Add/Remove Programs has empty space

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mickey Ferguson
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Mickey Ferguson

I'm running XP Pro SP2. When I start up the Add/Remove Programs applet, it
shows a number of programs, then has a huge amount of empty space between
two entries (we're talking dozens of page down keystrokes to find the next
one), then some more entries, and another huge gap. I have no idea how to
clean up this problem. I'm reasonably familiar with the Uninstall registry
key, and I don't see anything that looks out of the ordinary. I've also run
RegClean.exe, though that really only deals with missing/removed COM
components.

Short of blowing my system away and starting from scratch (really not much
of an option, since I've got so many programs installed), what can I do to
fix this problem and clean my system? Is there something to look at in the
registry to find and fix this? I'm perfectly comfortable with going into
the registry and making changes if needed.
 
Just to test, I went through the Uninstall key in the registry
(HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall),
and for every subkey, if there was an entry named "DisplayIcon", I renamed
it to XDisplayIcon (so that I could find it and restore it if desired). I
then rebooted my system. It still displays the huge white space and junk
graphics at several places between items.
 
In said:
I'm running XP Pro SP2. When I start up the Add/Remove Programs
applet, it shows a number of programs, then has a huge amount of
empty space between two entries (we're talking dozens of page
down keystrokes to find the next one), then some more entries,
and another huge gap. I have no idea how to clean up this
problem. I'm reasonably familiar with the Uninstall registry
key, and I don't see anything that looks out of the ordinary.
I've also run RegClean.exe, though that really only deals with
missing/removed COM components.

Short of blowing my system away and starting from scratch
(really not much of an option, since I've got so many programs
installed), what can I do to fix this problem and clean my
system? Is there something to look at in the registry to find
and fix this? I'm perfectly comfortable with going into the
registry and making changes if needed.
Click to expand...

I don't know (and don't use XP), but if you've already scanned for
viruses, trojans, worms etc. and you have X-Setup installed, this
may help
http://www.webuser.co.uk/cgi-bin/fo...=143612&page=9&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=93&part=
 
For the benefit of others, I found my solution by using x-setup-pro. It can
be found at http://www.x-setup.net/home.asp?lang=EN, and is freeware for the
home user (which is where I was encountering my problem). Incidentally, I
had two bad entries. One was for Microsoft Encarta 2000, and the other was
for a Microsoft Encarta utility. Not too surprising there... Encarta was a
pretty poor program.

I lost track of who wrote the following text, but it explains how to figure
out where the problem lies.

"First I went to the registry but there is a lot of stuff there I don't
understand, so I left it alone. Then I remembered X-Setup
(http://www.x-setup.net/) - this is the best program ever made for Windows.
It lets you tweak all kinds of things - including the Add/Remove programs
list.

"So, open Add/Remove Programs, and open X-Setup. My version may be old and I
honestly don't know if I have a trial, freeware, shareware or hacked version
(but its probably worth buying), so you might have to adjust the
instructions to fit yours. X-Setup uses a folder/tree structure, so dig down
All X-Setup Pro Plug-ins->System->Software Installation->Add or Remove
Programs List Editor. On the right-hand side it will give you a list in
alphabetical order of what should be in your Add/Remove programs (so make
sure you sort that by Name).

"Now in Add/Remove programs find what items are before and after the strange
black/striped/graphical area. Then find those same two items in X-Setup. Is
there something listed between them?? In my case there was - the Electronic
Arts EACom Updater.

"If you get the same, or something else you don't need then you can
uninstall it manually: Select the item, then click "Edit CMD.." Don't
actually edit the command, just copy it (Ctrl-C). Then open a command window
(Start->Run->cmd.exe) and paste (usually just right-click with the mouse)
the command. Hit enter and it should uninstall whatever was causing the
problem."
 
Many thanks to the OP for the link to X-Setup
It worked for me and brought an end to a very long frustrating period
of reading posts and searching for a solution to this problem.
And the best thing of all it is FREEWARE :)
I am finally clear of the space between entries in Add/Remove
my offending pice of software was a m3u editor which I will try to
reinstall or get an update for.
Thanks once more
 
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