add/remove programs

[ajmmac]

after a few problems which i have finally fixed i find if i go to start/control panel/add_remove programs the window opens with very few programs listed--8 to be exact--if i highlightany it does not give the option to change/remove--windows xp btw--except for one which was installed after i discovered this problem--all my other progs are still installed and working ok from the start menu--but it means i cannot uninstall a program if it does not have its own uninstall option within it--have run adaware--spybot--ewido and ez antivirus--no problems reported--any ideas people thanks

[mikeyp]

Perhaps someone else will have more knowledge about this particular problem than me. However, it does sound like there's been a problem with your windows registry, for whatever reason. The registry holds links to current programs' uninstallers, allowing you to easily get rid of them. Since this has been screwed up, you can still go to the directories of the programs and uninstall them. Or, what I would do, just delete the directories, and then delete every occurrence to the program in the registry. That is what an uninstaller does anyway.

[QmunkE]

Have you reinstalled Windows over the top of an old installation? It does indeed sound as if the registry entries have been removed. You could always reinstall all your programs I guess, if you want them listed in the Add/Remove Programs menu...

[ajmmac]

thanks folks--new basically what the problem was but thought someone might have quick solution--seems like a lot of work tho not complicated--can't be bothered--guess i'll let sleeping dogs lie since system is running ok