Add/Remove Program has black vert. lines

When I open XP's Add/Remove Program, I have thick black verticle lines running through it. I see half of my programs then the verticle lines start, then they stop and the rest of my programs are at the bottom. Looking at the scroll button on the side of the screen, it looks like I have over 1000 programs. I do not know when this started since I don't use the program often. How do I go about removing the black lines? Thanks!

Mike

 

For lack of a better idea, try System File Check.
Start > Run > cmd sfc /scannow and have your XP install disc handy.

sfc - system file checker, retrieves the correct version of the file from %Systemroot%\System32\Dllcache or the Windows installation source files, and then replaces the incorrect file.

If you want to see what was replaced, right click My Computer > manage, expand event viewer > system.

System File Checker (sfc)
Scans and verifies the versions of all protected system files after you restart your computer.

Johanna

 

Johanna,

Thanks! SFC did the trick. My list is back to normal, no black lines. I appreciate your help.

Mike

 

Glad sfc worked for you. Thanks for posting back.

Johanna

 

Johanna,

That verticle line keeps coming back. I can run sfc /scannow and get rid of it, but the next time I check, the lines are back. Any other suggestions? Thanks!

Mike

 

Is the only place you are seeing the distortion in the add-remove section of the control panel? Maybe the add-remove is corrupted somehow and can be fixed. Is there a tech in the house who can tell us?

Johanna

 

Johanna,

Yes, that is the only place that I've noticed the lines.

Mike

 

Are you running Auto Cad. If you are I read somewhere on this forum that is where the problem lies and a fix. But for the life of me I can't remember what thread it is and I can't find it by searching for it either.

 

lj50,

I would say no, but not exactly sure what that program is. I guess if I don't what it is, I'm probably not running it.

Mike

 

After you run an SFC, what does the event viewer have to say about what SFC fixed?

Johanna

 

Johanna,

I just ran the scf again and the lines did not disappear. Here is the log that I have this morning, hopefully it comes through okay. I bolded the only warning that was listed. Let me know if you see anything here that might help.

Type Date Time Source Category Event User Computer
Information 4/24/2005 12:28:26 PM Windows File Protection None 64017 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 12:12:06 PM Windows File Protection None 64004 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 12:12:06 PM Windows File Protection None 64020 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 12:12:06 PM Windows File Protection None 64004 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 12:12:05 PM Windows File Protection None 64020 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 12:12:02 PM Windows File Protection None 64004 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 12:12:01 PM Windows File Protection None 64020 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 12:11:30 PM Windows File Protection None 64016 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 9:52:51 AM Service Control Manager None 7036 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 9:52:47 AM Service Control Manager None 7036 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 9:52:44 AM Service Control Manager None 7036 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 9:52:44 AM Service Control Manager None 7035 SYSTEM KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 9:52:40 AM Service Control Manager None 7036 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 9:52:39 AM Service Control Manager None 7035 Mike KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 9:52:39 AM Service Control Manager None 7035 SYSTEM KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 9:52:34 AM Service Control Manager None 7036 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 9:52:34 AM Service Control Manager None 7035 SYSTEM KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 9:52:31 AM Service Control Manager None 7036 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 9:52:00 AM bcm4sbxp None 9 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 9:52:28 AM Service Control Manager None 7036 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 9:52:27 AM Service Control Manager None 7035 SYSTEM KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 9:52:27 AM Service Control Manager None 7036 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 9:52:27 AM Service Control Manager None 7035 SYSTEM KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 9:52:27 AM Service Control Manager None 7035 SYSTEM KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 9:52:27 AM Service Control Manager None 7036 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 9:52:27 AM Service Control Manager None 7035 SYSTEM KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 9:52:27 AM Service Control Manager None 7036 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 9:52:27 AM Service Control Manager None 7035 SYSTEM KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 9:52:05 AM eventlog None 6005 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 9:52:05 AM eventlog None 6009 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 2:48:03 AM eventlog None 6006 N/A KIDSDELL
Warning4/24/2005 2:17:05 AM Tcpip None 4226 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 2:11:46 AM Service Control Manager None 7036 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 2:11:43 AM Service Control Manager None 7036 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 2:11:39 AM Service Control Manager None 7036 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 2:11:39 AM Service Control Manager None 7035 SYSTEM KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 2:11:37 AM Service Control Manager None 7036 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 2:11:37 AM Service Control Manager None 7035 Mike KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 2:11:36 AM Service Control Manager None 7035 SYSTEM KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 2:11:33 AM Service Control Manager None 7036 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 2:11:33 AM Service Control Manager None 7035 SYSTEM KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 2:11:02 AM bcm4sbxp None 9 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 2:11:30 AM Service Control Manager None 7036 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 2:11:28 AM Service Control Manager None 7035 SYSTEM KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 2:11:28 AM Service Control Manager None 7036 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 2:11:28 AM Service Control Manager None 7036 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 2:11:27 AM Service Control Manager None 7035 SYSTEM KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 2:11:04 AM eventlog None 6005 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 2:11:04 AM eventlog None 6009 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 1:56:23 AM eventlog None 6006 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 1:42:56 AM Service Control Manager None 7036 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 1:42:51 AM Service Control Manager None 7036 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 1:42:49 AM Service Control Manager None 7036 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 1:42:49 AM Service Control Manager None 7035 SYSTEM KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 1:42:43 AM Service Control Manager None 7036 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 1:42:41 AM Service Control Manager None 7035 Mike KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 1:42:41 AM Service Control Manager None 7035 SYSTEM KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 1:42:36 AM Service Control Manager None 7036 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 1:42:36 AM Service Control Manager None 7035 SYSTEM KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 1:42:34 AM Service Control Manager None 7036 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 1:42:34 AM Service Control Manager None 7035 SYSTEM KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 1:42:34 AM Service Control Manager None 7035 SYSTEM KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 1:42:33 AM Service Control Manager None 7036 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 1:42:29 AM Service Control Manager None 7036 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 1:42:29 AM Service Control Manager None 7035 SYSTEM KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 1:42:29 AM Service Control Manager None 7036 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 1:42:28 AM Service Control Manager None 7035 SYSTEM KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 1:42:28 AM Service Control Manager None 7036 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 1:42:28 AM Service Control Manager None 7035 SYSTEM KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 1:41:54 AM bcm4sbxp None 9 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 1:42:06 AM eventlog None 6005 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 1:42:06 AM eventlog None 6009 N/A KIDSDELL

