Help - Process of removal of a program from XP system

[User66]

To remove a loaded program, normally I click on "Start", "Control Panel", "Add or Remove Programs",
then select whatever program needed to be removed.

As I select the listed program, I do see, the installed programs Name, Size, Used, Last Used On, but
the quotation for either "Remove" or "Change/Remove" is missing!

Is there any simple process to recover from this trouble? I have tried system restore for an
earlier date, but that did not do anything. System restore is locked.

Is there any system registry changes required?

Appreciate help and suggestions.

 

[Rich Barry]

I would go to C:\Program Files Folder. Look for the desired program
folder and hopefully a Uninstall.exe file inside.

 

[User66]

Well, that was my first try, but programs, such as Windows Live Mail, Sygate Personal Firewall,
etc., do not have any uninstall file. It has to be removed from Add/Remove in the Control Panel.



I am still wondering how the "Add or Remove Programs" process could can be obliterated from the
Control Panel.

 

[Alan Edwards]

Try these:

Some applications in Add/Remove Programs list are missing Change and
Remove buttons:
http://www.winxptutor.com/arpbuttons.htm

Add/Remove
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/arp.htm


....Alan

 

[User66]

Thank you for the info. I have tried the registry editing as listed below

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
\SOFTWARE
\Microsoft
\Windows
\CurrentVersion
\Uninstall
\<Program Name>

What is so frustrating is that the: \Uninstall
was totally removed by some external program !

I guess I have to reload the XP. Is there any other suggestion?

 

[Rich Barry]

From what you said, is your Add/Remove Applet not functioning at all? If
it is not functioning only on the programs mentioned,
then before reinstalling WinXP, I would remove the program folders from
Program Files Folder. Then look in the Registry
HKey_Local_Machine\Software and remove any program folders there and
the same for HKey_Current_User\Software.

 

[User66]

I think it is well worth to re-format and re-load the OP system. I am
backing up all of my files on the adjacent drive, and re-format this C:
drive and reload the op system. What a mess. Thanks for the info.

 

[User66]

Just gave up and re-loading the op system again. Seems like the old age is
catching up. Thank you.