Add & Remove

tez.1 · 1st January 2005

Hi all

I have resolved my Control Panal problem "Zeroed the Drive and reinstalled"

I have just gone to uninstall something and have found this??????

Add Remove

the Black goes on for some and changes to STRIPS!! and then the other Programs appear Any Help or thoughs

Thanks
Tez

Welshjim · 2nd January 2005

tez.1 --Cannot find your earlier post under the title you mention. (I do find an earlier one where charlesvar made some suggestions, but you did not let him know if any worked.)
Anyway, that link you post,
http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/tez...92.jpg&.src=ph
does not work on my PC, so do not know what the problem is.

tez.1 · 2nd January 2005

Hi Jim

In my add remove programs there is a great big Black section......

I dont know why the link does not work try this one..

new link

thanks tez

goddez1 · 2nd January 2005

Poor Tez,
"Murphy's Law" ie; "Anything that can go wrong will go wrong"! This law just isn't allowing you to catch a break is it?

Black spots or sections in the add/remove list is known to be a secondary problem generally the result of a bad or incomplete install/uninstall of a program or programs. It leaves the registry with broken or invalid hkeys and values for the uninstall information on said same. You could manually try to figure out which of these uninstall values are botched. It may be as simple as installing and uninstalling the last thing you did. Knowing that you recently cleaned installed your xp and may have been in a hurry to install your other applications. Proper install/uninstall procedures still must be adhered to in order to avoid problems such as you are experiencing now. Install these babies one at a time and always reboot between each one, whether it is called for or not. Same when it comes to the uninstalls. Make sure you have nothing running in the background or systray that is not needed. If these programs are not store bought (purchased from a store) verify that they are not virus infected. Then disable antivirus program while installing/uninstalling. Virus programs are infamous for interfering with install/uninstall.

I previously mentioned manually having a look at the registry value where the keys and values may be found, but there is a safer way of doing this.
http://www.sharewareconnection.com/d...-sharecon.html

This will allow a backup before making changes. After running this app you may spot the problem entry/entries right away. Perhaps something you know you uninstalled is still listed. Compare the list found by this app to the one you already have in appwiz.cpl. If the app lists something not found listed in xp's add/remove list, you may have found the problem[s].

Having said all this are you having any problems that have resulted in errors with fussy installs and uninstalls?

Before installing any applications, with the possible exception of anti virus, did you update your Xp at microsoft updates and any OEM support site, if yours is OEM. I believe there have been known bugs with nwiz.cpl (add/remove component of control.exe) and updates to "microsoft installer" that were fixed with said same.

Before installing applications have you checked with these individual manufacturer support sites for updates or known problems with XP?

I know this can make an already "tedious for some" process even more so but often any "shortcut" or "saved time" you think you are making or taking now will snowball and come back to bite ya'.

-----------
Note: I haven't even mentioned restore points. I figured this point may be moot if you have been installing multiple things. Unsure if corruption or incompletes are any deeper than this. This may only make matters worse. A restore point may be throwing the whole barrel of apples out unstead of the one or two rotten ones we may be looking for.
Thanks Jim, but it will be our little secret.

--To sum up--
The above information is based on my own past experience when dealing with this issue (on anothers computer). It may not be the sole cause. You may want to look these over and draw your own conclusion or see if something else rings a bell. Perhaps a particular specific application problem:
http://www.google.com/search?tab=gw&...&hl=en&num=50&

Please remember to update your post with any progress or lack of progress. Share the fix that worked for you and help to save another person in the future.

tez.1 · 2nd January 2005

I think I am in LOVVVVVVVVVVVE

I have downloaded Add Remove Pro and have compaired both lists and my problem was down to good old Electronic Arts and Need for speed and the Game updater that installed along with the game..

I then went to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Uninstall
And had a look!!

I also found the Game updater listed there, but not showing in the Windows Add Remove list.

I reinstalled the game along with the updater and then Removed the game updater and bob your uncle sorted

Hope this helps Tez

goddez1 · 2nd January 2005

If "bob your uncle sorted" means the problem is fixed and I hope it does:

Your most welcome Tez and I'm glad this helped. Thank you for the update

Well.. well, I learned something new:
Phrase "bob your uncle"
http://alt-usage-english.org/excerpts/fxbobsyo.html