No programs in add/remove programs

[RWhisler]

I just stumbled on this website while looking for a solution to my problem with Norton Ghost.

Another problem that I am having is: When I go to add/remove programs, there are NO programs. The message says to wait while the list is being populated but nothing ever shows up. From what I have read, it sounds like a registry problem but I don't have a clue how to fix it. Microsoft's answer is way over my head. I tried registry mechanic but that didn't help. Any suggestions?? Keep in mind, I am not a computer geek.

Thanks

 

[btk1w1]

A couple of things you can try before messing around with the registry.

First go into task manager by right clicking a blank area on the bar along the bottom of the screen where the click is and select task manager.

At the top of the task manager window click on the processes tab. In processes look for wmiprvse.exe, if it is present right click and end process.

Go into add / remove programs again and see if your list populates.

Second highlight and copy the bolded text below:

REGSVR32 APPWIZ.CPL

Next click on Start > Run and paste in the text you just copied and hit enter.

If that still doesn't help you can try copying the bolded below (beginning with regsvr32...) in order into the run box and hitting enter after each:

1.
regsvr32 Mshtml.dll

2.
regsvr32 Jscript.dll

3.
regsvr32 Msi.dll

4.
regsvr32 Oledb32.dll"

5.
regsvr32 Msado15.dll"

6.
regsvr32 Mshtmled.dll

 

[RWhisler]

I tried your suggestions. Thank you for making it simple for me.

wmiprvse.exe was in the processes tab of task manager. I ended it but that didn't solve my problem.

When I pasted the bolded commands, some of them failed. I didn't write down the reason for the failures & I wish I would have. If I try to go through it again, will it mess things up? And if I tell you the reasons for the failures, would that help?

THANK-YOU so much for your help!!

 

[btk1w1]

No... the commands won't mess anything up.

What the commands do is register the .dll files needed for the applets in add/remove programs to appear or run.

If you get a message along the lines of "could not successfully register...", or "could not find.... .dll" or similar the ghost image may be corrupt or may not have successfully come across.

You can reboot the pc... check add/ remove programs again. If still not showing the icons try the run commands again and note down any error messages you recieve, even if it says the .dll is already registered.

Because a ghost image is usually taken using a sector by sector approach the entire operating system is by default backed up. The good news with this is that the entire system restore directory should be intact (unless the restore points were flushed before the image was taken). You may be able to run system restore to see if you can get a functioning control panel add / remove programs.

 

[btk1w1]

We'll have a look inside the resgistry to see if your uninstall list has been populated in there. You don't need to post the notepad document here as it will be very large if it has entries. I will show you what to look for.

The run command below won't alter your registry in any way, it will look inside the uninstall folder and list the contents in a notepad document so it can be viewed safely.

Highlight and copy the entire bolded text below:

cmd /c REGEDIT /E "%userprofile%\desktop\uninstall.txt "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\

Click on Start > Run and paste in the text you have just copied. Hit Enter.

A notepad document should appear on your desktop called uninstall or uninstall.txt

Open it to view the contents.

There should be entries that you will be able to identify your installed applications. They will look something like:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\\7-Zip]
"DisplayName"="7-Zip 4.65"
"UninstallString"="\"C:\\Program Files\\7-Zip\\Uninstall.exe\""
"NoModify"=dword:00000001
"NoRepair"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\\AddressBook]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\\Adobe AIR]
"DisplayIcon"="c:\\PROGRA~1\\COMMON~1\\ADOBEA~1\\Versions\\1.0\\RESOUR~1\\ADOBEA~1.EXE"
"DisplayName"="Adobe AIR"
"DisplayVersion"="1.5.0.7220"
"InstallLocation"="c:\\"
"NoModify"=dword:00000001
"NoRepair"=dword:00000001
"Publisher"="Adobe Systems Inc."
"UninstallString"="c:\\Program Files\\Common Files\\Adobe AIR\\Versions\\1.0\\Resources\\Adobe AIR Updater.exe -arp:uninstall"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\\Adobe Flash Player ActiveX]"DisplayName"="Adobe Flash Player..........

The bolded entries indicate your installed programs that have entries in the registry for the uninstaller.

Have a look through a few... there's no need to look at them all because if there are even just a few then those should be showing.

If the notepad document is blank, this means the programs uninstallers haven't been listed in the registry.

It is safe to delete the notepad document from the desktop once you have viewed it.

 

[RWhisler]

Best answer selected by RWhisler.

 

[RWhisler]

I just noticed that you had sent another response to my question. I ended up buying another hard drive and using Ghost to restore my computer back to the way it was. It was expensive and I had to re-do a weeks work. I sure wish I would have had a chance to try your second answer.
You gave very good answers and simplified it enough that I could even understand. Thank-you! I will certainly be posting on this website with my next problem...and I know there will be another!

 

[Elesmama]

We'll have a look inside the resgistry to see if your uninstall list has been populated in there. You don't need to post the notepad document here as it will be very large if it has entries. I will show you what to look for.

The run command below won't alter your registry in any way, it will look inside the uninstall folder and list the contents in a notepad document so it can be viewed safely.

Highlight and copy the entire bolded text below:

cmd /c REGEDIT /E "%userprofile%\desktop\uninstall.txt "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\

Click on Start > Run and paste in the text you have just copied. Hit Enter.

A notepad document should appear on your desktop called uninstall or uninstall.txt

Open it to view the contents.

There should be entries that you will be able to identify your installed applications. They will look something like:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\\7-Zip]
"DisplayName"="7-Zip 4.65"
"UninstallString"="\"C:\\Program Files\\7-Zip\\Uninstall.exe\""
"NoModify"=dword:00000001
"NoRepair"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\\AddressBook]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\\Adobe AIR]
"DisplayIcon"="c:\\PROGRA~1\\COMMON~1\\ADOBEA~1\\Versions\\1.0\\RESOUR~1\\ADOBEA~1.EXE"
"DisplayName"="Adobe AIR"
"DisplayVersion"="1.5.0.7220"
"InstallLocation"="c:\\"
"NoModify"=dword:00000001
"NoRepair"=dword:00000001
"Publisher"="Adobe Systems Inc."
"UninstallString"="c:\\Program Files\\Common Files\\Adobe AIR\\Versions\\1.0\\Resources\\Adobe AIR Updater.exe -arp:uninstall"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\\Adobe Flash Player ActiveX]"DisplayName"="Adobe Flash Player..........

The bolded entries indicate your installed programs that have entries in the registry for the uninstaller.

Have a look through a few... there's no need to look at them all because if there are even just a few then those should be showing.

If the notepad document is blank, this means the programs uninstallers haven't been listed in the registry.

It is safe to delete the notepad document from the desktop once you have viewed it.

Dear btk1w1:
I am having the same problem as RWhisler was some time ago. I have tried all your suggestions with the following results: commands 1, 4 and 5 all failed. In command 1, the file could not be registered. In the other two, the specified module could not be found. I then tried to look inside the registry and discovered there is nothing in my registry for the uninstaller. So I guess I should try to restore the system. What are the possible problems associated with restoring to three years ago? I have had this uninstall problem forever and have not known what to do about it so I've lived with a very slow computer full of programs I don't use. Will I give myself a new set of problems by restoring to when I think I didn't have this problem??? Thanks so much for your help! -Elesmama

 

[gjc]

I spent many hours looking for a solution to this issue.
I ended up resolving it over at super user.
Here is the thread:
http://superuser.com/questions/884192/most-programs-not-visible-in-programs-and-features-in-windows-7

and here is the article that resolved the issue:
http://community.spiceworks.com/how_to/2238-how-add-remove-programs-works