My add/remove programs in control panel isn't populated

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Guest

For the longest time, I haven't been able to remove programs without an
uninstall feature through the control panel's add/remove program's icon
because it isn't populated with any software packages. I am using a XP Pro
SP2 with 2GB of RAM and a 3.2 GHZ processor. For instance, I would like to
uninstall Windows Defender and replace it with a new Spyware/Adware package
that I have ordered, but it doesn't come with an uninstall feature and I
can't see it in the add/remove icon in the control panel.

Thanks for your input

Erik
 
Erik said:
For the longest time, I haven't been able to remove programs without an
uninstall feature through the control panel's add/remove program's icon
because it isn't populated with any software packages. I am using a XP Pro
SP2 with 2GB of RAM and a 3.2 GHZ processor. For instance, I would like to
uninstall Windows Defender and replace it with a new Spyware/Adware package
that I have ordered, but it doesn't come with an uninstall feature and I
can't see it in the add/remove icon in the control panel.

Thanks for your input

Erik
Click to expand...

Is it completely blank or is there just a lot of blank space after
one of the programs? If you keep scrolling down do you eventually find
some programs?

gls858
 
When I initially open the window the oly program that appears is Adobe
Acrobat Reader 7.0...and then nothing but blank space all the way down. When
I click on "Show Updates" All see is blank space all the way down until the
updates for Windows XP show up.
 
Erik said:
For the longest time, I haven't been able to remove programs without an
uninstall feature through the control panel's add/remove program's icon
because it isn't populated with any software packages. I am using a XP Pro
SP2 with 2GB of RAM and a 3.2 GHZ processor. For instance, I would like to
uninstall Windows Defender and replace it with a new Spyware/Adware package
that I have ordered, but it doesn't come with an uninstall feature and I
can't see it in the add/remove icon in the control panel.

Thanks for your input

Erik
Click to expand...
I have no programs listed in add/remove program in control programs.

I have let add/remove program window run for 8 hours twice 100% CPU and
hard drive LED constant flash and I hear the drives running.

Any ideas
 
Erik said:
For the longest time, I haven't been able to remove programs without an
uninstall feature through the control panel's add/remove program's icon
because it isn't populated with any software packages. I am using a XP Pro
SP2 with 2GB of RAM and a 3.2 GHZ processor. For instance, I would like to
uninstall Windows Defender and replace it with a new Spyware/Adware package
that I have ordered, but it doesn't come with an uninstall feature and I
can't see it in the add/remove icon in the control panel.

Thanks for your input

Erik
Click to expand...
I have no programs listed in add/remove program in control programs.

I have let add/remove program window run for 8 hours twice 100% CPU and
hard drive LED constant flash and I hear the drives running.

Any ideas
 
Erik said:
When I initially open the window the oly program that appears is Adobe
Acrobat Reader 7.0...and then nothing but blank space all the way down. When
I click on "Show Updates" All see is blank space all the way down until the
updates for Windows XP show up.
Click to expand...

This can be caused by a failed uninstall. This may help

It could be a bad 'DisplayIcon' in a registry entry in

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall

The value for DisplayIcon should be a path to an icon file, plus an
optional comma-followed-by-a-number. If the optional number is -1, you'll
get the big blank. Just search through the key mentioned above for
"DisplayIcon", checking the value of each. If you find a ",-1" in any of
them, remove the comma and the -1 and you'll be OK

gls858
 
Eric:

Check this Registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
Open it ('+') and see if there are any entries. If there are, then one of
the entries is hanging Add/Remove programs.

For a quick fix, you can find the program you are trying to remove, find
it's Uninstall String, copy it, and execute it manually from the Start Menu
Run option.

But that does not fix the overall problem. One of the entries is screwing
it up.

You may need to use a freeware program, e.g., RegMon, to monitor what is
read and hangs when you start Add/Remove program. It will show each entry
is read and possible show what entry Add/Remove is barfing on.

You can find it: www.sysinternals.com
 
Erik:

Also check to see if you are having problems with System Restore. When you
open System Restore, is the page blank.
When you say that no programs listing in add/remove, is the page totally
blank?

I ran into this as well, almost rebuilt my system until I found the problem.
Took me 3 days.

Check the Uninstall registry key and the System Restore test. Don't DO
ANYTHING in System Restore, just open it.
 
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