Add/Remove programs menu erased

Hi,

The foregoing subject seems to be somewhat akin to mine. I was reinstalling all my programs into a new computer when by misadventure, I accidentally erased ALL the entries in the Add-Remove menu in the Control Program.

Subsequent installs are there but I'd like to get back the others without having to reinstall the OS and starting over. I do not believe it's a `too long a file name' problem.

What seems to have happened was that I had to install and removed my scanner a couple of times and when I was finished I discovered I still had a scanner entry in subject menu although all Registry keys were gone and Windows seemed cleaned of all traces of the installs [save for the lone Add\Remove menu line].

My mistake was to attempt to highlight and to delete the line. Instead, the entire menu vanished and not into the recycle bin.

Among the missing are: Norton Anti-Virus [3 entries], Veritas, Lexmark, Solitaire, Adaware, End It All and Win 98 Update. Another 20 or so entries are there from later installs.

The lone program not working properly is Norton AV...I cannot load the menu from either START\Programs nor from the Task Bar by right clicking and chosing Open Norton Anti-Virus. I also cannot uninstall Norton ...or others unless, I can remove all Registry entries and folder contents and allow a new install to overwrite anything in Windows or Windows\System; ditto other programs.

Anybody ever done this? Any hints?

I've just completely set up my wife's new computer w/o a hitch and I'm frankly tired. I had the machine into the shop but it came back without this problem corrected...although it was to be done.
In poor health and generally housebound, I just can't face going all through this again.

I can clean the Registry with little problem having first made a BU copy.

All suggestions/pitfalls welcome.

Thank you.

 

How long ago did this happen..

I suppose your saying nothing shows at the key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall

 

scanreg /restore should get your old add/remove entrys back, you will need to then reinstall your new programs to put the new entrys in.

Choose the scanreg entry that was before you lost the entrys, say a day before you lost them

Hope that helps

Regards
tel33

 

ADD/REMOVE PROGRAMS MENU

Thanks Tel33 and Lonny for your responses. I've copied your replies and will get back to you.

Problem happened on either Christmas Day or Boxing Day and the computer went back on the Monday following. I just got it back again and set up late Friday last ... 9 Jan.

I don't think there's a registry that's old enough. As you know, Win 98 keeps only five last that loaded and I didn't make a backup. I'll check again.

I'll have to check the Registry Key. Frankly I have no idea what is going on. Machine came back and the scanner wouldn't work. I uninstalled it and also Photo Shop including removing any lingering keys. I reinstalled the scanner and Photo Shop using custom install [I didn't want the other peripherals such as Adobe Reader] and reinstalled. The scanner now works but I also now have double Reader and Photo Shop keys but only one entry for each in the Add-Remove menu.

???

 

If these more in that key than show in addremove,, ,maybe export then open with notepad and copy paste here for the other's with win 98 ?

 

ADD-REMOVE MENU

Hi All

I've checked the Registry and the only items showing in the Uninstall Key are those currently showing in the Add-Remove Menu. The others are GONE. No use posting what's there I think ... none of the programs listed in my original post.

I checked the RESTORE function and the oldest registry available is 2 January which would have been created at the computer shop AFTER my problems arose.

Since my computer came back, I cannot load the Norton Anti-Virus menu display from either the Tool Bar or from Programs. Interestingly, Norton's basic program and rescue disk is gone from the Add-Remove menu but Live Update still is there and Norton is functioning.

Given that I'm beyond the normal one year for support, I don't know if Norton or Lexmark will respond and give me a list of files for manual removal. I'll try.

I'm still up a creek with no paddle.

 

Shame the registry back up is too old, I have set mine for 10 copies, at least that give more chances in the future, you might want to do yours after fixing the pc.

I dont suppose you can remember what you list of program you had in your Add/Remove list? The only other option would be to re-install the programs and hope for the best.

From what you say this may be caused by Nortons (Never did like their stuff, always seem to be a cause of problems I have found in the past)

Maybe a simple re-install of Nortons might cure it, it might have been corrupted but its own Rescue part information might still be intact for a rescue attempt by it?

Let us know
Regards
tel33

 

ADD/REMOVE MENU

Hi Tel 33

My original post contains a list of the programs that were there and that suddenly disappeared. I don't think it was caused by Norton as it was my second install following the Logi mouse. Others followed. Problem came when I began having problems installing my scanner and which I've never had before.

Interesting about setting the registry backups. Would you kindly tell me how.

Thanks

 

I FORGOT

I forgot to mention that Norton has articles re manual uninstall plus a removal tool to uninstall it's Anti-Virus ware in the event it cannot be done via the Add/Remove menu in the Control Panel.

It's available for various versions etc. I've printed out the details but want to also check Live Update and/or other.

I've not yet checked the others.

 

ADD-REMOVE PROGRAMS-NORTON MENU

Hello folks

Just a close out message;

I'm back in business re the Add-Remove programs or so it seems. Missing are back where they should be thanks to a combination or reinstall over the existing installation; and manually uninstall and reinstall. Latter applies to Norton A/V with the assistance of its removal tool and manual cleanup.

As for Norton's `menu' suddenly refusing to load from either the toolbar or the Programs menu short cuts, the probelm was known to Norton and it turned out to be a bad key in the Registry. I removed the key as directed by Norton and voila! I was back in business.

Norton's already picked off some virus/trojans attempting to gain entry so it's working. I've defragged, scanned windows and checked the system with programs like Ad-Aware, Spybot, Cleaner, Disk Cleaner and MRU Blaster.

Since this new machine arrived and with Win 98SE installed, I think I've licked all but one problem - touch wood. It will be addressed in a separate post.

Thanks to all who offered replies.

 

Glad to hear you now have your problems solved, I hope we helped.

Before you do the registry hack below back up your registry!!

To increase the number of registry back up's, find the entry:-

ScanReg.ini

Note: It might just say SCANREG, right click on it and choose Properties to make sure you have the correct file, this will say the correct name ScanReg.ini.

This is in your Windows folder, now open it up with Notepad.

You can normally just click Open, if not you can choose the Open With option then choose Notepad as the program to open it with.

Look for the wording:-

MaxBackupCopies=5

Change the last figure to whatever you want up to 99.

e.g.

If you want ten backups then put 10 on the end instead of 5.

MaxBackupCopies=10

Now save the file when you close it, it will ask you anyway just say Yes or No or Cancel depending how you feel and if you do or do not want to do the change or you jsut want to cancel it.

Ok now restart your pc and you can now choose up to whatever number backups you have set.

Of course to start with you may only have one entry to start with as the registry has not been backed up that many times yet, but over time it builds up.

Hope this is of interest to you.

Regards

tel33

 

NUMBER OF REGISTRY BACKUPS

Sounds good, I've copied your instructions and send along my appreciation.

Give that I have a new computer and have had some problems with it and Win 98SE, the Registry backups would have been many by now.

I still don't have my Windows Explorer problem solved but it's posted elsewhere. It's new!!! [after my system came back a 2nd time]