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Community Newsletter: Q&A: Add or Remove Programs Button Will Not Work!
Add or Remove Programs Button Will Not Work!
by Bearsmom9899 - 8/9/08 1:09 PMI am hopeful that someone can tell me how to get my "Add/Remove Hardware" button to function once again. I am using Windows XP Home Edition Version 2002 Service Pack 2.
One day the button worked and then the next time I needed to use it, it didn't. I have tried restoring to a previous date ( as far back as I can go) it does nothing. When I go to "Control Panel" it shows as an icon, however it cannot be clicked on. Have I lost a driver or something? I recieve auto updates. I just wondered if I can fix the problem. Thanks in advance to anyone who may be able to help.
When Add or Remove Programs is executed ...
by drdonot - 8/15/08 7:51 PM In reply to: Add or Remove Programs Button Will Not Work! by Bearsmom9899what runs is:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\rundll32.exe C:\Windows\System32\shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL "C:\Windows\System32\appwiz.cpl",Add or Remove Programs
all on one line. To execute this "manually", click Start, click Run, and copy and past the above line in the "Open" box, then click OK.
If that does not work, then I would suspect that either rundll32.exe, shell32.dll, or appwiz.cpl is faulty.
If it does work, then something went wrong with the way the function is called.
This may not solve your problem, but it may show you what it is suppose to be doing.
Re: Add or Remove Programs Button Will Not Work!
by ajl06606 - 8/15/08 10:13 PM In reply to: Add or Remove Programs Button Will Not Work! by Bearsmom9899This happened to me recently. I let a friend use my computer and they installed SKYPE. I went to uninstall it and the same thing happened. I finally had to go to the "Administrator" account, and was able to access "Add or Remove Programs" from there. I uninstalled SKYPE from there and when I went back to my user account, I was able to access the "Add or Remove Programs" okay.
So what I'm suggesting is a recent downloaded program might have affected it, possibly or use the "Administrator" account.
Try safe mode
by GENE8 - 8/16/08 12:16 AM In reply to: Add or Remove Programs Button Will Not Work! by Bearsmom9899Try booting into safe mode and then select the "last known good configuration" option to boot back into Windows. Then try to see if you can click into "Add/Remove programs". If that does'nt work then go into Windows Explorer to check to see if you have "full control" as an administrator of all files and folders in your C: (system) drive.
Or try a third party Uninstaller
by skycatcher - 8/16/08 2:03 AM In reply to: Add or Remove Programs Button Will Not Work! by Bearsmom9899If non of the above advice works, try going to Download.com and get yourself an Uninstaller like Revo.....
http://www.download.com/Revo-Uninstaller/3000-2096_4-10687648.html?tag=lst-1&cdlPid=10854684
CCleaner is an excellent free ap...
by davidc2 - 8/16/08 7:07 AM In reply to: Add or Remove Programs Button Will Not Work! by Bearsmom9899Hi, CCleaner is an excellent free ap that I got from an also excellent CNET forum on speeding up a slow windows computer. After you download it go into (tools) and instantly all your programs will appear listed. Highlight the program you want to remove and click on (uninstall)and it's gone. After you remove the program be sure to click on the (issues) tab and click on (scan for issues) then (fix selected issues)to clean up the unused file extensions and other missing stuff that typically gets left behind when removing programs. I could not get windows to remove a proram for months until I used CCleaner. It is also particularly good for cleaning up what windows leaves behind when cleaning out temporary internet files and history.
making a correction
by GENE8 - 8/16/08 10:34 AM In reply to: Add or Remove Programs Button Will Not Work! by Bearsmom9899I gave you a wrong direction previously. What you must do first is press F8 when you turn your pc on so you can enter the Windows advanced options menu. THEN you select the "last known good configuration" from there.You DON'T select safe mode option. When you get back into Windows, try to see if the Add/Remove programs work.
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