Missing Uninstall button in Window Vista

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For the life of me I couldn't figure out why it occured. When I did do some
registry digging I noticed all of the registry keys that were associated with
uninstalling programs were gone. As soon as you reinstall a program the
uninstall feature works again. It's quite a strange problem. I figured this
would be the perfect time to do a full reinstall anyway. Granted, I don't
want the issue to happen again.
 
Rich D said:
For the life of me I couldn't figure out why it occured. When I did do
some
registry digging I noticed all of the registry keys that were associated
with
uninstalling programs were gone. As soon as you reinstall a program the
uninstall feature works again. It's quite a strange problem. I figured
this
would be the perfect time to do a full reinstall anyway. Granted, I don't
want the issue to happen again.
Click to expand...

Look into using a drive imaging program such as Acronis True Image version
10 to image the system to an external drive. Then if something unexplained
happens that can't be resolved you can at least restore the most recent
working image and in about an hour or so you are back to a working system.
 
I had the same problem, tried a few uninstall programs, but only one came
close to solving the problem, I think you should try it: Advanced Uninstall
Pro from version 8.3 by Innovative Solutions. Good Luck!
 
I too am having this issue. It seems to be trickling into other areas of my
computer (for example, it gets very confused about some of my shortcuts,
particularly one in my Startup menu, which is now pointing to a non-existant
location).

I believe it to be the result of a recent Windows Update; unfortunately
removing the update didn't seem to fix the problem. I think it was either
Vista update KB931836 or Udate for .NET Framework KB932471. There was also
an update for Media Center for Windows Vista KB935652 that happened right
around the same time.

Like other users in this thread, my ability to uninstall programs is gone.
Some of my currently installed, properly working software does not appear on
the list of programs at all. The entire "Publisher" column is empty.

I also found that at the same time, the Roxio (or HP) Digital Media Archive
started repeatedly asking me for updates and files that it couldn't find. Of
course, I couldn't uninstall Digital Media Archive, so I had to use "Windows
Install Cleanup" from the Windows troubleshooting website to uninstall it and
then re-install it from the web.

As Rich D noted below, anything installed SINCE the problem started appears
to be available for uninstalling as normal.

Eric Noah
 
I have same problem of uninstalling. It all started with in less than 10 days
I suppose. I have tried all the solutions given here.

It has not listed all installed prgroms.Only couple of programs which were
installed in last couple of days could be uninstalled as I get uninstal
options. No right click options are available for manual uninstalling. During
this I have observed that those icons in instal/unistall have lost their
original face and all look same way.

I downloaded trial version of advanced installer pro 8.3 and it could show
only thos couple of programs which were installed in last 2-3 days which I
could have unstalled using control panel and it did not show any thing
installed programs report. I have not an expert but wasted atleast 3 days on
searching answer to thi son web.
In couple of hours my norton will expire and I want install new one other
than norton, but I am not able to get solution for this uninstall problem.
Please help me, or suggest me something working. Please
 
Thanks a lot, by using Microsoft installer cleanup utility, i could remove
all the programs except NORTON. Though I removed norton still I see I can
system with norton. After the removal of programs I still see their folders
in program files.
None of the program icons have their original face, all look alike as
application files. I dont if this is some thing I should be worrying.
Thanks for the help
 
I see that I am not alone. Although I am a month or 2 behind the rest of you.
I just had the problem appear today (8/2/07). Has anyone found a resolution
for this issue yet? I not only have the inability to Uninstall, Change, or
Repair, but I now have an extensive list of programs in my "Program and
Features" Control Panel that apprear to be "sub-programs" of the larger
program. For example, I used to only see a single itme for MS Office 2007
Professional, now the list reveals an "MUI" and "Proofing" module for
English, Spanish, and French for each Office application (this adds nearly 30
new items in the list just for Office!). I really hate software bugs, please
advise.
Thanks-
 
Same - issue - I have seen enough posts to convince me that there is an
underlying issue here.

