Add/Remove Programs Disabled 1

[ShawnF]

Hello,

The add/remove programs option is somehow disabled on a WinXP Pro machine that I had a 3rd party company set up and configure. The tech isn't avaiable at the moment and can't ask them, so I'm hoping I can get a quicker answer on here.

I don't know how the tech disabled the Add/Remove Programs option in the control panel, regardless if I am logged in as the domain admin or local admin. Every other option in the control panel seems to be working.

I get a message after clicking on Add/Remove Programs that "These control panel options are not available. The content of this control panel category has been made unavailable by your system administrator. To make changes in this area, please contact your system administrator" (me). There is no organizational unit set up, much less with any kind of security settings in place in the domain security policy that would prevent this option. I also looked at the local security policy settings on the computer and didn't see anything that was obviously related to the control panel or add/remove programs. Is there a registry setting somewhere, did I miss something in Active Directory or in the Domain/Local security policys, or something else altogether?

I wanted this PC set up for the weekend and I don't think I can get ahold of the tech in time, so any help would be much appreciated!

Thanks,

Shawn

 

[carrr]

Check this out, just work in reverse.

http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/1041/

 

[ShawnF]

Thanks,

I checked it out, unfortunately none of those keys are there so I don't know if that's how the tech did it.

 

[bcastner]

I would check for:

. a possibly missing Windows file:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;329862

. a possibly mis-registered component:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;329891

These two articles discuss the problem in the context of Win2k, but ignore that.

 

[linney]

See if clicking directly on Appwiz.cpl in System32 gives you any different message.

Check Group Policy (GpEdit.msc in Run Box).

Local Computer Policy/ User Configuration/ Administrative Templates/ Control Panel/ Add Remove Programs.

See if it is disabled.

There is also a Registry Setting you can check.

http://www.experts-exchange.com/Operating_Systems/Win2000/Q_20335993.html

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=...+or+Remove%22%2Bicon%2Bmissing%2Bwindows%2Bxp

 

[ShawnF]

Thanks for the additional help. Clicking directly on the appwiz.cpl in the System32 folder did allow me to open up add/remove programs no problem. Then I checked the Group Policy via the run box, and sure enough the add/remove programs was disabled.

I was able to get what I needed done and can get this computer up and running before the weekend, thanks!

How does someone normally access this group policy menu on the client side? I don't think I've ever seen it in the control panel or on the start menu anywhere. It looks like the group policy settings in Active Directory when selecting a specific organizational unit and GPO.

 

[bcastner]

Start, Run, Gpedit.msc