Uninstalled Program Still Appears
Reader Asks How To Repair the Add/Remove Programs List
Q: I have listing of programs which show up in my add/remove programs that do not exist on my computer. I would like to remove them from the add/remove programs. Is there a program or do you know an easy way to remove non-existent programs which still show up here?
A: When a program remains in the list of installed programs in your Control Panel’s Add/Remove Programs, after you have uninstalled it, it really doesn’t hurt anything to leave the entry there– but it is annoying and .. well, wrong. All it is is a key in the Registry didn’t get deleted by the uninstaller (which is why I use Revo to uninstall programs and not Add/Remove Programs or the Uninstaller)
The simplest way to remedy this ‘glitch’ is to click on the entry and launch the Remove process (as if it was still there) — Windows should “discover” that the program no longer exists, and ask if you want to remove it from the listing – answer yes, and it will remove the name.
(Vista and Win 7 are pretty good at this, but in XP [and older] it is more of a 50/50 proposition.)
If Windows doesn’t fix itself, then you can run the Registry repair/cleaner in CCleaner, which should find and delete the Registry key. When CCleaner asks if you want to make a backup, answer yes.
The direct approach is to manually edit the Registry. The Microsoft instructions for that are here, http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314481. As always, I remind you that editing the Registry is risky and to make a new Restore Point (System Restore) and a Registry backup before editing the Registry.
Copyright 2007-9 © Tech Paul. All rights reserved.
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• About Tech Paul
I am a CompTIA Certified computer technician, and the owner of Aplus Computer Aid. I offer my affordable and friendly services via remote control over the Web, or over the phone.
I regularly post how-to’s and tricks & tips and general computing advice. Sometimes I will answer (your) specific questions in an article if I believe that it is generally helpful to “everyone”. All the writing you see is my own, typos and all. There is an implied “IMHO” in what you see here.
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Folks, this is not one of those "trick you into buying" free scans, but a scan that show what is running, and loaded to run (Startup folder, etc.). You can also click links to learn more about the files it finds. And, please, do a search before you decide something doesn't belong. 
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Also, often when you click uninstall for a program that doesn’t exists, windows informs you that the program is missing and gives you the option to remove the program from the add/remove programs list. Make sure to try it.
cyb3rs,
I appreciate and welcome comments from readers, but in this case I really need to know: did I not make that clear, or did you not read the article?
I said try that first, I thought…
TechPaul,
It is too bad we can’t take all your “how to” articles and publish them… This is the everyday stuff that people experience and need to know.
Great work!
Rick
Rick,
Complimentary statements like this are my only “pay”, and so they are always welcome. I thank you, sir.
This is the everyday stuff that people experience and need to know.
Yes. I too am in the biz, and that is how this blog got started. I got tired of repeating the rudiments, and so now I can just direct them to a How To article.