 

Johanna,

I just rebooted and the lines are still there.

Mike

 

Try opening a cmd window, keying in

Code:

chkdsk /r

pressing ENTER, and answering Yes to questions about doing the chkdsk at next boot then reboot. It will run before the GUI starts and may take a while.

Once you are back up, try the sfc /scannow again.

What spyware and virus blocker apps are you running?

 

If Newt's suggestions don't help, double click a couple of these entries to see what was done. There should be some information about what files were replaced. Compare to some of the older ones from when running SFC helped with your problem.

Information 4/24/2005 12:28:26 PM Windows File Protection None 64017 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 12:12:06 PM Windows File Protection None 64004 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 12:12:06 PM Windows File Protection None 64020 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 12:12:06 PM Windows File Protection None 64004 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 12:12:05 PM Windows File Protection None 64020 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 12:12:02 PM Windows File Protection None 64004 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 12:12:01 PM Windows File Protection None 64020 N/A KIDSDELL
Information 4/24/2005 12:11:30 PM Windows File Protection None 64016 N/A KIDSDELL

 

To all,

Thanks for the continued suggestions. Here is how it's going. I still have the black lines.

Newt, I have done your suggestions, but nothing has changed. I am using NAV 2005 and Ad-Aware SE on this system. Everything is up to date and scans were ran yesterday morning with no problems.

noahdfear, I checked on the files you listed. I only have Windows File Protection entries back to 4-16, but I'm sure the problem reappeared before then. I checked on the details of the entries and this is what I came up with:

Event Type: Information
Event Source: Windows File Protection
Event Category: None
Event ID: 64004
Date: 4/24/2005
Time: 12:12:06 PM
User: N/A
Computer: KIDSDELL
Description:
The protected system file c:\windows\system32\oembios.sig could not be restored to its original, valid version. The file version of the bad file is 0.0.0.1 The specific error code is 0x800b0100 [No signature was present in the subject.].

Event Type: Information
Event Source: Windows File Protection
Event Category: None
Event ID: 64020
Date: 4/24/2005
Time: 12:12:06 PM
User: N/A
Computer: KIDSDELL
Description:
Windows File Protection scan found that the system file c:\windows\system32\oembios.sig has a bad signature. This file was restored to the original version to maintain system stability. The file version of the system file is 0.0.0.1.

