"add/remove programs" won't launch

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
G

Guest

I've been trying to uninstall/reinstall my virus
protection software (NAV2004) IN WinXP, but each time I
go to START/SETTINGS/CONTROL_PANEL/ADD_OR_REMOVE_PROGRAMS
nothing happens. Watching the TaskManager I've noticed
that a new WINUPDATE.EXE process appears... but then
nothing else happens. Same thing happens when I try to
open the properties window for MyComputer or the
Desktop. Also, each time I restart the PC now I get
something like 20 to 30 instances of the WINUPDATE.EXE
process in the TaskManager.

HELP!!
 
The closest fix I found was the "add/remove admin" reg
edit. It didn't fix my problem.
 
I had this same problem a while back. After some newsgroup searches
suggested that appwiz.cpl file in C:\windows\system32 folder may be damaged
or corrupt, I extracted a fresh copy from my xp disk. The copy I extracted
had a different date than the appwiz.cpl I was about to replace.So instead
of replacing the old one I renamed it Zappwiz.cpl in case I needed to
restore it. Then as I was about to drag the new copy of appwiz into system32
folder I noticed appwiz.cpl was still there!Scrolled down and Zappwiz was
still there too! I imediatly went to control panel and hit add/remove
programs and, viola... worked perfectly and still does. Never did replace
the appwiz.cpl file. Go figure.
Hope maybe this will work for you.

Tom
 
Thanks for the advice Tom, but I wasn't so lucky. My
problem didn't change - it still won't launch via
start/settings/controlpanel, and I still have a bunch
of "winupdate.exe" processes running after startup. But
now I know that I can launch "add/remove programs"
directly by doublecliking
c:/windows/system32/appwiz.cpl! That's something at
least! Thanks!

Dave
 
Problem solved. I had a Protoride.K infection in
Winupdate.exe in my Startup directory. NortonAntivirus
2003 didn't catch it and neither did the scan that is
part of the NAV 2004 installation.
 
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