reuse some old files. The installation was smooth, no hangs or delays. We
also converted from FAT 32 to NTFS.

On first full reboot the desktop was completely blank with the exception of
the Wastebasket icon. No icons! I checked the Add Remove programs under
Control Panel and it was empty. I understood that a "new" installation would
not preserve settings but did not expect it to ignore already installed
programs. All of the programs are still in C:\Program Files and the few
registry keys I checked looked OK.

We have all of the original insallation CDs but many of the install routines
require that the "old" program be removed first. Since Add Remove Programs
is empty we can't remove the old programs.

Is there any way to repopulate Add Remove Programs from the Registry
including the uninstall programs so it will properly delete the program files
and registry keys? Or is there any way to fully remove the programs other
than the designated install routines?

Any help appreciated.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

You did not perform an "Upgrade"! A "New Installation" is an
option to install Windows XP on an available empty drive or
partition. You'll now have to reinstall your programs using the
original program installation CDs.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

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

:

| We just upgraded an ME based PC to XP Professional. We selected "new"
| installation versus an upgrade since I understood that the new installation
| removed ALL of the possible corrupt/bad ME files versus an upgrade that may
| reuse some old files. The installation was smooth, no hangs or delays. We
| also converted from FAT 32 to NTFS.
|
| On first full reboot the desktop was completely blank with the exception of
| the Wastebasket icon. No icons! I checked the Add Remove programs under
| Control Panel and it was empty. I understood that a "new" installation would
| not preserve settings but did not expect it to ignore already installed
| programs. All of the programs are still in C:\Program Files and the few
| registry keys I checked looked OK.
|
| We have all of the original insallation CDs but many of the install routines
| require that the "old" program be removed first. Since Add Remove Programs
| is empty we can't remove the old programs.
|
| Is there any way to repopulate Add Remove Programs from the Registry
| including the uninstall programs so it will properly delete the program files
| and registry keys? Or is there any way to fully remove the programs other
| than the designated install routines?
|
| Any help appreciated.

 

[Guest]

Okay, so I did the same "mistake". How do I retrieve my old files (in Word
for example) and get them into XP files? Also, why am I not finding Excel, or
Word programs on XP ? Do they need to be installed as well? ACD

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the quick response. I agree about re-installing the programs to
solve my mistake but I need to uninstall the "old" programs first, in some
cases. When I tried to reinstall some of the programs the automated
installation program said that the "existing" program must be uninstalled
first. Naturally deleting the directories containing the programs is not
enough since the registry entries will still be there as well as some .DLLs
in other directories. Usually the automated uninstall programs take care of
all this. I looked for things like "UNWISE" and "UNINSTALL" and found a few
but largely unsuccesful.

I thought there may be some way to process the registry and repopulate
Add-Remove Programs even with the uninstall option only. Is there a section
in the registry that contains pointers to the uninstall programs?

Two small examples: reinstalling Family Tree Maker ver 7 worked fine just
installing right over the old version but Executive Software Diskeeper ver 8
failed with all kinds of reinstall error codes. There are about 8-10 other
programs to reinstall. I stopped when I got errors on the easiest one.

Mike V