How to restore Add/remove programs...

[sadangel]

I went to Control panel today and found that my Add/remove programs is missing. When I went to classic view in my Windows XP, it tells me that it has been hidden and to contact the Administrator...which is me. I have no idea why it's hidden nor how to restore it. I'm still googling for answers, but if anyone can point me in the right direction, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

 

[jtf71961]

Maybe try reinstalling XP over the existing program or run the program and repair it.

 

[sadangel]

Well, I found a work around by googling. I'll keep googling until I come up with a definitive way to fix, but for now I was able to go to System 32 folder and find the appwiz.cpl and add a shortcut to the desktop and label it add/remove programs so that at least I can get to it and open it if/when I need it. Thanks for the advice. If I can't find a better answer, I'll try that.

 

[Dosxx82256]

Well, I found a work around by googling. I'll keep googling until I come up with a definitive way to fix, but for now I was able to go to System 32 folder and find the appwiz.cpl and add a shortcut to the desktop and label it add/remove programs so that at least I can get to it and open it if/when I need it. Thanks for the advice. If I can't find a better answer, I'll try that.

sounds like a registry issue. That might aid your search

 

[jtf71961]

I have never had that problem, although when you think you've see it all, there is a new one. You might even try system restore to an earlier date, but then you would restore it to what you had before or maybe not?

 

[sadangel]

sounds like a registry issue. That might aid your search

That's what I'm wondering. I have a program that fixes registry issues. I'll have to run that first then. Thanks.

 

[jtf71961]

CCleaner has an area that fixes issues in the registry and that is free.

 

[Calvin]

This link

to a Microsoft white paper may help you.... it is really a permission issue related to Groups/Users....

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/296962

Good Luck

 

[sadangel]

Well...I found out what the problem was. I decided to retrace my steps from Saturday. I had run my different programs. Somehow I had accidently set it to disable the Add/Remove and User accounts along with some others. So today, I was able to enable them again and then restart my PC and now everything is back where it belongs.

Thanks for help all. So glad I figure it out before having to use the Boot CD to take it back. I wasn't looking forward to that at all!!