Microsoft - please end the pain.
 
Same here. However, when following the instructions, some of my programs
listed have the uninstall button appear but the programs I'm really
interested in uninstalling the uninstall button does not appear.
Case in point: I recently installed Roxio 10 but noticed all my Roxio 9.0
are still installed. Trying to get rid of that program (close to 1gig with
content)
Any Ideas?
 
I have the same problem as everyone else here. I decided on a new security
system and can't get rid of the old Norton system on here (because of the
lack of an uninstall button which was there at one time and then mysteriously
disappeared) which is causing all sorts of problems. I tried manually
removing Norton in explorer but there is only so much you are allowed to
manually remove which probably made it worse. So now I am running Trend and
Norton is sending me all kinds of error messages everytime the computer
boots...even after shutting "off" all of the security tasks. Maybe I should
try reinstalling Norton and then the uninstall button will show back up? I
am leary of doing this because I don't want to screw up my Trend
system....anyone tried this? Do the microsoft people ever read these because
I can't believe they haven't come up with a fix for this obnoxious problem
yet.
 
Jenni said:
I have the same problem as everyone else here. I decided on a new security
system and can't get rid of the old Norton system on here (because of the
lack of an uninstall button which was there at one time and then mysteriously
disappeared) which is causing all sorts of problems. I tried manually
removing Norton in explorer but there is only so much you are allowed to
manually remove which probably made it worse. So now I am running Trend and
Norton is sending me all kinds of error messages everytime the computer
boots...even after shutting "off" all of the security tasks. Maybe I should
try reinstalling Norton and then the uninstall button will show back up? I
am leary of doing this because I don't want to screw up my Trend
system....anyone tried this? Do the microsoft people ever read these because
I can't believe they haven't come up with a fix for this obnoxious problem
yet.
Click to expand...
Suggest you use the Norton Removal Tool! You don't need to get into the
control panel this way. This should clear your system completely of "all"
symantec programs.
Get it here:
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPOR...sf&view=docid&dtype=&prod=&ver=&osv=&osv_lvl=
 
I have the same problem

Rich D said:
You're not alone with this problem! It just happened to me as well. I'm
guessing within the last week or so. Anybody have a registry fix for this
issue? I'd assume it would be a registry fix...
Click to expand...
 
What program did you select? The options vary depending on what the
installer package supports.

Michael
 
When you were at Programs and Features window, had you tried RIGHT click on
the program you wanted to un-installed ?
t-4-2
 
I've scoured all the message boards I can find. Everyone keeps asking the
same questions. No one (and by that I mean you Microsoft) has an answer.

Did you select a program in the list? Yes. Most titles (not all) do not
contain an uninstall option. Programs with an uninstall option have an
installed on date of 3/4/2009 or later. Programs without an uninstall option
have no installed on date so I cannot tell whether the issue began prior to
3/4 or later.

Did you right click the program? Yes. Programs with no "installed on" date
do not have a popup menu when right-clicking. Programs with an "installed
on" date have an Uninstall or Uninstall/Change/Repair menu.

Did you try File --> Uninstall? Tried. There is a file menu. There is no
uninstall option for programs that have no "Installed On" date.

I've seen suggestions that this occurs on pirated versions of Windows, (I
cannot verify this). I am certain I have a legal OEM copy from HP that came
installed with this brand new computer.

I've seen other suggestions that it may be necessary to start over by
re-installing Vista. I am unwilling to do this. Vista has been sooooooooo
bad, if I have to reinstall anything, I'm going to Linux, just like my other
PCs.

It's a real testament to Microsoft's poor quality that this problem (whether
a "security feature" or an actual bug) has existed this long with no viable
solution.

I can't wait for Google Chrome OS. It will lack a lot of features at first,
but that's the difference between Microsoft and Google. Google consistently
gets better -- the opposite of Microsoft.
 
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