Add/Remove - How to remove invalid entries in Add/Remove Programs
 

My add/remove list has several entries that I cannot delete because the
original setup CDs and/or files needed for proper removal are no longer
available.

Examples are early-generation Kodak Picture CD entries that require the
original volume/group setup CDs be provided before add/remove of the entry
continues; also, spyware/adware and network downloads whose folders were
previously deleted.

Is there any method to remove the listed entries when the normal removal
won't work?

Delete them (with care and after you have exported them for safety)
using Regedit.
Start-Run-Regedit
Navigate to this key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Uninstall
You will find the entries in subkeys.

....Alan
--
Alan Edwards, MS MVP W95/98 Systems
http://dts-l.org/index.html

On Mon, 5 Sep 2005 23:42:13 -0700, SC-Don
wrote:

My add/remove list has several entries that I cannot delete because the
original setup CDs and/or files needed for proper removal are no longer
available.

Examples are early-generation Kodak Picture CD entries that require the
original volume/group setup CDs be provided before add/remove of the entry
continues; also, spyware/adware and network downloads whose folders were
previously deleted.

Is there any method to remove the listed entries when the normal removal
won't work?

As Alan advised, you can simply remove the name of the item from the list.
This does not uninstall or otherwise get rid of the application. The only
decent way to do that is to either find the original disks, or find an
updated version online, install and then uninstall properly. Same goes for
apps that have had their installation folders deleted.

It's possible for an expert to clean up such messes manually (search out
remaining files, Registry entries, etc.) but it ain't easy. First thing to
do is find out if the support site for the application if there is one, and
see what they may have to offer. However, if you have a lot of this kind if
stuff to clean up,backup, reformat and reinstall from scratch will be
easier, faster and more sure to succeed.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User

"SC-Don" wrote in message
...
My add/remove list has several entries that I cannot delete because the
original setup CDs and/or files needed for proper removal are no longer
available.

Examples are early-generation Kodak Picture CD entries that require the
original volume/group setup CDs be provided before add/remove of the entry
continues; also, spyware/adware and network downloads whose folders were
previously deleted.

Is there any method to remove the listed entries when the normal removal
won't work?

"SC-Don" wrote in message
...

My add/remove list has several entries that I cannot delete because the
original setup CDs and/or files needed for proper removal are no longer
available.

TweakUI can be used to remove homeless items
from the Add/Remove list.

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

Alan & Gary --
Many thanks!
Don


"SC-Don" wrote:

My add/remove list has several entries that I cannot delete because the
original setup CDs and/or files needed for proper removal are no longer
available.

Examples are early-generation Kodak Picture CD entries that require the
original volume/group setup CDs be provided before add/remove of the entry
continues; also, spyware/adware and network downloads whose folders were
previously deleted.

Is there any method to remove the listed entries when the normal removal
won't work?