an empty "Add or Remove Programs" list

[JD Young]

Hi,

I think I have a big trouble. I want to remove the yahoo instant messenger
my cousin just installed. When I open my "Add or Remove Programs" from the
control panel, I see an empty list. Somehow, my XP (or registry) partially
corrupts somewhere, I guess. My computer is a Dell machine. Do you think I
can repair XP from the Dell or MS website? Your help is much appreciated.

Tony

 

[Unknown]

Have you tried 'System Restore'?

 

[Doug Knox - [MS-MVP]]

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/266668
Add/Remove Programs tool displays installed programs incorrectly

 

[JD Young]

I just went to research "System restore" after reading your reply. I have
had this PC for two years without setting any restore point before. If I
restore the PC to its original point in Dell, I will probablly create more
problems than now, won't I?

Tony

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I just went to research "System restore" after reading your reply. I have
had this PC for two years without setting any restore point before. If I
restore the PC to its original point in Dell, I will probablly create more
problems than now, won't I?

I don't know what you mean by "its original point in Dell," but note
that restore points only go back a maximum of 90 days.

And even 90 days is much too long. System Restore is a good tool for
undoing a *recent* change--for reverting the operating system to the
condition it was in a day or a few days ago, but that's all it is. I
wouldn't try to go back more than a week, or two weeks at the very
most.

 

[Jim]

I don't know what you mean by "its original point in Dell," but note
that restore points only go back a maximum of 90 days.

The statement is rather imprecise...
Perhaps he meant restoring the computer back to the as delivered state via
the recovery
parition. I consider doing so the absolutely last resort..
Jim

 

[JD Young]

Hi,

The reason I mentioned ""its original point in Dell" because I never
manually created a restore point before. I also assumed XP wouldn't create
a restore point automatically. So I thought the only restore point I had is
the very beginning machine state when Dell delivered the machine to me.
Does XP periodically create restore points? How often? If so, I may simply
try to roll my XP back the last restore point, hopefully a day or two
before. Thanks for any future instruction.

Tony

I don't know what you mean by "its original point in Dell," but note
that restore points only go back a maximum of 90 days.

The statement is rather imprecise...
Perhaps he meant restoring the computer back to the as delivered state via
the recovery
parition. I consider doing so the absolutely last resort..
Jim

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

The statement is rather imprecise...

I thought so. ;-)

Perhaps he meant restoring the computer back to the as delivered state via
the recovery
parition.

Perhaps, but as always, I prefer not to guess as to what people mean.
If I guess, and I guess wrong, I might give them bad advice.

I consider doing so the absolutely last resort..

As do I.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Hi,

The reason I mentioned ""its original point in Dell" because I never
manually created a restore point before. I also assumed XP wouldn't create
a restore point automatically.

It does.

So I thought the only restore point I had is
the very beginning machine state when Dell delivered the machine to me.

But there was none then.

Does XP periodically create restore points?

Yes.


How often?

By default, once a day.

If so, I may simply
try to roll my XP back the last restore point, hopefully a day or two
before. Thanks for any future instruction.

Tony

 

[bojimbo26]

Hi,

I think I have a big trouble. I want to remove the yahoo instant messenger
my cousin just installed. When I open my "Add or Remove Programs" from the
control panel, I see an empty list. Somehow, my XP (or registry) partially
corrupts somewhere, I guess. My computer is a Dell machine. Do you think I
can repair XP from the Dell or MS website? Your help is much appreciated.

Tony

Do a system restore to the day before instant messenger was installed
..

 

[Unknown]

You are confusing system restore with 'recovery'.
System restore is accessed by start---all programs---accessories---system
tools---system restore.
Recovery is setting the system to the state it was in when purchased. This
is done by loading recover CD's or a resident
recovery area on the HD.

 

[kab303]

You are confusing system restore with 'recovery'.
System restore is accessed by start---all programs---accessories---system
tools---system restore.
Recovery is setting the system to the state it was in when purchased. This
is done by loading recover CD's or a resident





- Show quoted text -

Hi,
Just trying to see if this problem Empty Add Remove Programs Window,
was solved by any expert. I have the same problem. I restored to 10
days back in steps. No luck. Before I take the step of either restting
to Original state (3 years ago) or format the hard disk, I thought of
checking here....

Any one there? Help please

Bala

 

[Peter Foldes]

Try this

Go to Start/Run/Regedit and navigate to this key: (The first one is per user, the second, per system)
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Uninstall]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Uninstall]

Create a new DWORD value . Set the value "0" and see if the Add\Remove will populate



--
Peter


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