I cant open my add - remove programs in control panel?

Thats all basically, I click it and the screen flashes like Ive refreshed the screen, any ideas? Im on windows XP.. I may have a restore point to roll back to but rather than do that I just wondered what could have caused that and can I fix it?

Cheers.

reply to post by P-a-r-a-d-o-X-2

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My first guess would be a virus or trojan. Have you run a scan of your system lately?

reply to post by Toromos

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Actually no, I have so many security apps its usually tight enough in the beginning.

Avg is still scanning.. zsoftspy showed nothing but my windows update turned off, how I want it... and Im running multivirus cleaner now. I know it wont find anything Im going to restore my computer after and hope that does it.




[edit on 05/09/2008 by P-a-r-a-d-o-X-2]

Have you tried pressing F8 during boot and go into safe mode?

I would tend to agree with toromos as it being a virus or corrupt registry.

Ok it works in safe mode but still the same normally, and Ive found no virus...

Open your task manager and see if you have any 'rundll32.exe' items running. If you do, end them and try opening 'add remove' up again. Also, go to start->run-> and type 'MSCONFIG'
by default 'normal startup' is selected, change that to 'selective startup'. Then, go to the startup tab and disable all. Don't worry, none of these programs are ever critical to running Windows.

reboot

Then, try opening the add remove window.

If that doesn't work try running my favorite set of scans.

First Ccleaner (love this program)
then Ad-Aware (Love this one too)
then Spybot SD (Oh man how I love this one!)

first run them in normal windows mode, then try safe mode.

let me know how it turns out.

[edit on 22-5-2008 by Rasobasi420]

reply to post by Rasobasi420

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Thanks no Rundll32.exe running in TM, tho I had noticed it pop up in TM recently and go away. This is what is starting up. what are the 2 emtpy entrys are they junk can they be doing it? If I was to run msconfig in safe mode would it load all those?

Msconfig


[---current > RUN]


The other startups are

Blackice protection
My soundcard remote
yahoo messenger [ok can remove that one via yahoo]

I have adware, spybot, spyblaster, blackice, process explorer, big fix, easy cleaner, hijack this, xsoft spy [i really like that one] super anti spy [just as good maybe better] sockett lock, no share, xp antispy [wicked little app] dcombob!

Anyway.. I havnt restored yet thats my last option.. I dont feel like removing all those start ups either... even if its safe I'l probably crash my PC. I'l leave that till last resort.

[edit on 05/09/2008 by P-a-r-a-d-o-X-2]

All of those apps are running at startup. You don't need any of them for windows to run. I'd suggest disabling all of them, rebooting and trying again. Trust me, nothing bad will happen.

Do a search of your hard drive for file appwiz.cpl. If you find it it should open add or remove programs. If you don't have it, that could be your problem.

I found som other info on This site that has a possible fix.

Good luck!

If it works in safe mode the program is most likely there. I'd assume there's another process running that's blocking it, and that's why safe mode works, but normal startup doesn't ..

Hence the remove all non-essential startup processes to see where he gets.

Yeah but.. most of them are always needed so if i was to remove them all from starting up havnt i gota open them again on logon? like my AVG antivirus, blackice etc.. I trust you I may do it later but not for now.

to add them again, just open MSCONFIG and re-check the box. No big deal. For now, we need to see if it's one of those blocking your add-remove.

Ok.. I missed some posts there actually sorry guys.. I'l deload the startups later and get back here.

[edit]

Right I done that already disabled all startups and its still the same?

[edit on 05/09/2008 by P-a-r-a-d-o-X-2]

Scan scan scan!!!

use everything you can think of to scan for viruses malware and such.

But, since any one of those can be corrupted, try this online scan

www.pandasoftware.com...

reply to post by Rasobasi420

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This is doing my head in. Ive done all you said so far and Im online with no security or anything, scanned for virus and nothing.

I backed up to Kellters post and downloaded registry mechanic thanks for that, then I went and found the serial number so I have the full version, very good it is too. Found over 2000 things to fix.. including something with add remove programs... and Ive restarted numerous times... still no startups... and its still the same!

Right now Im defragging the drive cause its a mess and I reckon that will fix it, so thats going to take all night about 100 gb..

You should download Ccleaner. Not only does it clean systems thoroughly and for free, its got an embedded add/remove programs option. Once in there, you might want to check out if there are any weird programs that you'll need to uninstall.

Also, do an 'issues' scan.

Ok Ive done all the above... no joy. Thanks for the other app tho thats handy. Deleted my restore points now cause that didnt work either.

Ive defragged my drive. Ive looked around the web and found its pretty common and a few people have same issue whether its on XP or 2000. Some guy gave someone this input for RUN command -

%SYSTEMROOT%\SYSTEM32\appwiz.cpl

And the guy said it opened add remove programs and now the control panel works......... but it didnt for me! so now I just dont know but I'l get there.

It wouldnt work on administrator either, I have 3 users one for my music production.. one for the web.. and admin.

Ive used all my tools... Ive disabled everything scanned everything more than once. Would installing SP2 again make any difference? cant hurt can it.

But if it works in safe mode it should be fine, so it must be some application Ive installed recently.. or ........

Best thing to do...

Backup all files you want to keep.

Do a clean install.

Hi thanks but a clean install just to make one add remove program panel open is a lot more hassle than its worth for me, that means Id have to go thru more setups afterward aswel with my personal tweaks and saved stuff etc.. I'd only do that if it was important and I'd no choice.

Besides I havnt got XP on disc ..........just SP2.... think I need to scan with more scanners and persevere. Isnt important I can uninstall other ways its just a little nuisance.