Add or Remove Programs problem

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tom
  • Start date Start date
T

Tom

I just re-installed XP Pro and Service Pack 2 on my computer, and then
downloaded all the critical updates for it. Now, when I open the control
panel, I can't get "Add or Remove Programs" to open. I click on it and
nothing happens. Nothing. No error messages or anything. Also, three icons
(generic Microsoft icons) have appeared at the top of the list. Other than
the icons, there's nothing in the "name" or "comments" columns. When I click
on them, nothing happens. All the other programs seem to be working fine;
it's just the "Add or Remove Programs" that doesn't work. Any ideas?
 
Go to start/run, and type:
appwiz.cpl

If it opens, make a new shortcut for it in the control panel folder.
If not, you can find appwiz.cp_ in the ../i386 folder of the setup cd. Use
the command :
msconfig
then the 'expand file' button to point at the old and new files.
 
Mark:

Thanks! Unfortunately, it didn't seem to work. Tell me if I did something
wrong. I had to use "msconfig" and the "expand" button. I found appwiz.cpl
in three files; system 32, service pack files, and software
distribution\download\... So I expanded appwiz.cp_ to all three of them
since they appeared to be identical. Then I took a look at them with Windows
Explorer and found appwiz.cp_ next to appwiz.cpl, which surprised me. I
thought the file would be replaced rather than the file off the disk just
copying itself to my harddrive. I then went to the control panel, and "Add
or Remove Programs" still didn't work. Did I leave out a step, or do too
many steps? I'm sure it's something I did incorrectly.

Tom
 
If the original appwiz is too damaged to open, the file 'expand.exe' exists
in the /i386 folder, and you can expand the .cp_ to a .cpl file. It is
actually more sounding like a registry problem. There is a .reg file you can
run at this site:

see line # 146 left (or maybe #188, or #192)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
 
Mark:

Thanks for your help. I was also having problems with a few other things.
What I ended up doing was to uninstall and reinstall Service Pack 2. It
worked! Now everything's doing great.

Thanks again:
Tom
 
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