sounds like permissions issues.. or windows installer 3.1 v2 try makign a new user and logon to that .. then see if add remove shows up.. if not there s atool called my uninstaller www.nirsoft.net/utils/myuninst.html ultimately.. try a repair install of xp over it. first backup your important files.

Thanks for this advice, much appreciated.

I made a new user and logged on like that but same problem.

Add/remove opens and does show up but it just stops at the point where there is the message 'Please wait while list is being populated'. The program doesn't go beyond this point.

I wondered whether there was a link with the fact that Ad-aware and Firefox seemed to be damaged at the same time and needed reinstalling.

Thanks for the alternative uninstaller which I'll try if I can't resolve it.

But would be good to get add/remove working again and avoid windows reinstallation.

Any further suggestions welcomed.

Do a System Restore to latest date available before the problem started.
click start>help&support
click "undo changes..."
Follow prompts to pick a restore date. Personal files won't be lost but any XP updates installed after date used for the restore will have to be reinstalled.
If that fixes the problem, you'll have to figure out how to remove AVG software correctly.

If problem persists, reboot, press F8 before XP starts to load and select "last known good".

Ron

Message Edited by RoHe on 11-02-2006 10:56 AM

Last known good does the same thing as System Restore, but works outside XP so it's the last/best effort to find a configuration that works.

If that doesn't work, then run windows system file check:
click start>run
type in: sfc /scannow
(space between sfc and /)
insert XP CD if sfc requests it and reboot when it's done. Doesn't affect personal files or software you added.

If still no go, you can do Repair/Reinstall of XP. That also won't harm personal files or software (good idea to back up first, anyway), but all XP updates and hotfixes have to be reinstalled.

If all else fails, you can run PC Restore which resets the system to exactly the way Dell shipped it. Back up EVERYTHING first. And reinstall all your software and XP updates/fixes.

Ron

Message Edited by RoHe on 11-02-2006 11:18 AM

Thanks Ron,

As mentioned I have already tried System Restore with no luck. I was surprised, I thought that would work.

What risks are associated with F8 'last known good'. What does this do and is there a chance I will lose anything or are there any other risks with this?

Luke

Thanks Ron for the latest advice.

I tried 'last known good'. After I had rebooted using 'last known good' there were no anti-virus or windows etc updates needed so I assume it returned it to the system just before I had rebooted.

I also tried windows system file check as you suggested. It ran without any messages or warnings so I assume it did not detect any problems.

For repair/reinstall or restore PC I assume I need the XP disc. I did not get one of these when the system shipped. I guess I should have made a copy before. If it is XP which is the problem I suppose it is too late to make the copy now as I would be copying the system in its flawed state.

Also I am reluctant to go for a whole repair or restore when everything else (so far) seems to be working OK (although Ad-aware and Firefox did need reinstalling) and I have the alternative uninstall programme you mentioned to use instead of add/remove.

If there are any more specific suggestions anyone has for an add/remove fix they would appreciated and I could try them.

Otherwise I may just leave things as they are seeing, as I mentioned, other things are working OK, I have the alternative for uninstalling and the restores and test so far seem to suggest nothing fundamentally wrong (touch wood!).

I have been wondering whether when uninstalling AVG anti-spyware (which was successfully removed) I also removed any quarantined files which are important. But that is just a guess.

Thanks for your help. It's good to have the alternative uninstall software and reassuring that the restores and test you suggested did not find a problem.

Luke

Thanks Ron and Highlander48.

I checked the event viewer and it says the windows file protection was completed successfully.

There are a number of error messages at other times which say Event ID 7 'The device, \Device\Harddisk0\D, has a bad block'.

Is that something I should worry about?

It sounds like I may need a new hard drive. On the other hand I have been told that such hard drive error messages can be routine and not necessarily to be worried about?

Thanks for all the replies and advice. I really appreciate it.

I will look into all the other suggestions tomorrow.

Luke

If your system is still under warranty, contact Dell and request the XP CD plus whatever drivers and software CDs are available for this model.

If the registry is corrupted, your only solution may be to edit it according the the advice at the link provided by HiGhLaNdEr48. Make sure you export and save a copy of the registry before you make any attempts to edit it, just in case...

sfc isn't very informative. Open Windows Event Viewer and click System at the left. Look in right pane for entries labeled Windows File Protection around time you ran sfc. Open first one which should say "started", and second one should say "completed successfully". If it doesn't say "successful", or there are more than 2 File Protection entries, then you still have a system file problem that needs to be fixed.

Ron

Reboot and press F12 before XP starts to load. Run the extensive hard drive tests. Copy any error messages down and contact Dell, if you're still under warranty, for replacement HD. Back up files to CD ASAP.

You can also try running chkdsk to see if it can fix problems on hard drive
click start>run
type in: chkdsk c:/f
click ok
You'll get message about being unable to lock HD. Accept offer to run on next boot, exit and reboot.

Ron