Add or Remove Programs doesn't work 2

[robertof]

The applet in the Control Panel, Add or Remove Programs, doesn't work correctly any more. It does not display the full list of installed software. It displays only the software that can fit in the first window without scrolling.

It used to be that this would happen, and I would quit the applet and then reenter it, and it would display the full list. But now, that technique does not work.

If I change the sort order, a different, but still incomplete subset of programs is displayed. Only by selecting sort by size does the list appear to be more complete.

Any ideas?

 

[bcastner]

Open notepad and copy/paste the below in a new text file, to be called add_remove.reg :

***** start copy/paste below this line
regsvr32 %systemroot%\System32\Appwiz.cpl
regsvr32 %systemroot%\System32\Mshtml.dll
regsvr32 %systemroot%\System32\Jscript.dll
regsvr32 %systemroot%\System32\Msi.dll
regsvr32 c:\Program Files\Common Files\System\Ole DB\Oledb32.dll
regsvr32 c:\Program Files\Common Files\System\Ado\Msado15.dll
regsvr32 %systemroot%\System32\Mshtmled.dll
regsvr32 %systemroot%\System32\Ole32.dll
regsvr32 %systemroot%\System32\Urlmon.dll
regsvr32 %systemroot%\System32\Clbcatq.dll
regsvr32 %systemroot%\System32\Oleaut32.dll
regsvr32 %systemroot%\System32\Mlang.dll
regsvr32 %systemroot%\System32\Shell32.dll
regsvr32 %systemroot%\System32\Plugin.ocx
regsvr32 %systemroot%\System32\Imgutil.dll
regsvr32 %systemroot%\System32\Cscui.dll

***** end copy/paste above this line

Double click add_remove.reg to merge with your registry. Ignore any error messages. Reboot and test.

If no joy, you need to check some registry entries:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;266668

 

[robertof]

Two questions about this solution:

1) When I run the reg file I get the message:
"The key will be restored over the key: pgptray
All values and sub-keys under this key will be deleted".

This sounds to me like PGP 8.0, which I have indeed installed, may be at the root of the problem - although that sounds odd. Rather than continue, I ask your opinion.

2) The KB article to which you refer says it is applicable to W2K, whereas I am using XP. Do you think the same technique is still applicable to XP?

Thanks,
Robert

 

[bcastner]

First, an error above. The file should be named add_remove.cmd and not .reg

Try that.

Q1. I do not know the answer to this question. If PGP is replacing Microsoft files or their registration entries in the registry I am at a loss as to how to advise you. If the registration message is received for either of these entries:
regsvr32 c:\Program Files\Common Files\System\Ole DB\Oledb32.dll
regsvr32 c:\Program Files\Common Files\System\Ado\Msado15.dll

Use notepad and delete the line(s).

2. The article is perfectly apt for XP.

 

[robertof]

Changed to a .cmd file and ran it. It gave errors for both
regsvr32 c:\Program Files\Common Files\System\Ole DB\Oledb32.dll
and
regsvr32 c:\Program Files\Common Files\System\Ado\Msado15.dll

This step did not solve the problem.

I started to run the steps in KB article, with the following results:

1) In step 4 for IE6, I got the error that setupwbv.dll could not be found. Indeed, it is nowhere on disk.

2) I did not run an in-place upgrade (given that the previous step failed, and given that I am not sure of the impact of this on all the SPs and patches that have been installed since the original installation).

3) The list provided at the end of the files that presumably should be on disk had several files which are NOT on disk:
Indicdll.dll
Widap32.dll
Msls31.dll

I started to check the file versions, but as they were not all the same, and I have no idea what the versions should be, I did not continue.

4) I do indeed have long lists of data under the registry entries for ...\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
and ...\App Management\ARPCache

5) The PGP problem appears now to have been a red herring.

Any suggestions?

 

[bcastner]

Re-registering DLLs will not effect service packs or hotfixes or anything else.

. In Add/Remove programs, make certain at the top that 'Show all upgrades' is checked

. Run IEFIX and be certain that the SFC option is enabled:

http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/IEFIX.htm

 

[bcastner]

Check here with regedit:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\

See what is next to where the list stops and delete that
entry (backup and delete)

Kelly Theriot notes:
Are they all missing or the lists stops after a certain listing and white space can go on for days? If the latter:

This is generally due to the DisplayIcon having a negative number. From here you can either remove the negative number or remove the last application listed in the Add/Remove display.

If your issue involves AutoCad, you can download the fix on line 226 (right hand side):

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

 

[linney]

To make sure that third party software is not causing this problem see what Add or Remove looks like from Safe Mode.

Removing adware & spyware
faq608-4650

If this is a recent occurring problem it may be fixable by using System Restore.

You could try repairing windows by running it over itself. You will lose all your windows updates (no problem if you substitute them with SP2) but your files and programs will be untouched.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP (Q315341)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q315/3/41.asp

 

[robertof]

Bingo!
The first program that was NOT displayed had a -1 at the end of the display icon date. I took it away and it works now.

I also noted that several entries have a "-0" at the end of the DisplayIcon data. This does not pose a problem.

Many thanks!

 

[webcortech]

Here is the skinny:

I got to my client today.. new Dell machine. It already came with SP2 on it. I do my normally stuff of removing norton, prepping it for the end user... Add/remove programs is blank. I can't remove Norton! damn you XP SP2.... well it turns out they install Autocad 2002... sure enough it cause the add/remove to go white or blank after two progams... wasted 40 minutes trying it figure this out.. thought it was MDAC 2.8 sp1..cant fix it per MS or reinstall it. Built into SP2.... but low and behold Tek-tips comes through again with great posters like above.

Bcasterers tip on the Autocad VB script worked perfect!! I'm sure the 0 and -1 would have worked... but didnt feel like scrolling through the registery.

Cheers!
gobble gobble
tc