SillyDog701

[DiscoFever]

How can i remove programs from being listed in the "Add and Remove" program menu. Two programs have been removed and are still listed there and stay there when i click the "Remove" button.

Thank you

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[DJGM]

A handy little Microsoft utility called TweakUI should do the trick. Install this by unpacking the file, context click on the
unpacked [tt]tweakui.inf[/tt] file, then select the Install option from the context menu that appears. This will add a TweakUI
option in your Control Panel. Double click on that to open it, then click the Add/Remove tab on the top row of tabs.

This will display the same programs that you'll find in your default Add/Remove Programs, which should also include
the errant entries for the programs you've uninstalled. Highlight those you wish to get shut of, then click Remove.

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[DiscoFever]

I couldn't get this program to work for me. I did as instructed but there was nothing on the control panel that would help me with the ADD/REMOVE menu.

Thank's for taking the time to offer so help.

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[Tidus]

I see the problem...dear Greg hasn't explained things properly.

Right, double click the file you downloaded, tweakui.exe, you should ideally have saved it on your Desktop.

In the next window that appears, it gives a location to save to, which by default is the Temp folder under your Documents and Settings, which is deep inside Windows. Click inside the textbox, and delete the text and add "tweakui" so that it shows "C:\tweakui" without the quotes.

Click Unzip, then go to the C:\tweakui directory, and right click the [tt]tweakui.inf[/tt] file, its icon is like a text file icon with a yellow cog on it, and click Install.

This will add a TweakUI option in your Control Panel. Double click on that to open it, then click the Add/Remove tab on the top row of tabs.

This will display the same programs that you'll find in your default Add/Remove Programs, which should also include the errant entries for the programs you've uninstalled. Highlight those you wish to remove, then click Remove.

Hope this helps!

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[DiscoFever]

The saga continues....I installed the TweakUI and went to the control panel, opened it, and in among all the tabs to choose from there isn't a ADD/REMOVE PROGRAM tab. The other problem with the volume icon worked. I can now control the volume with the desktop shortcut. I guess the challenge now is the Tweak UI.

Thank's again for your assistance.

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[DJGM]

Hmmm, in that case, I'll have to recommend a third party Add/Remove Programs utility called Add/Remove Plus.

It's available as shareware, so it's not a free program, but you can download a free 15 day trial version of it.

Try installing that, then in that program, find the entires for those errant programs that you've previously
uninstalled, that you want to get rid of, then click on the Delete From List button on it's main toolbar.

Hopefully, when you open up the main Add or Remove Programs applet in your Windows Control Panel,
those surplus program entries should be gone, for good. If this method doesn't work, the next step
may be to take a journey into the dark and murky depths of the dreaded Registry! With any luck,
it shouldn't come to that, as it's part of Windows that definitely not for the faint hearted!


Let us know how you get on.

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[DiscoFever]

I downloaded the trial copy of ADD/REMOVE PLUS 2006. It did remove sonic from it's list. But it's still listed in the windows control panel ADD/REMOVE Programs. But now it doesn't list the file size. It just reads "rarely". Here is the message i was getting all along when trying to remove it. Maybe it is another piece of the puzzle for this mystery.:

" A network error occured while attempting to read from the file C:\WINDOWS\INSTALLER\RECNOW.MSI"

So sonic is gone. but still listed. One more question. all those entries that say "HOTFIX" listed in the ADD/REMOVE menu, what are they exactly.

Thank you once again.

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[DJGM]

I have one more suggestion before delving into the Registry. Try re-installing the errant program, then uninstall
it with Add/Remove Plus. If that doesn't get rid of it, I'm not sure what will without going into the Registry.

As for the HOTFIX entries, they're most likely system updates downloaded from Windows Update.

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[DiscoFever]

I'll try to reinstall the program and do as you said. Thank you for all your help.

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[PaulD]

There seem to be connected difficulties here on your two postings: this 'Can't remove program', and the 'System Tray Question'.

1. For Windows XP, the Add/Remove list appears to be maintained in part at:
HKLM > Software > Microsoft > Windows > CurrentVersion > Uninstall.
But note that there is not a one-to-one correspondence. (On Windows 95 I think that this IS the Add/Remove list.)

Navigate to the Uninstall, and do a Find for Sonic. On my system I get get hits on their Update Manager, DLA, and RecordNow. RecordNow is a CD/DVD recording application.

2. The Registry Uninstall item is removed only when an Uninstall process sucessfully completes. An attempted Uninstall will fail if any of the critical files that it is looking for is unavailable (you got a RECNOW.MSI not found message), therefore the list item is not removed, and one is left with frustration. Manual Registry cleanup can be done, but one must be scrupulous about tracking down every referenced key. The various Registry Cleaner products have varying degrees of thoroughness in this regard. (Impression gathered from reading folks' comments, not from personal experience.)

3. The 'general' solution, as DJGM says, is to [attempt to!] install the subject program or application, which hopefully will reset / clean-up the Registry; then (if one really doesn't want it) Uninstall it again. Note that this process may fail if the new install location (folder) doesn't match the original location. Or maybe, if it does.

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