I've checked and I'm running the latest BIOS for this system. Any other thoughts? Thanks!

Mike

 

Mike - the specific app that handles add/remove is \system32\appwiz.cpl

The way windows file protection on XP works, if something happens to that file it should immediately be replaced by a cached version. Could be that would solve the problem. Try renaming that file to appwiz.cpl-old, wait a few seconds, and then double-click the new version that should have showed up.

While you are testing and messing around, it's quicker to run it directly via the double-click than to mess with opening the control panel.

 

Perhaps this will help:
http://windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?t=39352&highlight=compare

 

Newt,

I tried what you suggested and, unfortunately, it did not help.

goddez1,

I look a look at the link you gave and downloaded AddRemove Pro. Before installing, I tried one of the suggestions on the Google search you gave me. It suggested that the culprit may be the entry right above the black lines. I removed that program, Real One Player, rebooted and installed the new version with no change. I even checked Add/Remove before installing and there was no change. I then install the program you suggested.

I compared it to the Win XP list and did find some differences. Here are the ones not found on the XP list:

ccCommon
Internet Explorer Default Page
Internet Worm Protection
Microsoft Data Access Components KB870669
Norton Antivirus Help
Norton Antivirus Parent MSI
Norotn Antivirus SYMLT MSI
Ringtone Ripper
SPBBC
Symantec
Symantec Script Blocking Installer
SymNet
Windows Installer 3.1
Windows Media Format Runtime
19 different Win XP hotfixes

Every entry has the green icon next to it. If I go to the Find tab, everything comes up NonExistent. This includes AddRemove Pro itself. I removed one of the entries anyways to see if it would make a difference. No luck. I would remove all of them, but I'm guessing that I need them.

Any thoughts? Any other suggestions? Thanks!

Mike

 

Not trying to knock Add/Remove Pro here, but I'm a bit leary of it's reliability. I'm also going to suggest that comparing what it lists with what you see in XP's Add/Remove is not necessarily reliable either. Some apps, and/or components of an app, just do not show up in Add/Remove. Now to back up my statements.......

I used the find it feature to check the uninstall path for Agent Ransack. It said non-existent. I pasted that same string into the run box and the uninstallation of Agent Ransack began.

Two programs in XP A/R not in AR Pro.....Move-on-Boot and IIScript, and in A/R Pro but not in AR.......Windows Installer 3.1, Windows Media Format Runtime and many hotfixes. Looking at the all entries tab, which is all of the subkeys under the uninstall key in your registry, you will find many more that are not listed in Add/Remove.

All of those programs work as they should for me.

In your list, Mike,

ccCommon
Norton Antivirus Help
Norton Antivirus Parent MSI
Norton Antivirus SYMLT MSI
Symantec
Symantec Script Blocking Installer
SymNet

all Norton components. By design, most likely, not meant to be uninstalled separately, so do not show in Add/Remove. Uninstall Norton products and these will most likely go with them.

Does this help with your problem? Not likely.....sorry.

I do see one thing you listed that I'm curious about, as I haven't found any info on it.............Internet Explorer Default Page........do you know what that is?

You mentioned uninstalling/re-installing Real player, since it came immediately before the black lines. Did you try the app immediately following them?

Back to your event viewer post, oembios.sig, from what I've gathered, is a file used to determine if the machine you're installing Windows from the OEM XP cd, is actually an OEM machine. The MOBO chipset is hard-coded with information to identify it. What does that mean? Try installing your Dell issued (for example) OEM XP on a home built or HP machine, and the chipset info is checked against the info in that file, then you're told it's not a Dell machine and setup cannot continue. Would that file having a bad signature corrupt the Add/Remove console?? I can't see any connection (but that doesn't mean much either)

I know, alot of wind and still not much help here. What other files were replaced by SFC; in particular, which files when SFC helped?

 

verticle black bars in add or remove programs

i have to same problem and i discovered today that i had the trojandownloader_win32_swizzor_w,Win32.Sndc.A, savenow,unknown_bho, and probot and my computer has become really really slow. I had the "Deepnet Browser" installed and using it, since that is a P2P type program which is were the trojan/worm came from(i think).

i did the /scannow thing you said to do....going to restart and see if its still there. I used "Zone Lab- Anti Virus to (treat) and detect the Win32.Sndc.A worm....going to restart now.